Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-11-12

An incident in the Career of the
Man Who Defeated Morrison.

An incident in the Career OF the
Man Who Defeated Morrison.
WASHINGTON, Nov. I.-Jehu Baker, the
successor to Congressman William X.
/ Morrison, is an object OF interest at the
/ capital, where great number OF stories
are related about him. He is the author
OF a number of books, the best of which
is his "Grandeur and Decadence of the
Romans" He has powerful voice and
a great command of language. He was
sent of by HAYES TO Venezuela, where he
remained until last year, when he was
removed to give way for a Democratic
appOintee. MI. Baker, since MS return,
has walked about the streets of his native
town, talking TO himself, until some of the
people there thought he was crazy. But
1t was mere habit he has of thinking
aloud. He began last year to plan Nor
rison's defeat, and was merely gong over
the details OF the work 10 be done. A
writer in the Sunday Capitol gives the
following incident in his diplomatic
career:
"Mr. Baker would have been defeated
if Rear Admiral Cooper ana the officers
attached 10 the Atlantic fleet IN 1893 had
been consulted, for Mr.. Baker is not very
popular among them. The fleet was or
dered down TO the dedication OF the
Washington monument to the republic OF
Venezuela. and Gen. GuZman Blanco,
! who was President, then issued an order
welcoming them as the guests OF the
nation, and ioTbdding the people, the
hotelkeepers, the tradesmen, the hackmen,
and all others 10 accept any money from
them. Thew were TO ride free on the rail-
road and street cars and whatever they
wanted was to be given them without
charge, This was handsome thing on
/ GuZman's part, but tor some reason Min
lister Baker didn't like 1t. The officers
said it was because he wasn't included
in the deal. At any rate, after the fleet
mad gone he took the trouble to 90 around
the city and collect all the unpaid bills
the officers had left and forwarded them
to the Secretary OF State, with letter OF
| the most YlrtuOus indignation.
"Mr. Frelinghuysen was, of course,
very much shocked that the officers OF the
! United states Navy should be guilty OF
such an act and forwarded Bakers note
to Secretary Chandler, who, not being
| aware OF the circumstances, sent all the
papers TO Rear Admiral Cooper, with
letter severely rejecting upon him and
his officers tor their conduct. The Rear
| Admiral at once responded with AN ex-
| PLANTATION and said that under the circum-
| stances it would have been as rude to re-
| fuse the hospitality OF the government of
| Venezuela as TO tender pay for dinner
! 10 Wnlcn tney ndd Deen invited. he
| inclosed money to pay the bills
which were forwarded 10 Baker.
! When the latter rendered it, with state
ment of the case, Gen. Blanco flew into a
terrible rage and gave the American Min
| lister dressing down that he will always
remem Der. He told him he had been
meddling with what was none oil his bust
ness, and insisted that the money should
be returned to the officers with an apology
and explanation that Bakers interior
ence was condemned by him. The only
thing the Minist. could do was 10 send
it back to Washington with a humiliating
| report and wait for the officers to get
| their revenge, which has not come yet
If they had supposed there was any
chance OF his election to Congress they
would have been willing to send cam
paign funds to aid Morrison and ofse
the assistance Uncle Jehu is said to have
received from the protectionists."