Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-06-20
cHAUNcEY N. DErEw.

F=
| cHAUNcEY n DEPEw.
Che people see good Presidential timber in
Chauncey NJ. Depew, pretident of the New
York Central railroad. But the greatest
argument urged by the friends Of Mr.. De
pew as to why he should be the candidate
Of the Republican party is that he can carry
New York.
They say there is no question about that.
Mr. Depew has the coufidencss of all classes
In New York, and ne would have the sup
port of the moneyed and laboring CLASSES.
It is claimed that the railroad men in New
York would know no party or politics with
Mr. Depew as a Presidential candidate.
They would all vote for him whate yer
might have been their party affiliations
| heretofore.
Chauncey Mitchell Depew was born al
Peekskill, N. Y, April %, 1884. His father,
Isaac Depew, a man Of strong, determined
character, was of Huguenot descent His
mother, whose maiden name was Maria
Mitchell, was a daughter of Chauncey
Mitchell. and granddaughter OF Josiah
Sherman. Revolutionary patriot, whose
brother, Roger Sherman, is perhaps better
known than himself.
The boy grew up at Peekskill without any
remarkable developments; attended the
academy when he had made progress enough
in his studies, and when prepered went to
Yale. 1t was in ls52 when he entered col
lege at the age of Is, and he graduated with
out high honors
Becomes q Republican.
The Depews had always been Democrats,
but In college Chauncey imbibed some new
ideas, and Immediately on graduation he
took the stump for Fremont and free soil
In college and in the academy he had been
one Of the best debaters and decaimsrs, and
his maiden efforts on the stump were well
received. This service in the campaign was
not with view of entering politics. 1t was
because this young man had imbibed ideas
which formulated themselves into principles
which he felt must be defended and he con-
tributed what he cnuld to that end. After
the campaign of 1856 he applied himself to
the study of law, and was admitted to prac-
tice in 1854 Having attracted the notice Of
Cornelius Vanderbilt he was appointed at.
torney for the Harlem railroad in 1856, and
attorney for the whole New York Central
Tystem in 1859. In 1873 he was made gener-
al counsel of the system, which had then
grown almost to its present size, and at the
same time he was chosen director. Upon
the reorganization Of the road in 1889 he was
made Second Vice President of the company,
and when President Butler died he became
the official head of the Vanderbilt roads
BE has an executive mind and he manages
this great corporation, of which he Is the
head, with tine ease that another man would
the demands of society upon him. There is
no drudgery for Mr.. Depew. His mind
grasps great ideas and he trusts 70 his sub
ordinates to carry out the details A row Of
electric buttons are ON his desk. each one
bearing the name of a trusted subordinate.
As his plans develop in his own mind, he
touches the buttons which will bring him
the men for details. His is mind not to be
bothered with details He is never worried
or hurried, and should he be elected Presi-
dent Of the United States there would be a
man in the White House who could fulfill the
duties of the Office without continually CON-
planning to the people that they were killing
him with overwork.
His Political Career
The active aud political career Of Mr.. De-
pew can be summed up in few words. He
took the stump for Fremont in 1856 and for
Lincoln in 1860. He was elected to the New
York Assembly in 1861, and chosen secre-
tary of State in 1878, at the age of %, by a
ma ajority of 80, ,OO0 votes He declined q re-
nomination, declined also an offer of the
Mission of Japan; justinissed being made
collector of the port OF New York by Presi-
dent johnson, and devoted himself to the
practice of law until 1872. when he ran Tor
Lieutenant Governor on the Liberal-Repub-
&,,lxa nd Ia, his
name was presented for United States Sem
ator in the struggle that ensued upon the
resignation Of Senators Conkiingsand Plat,
and was for some time quite prominent in
the balloting. u was withdrawn in order
to break the O. ilock that seemed imni-
nent.
Happy After-Dinner Speaker.
There is another and a better-known side
to MIR. Depew's life. That is his talent as a
speaker. At school his greatest accomplish
ment was that OF speaking pieces" He had
q fondness for deciaiming and telling
stories, which he retains, and his memory
holds every gem OF poe try and literature,
and all the good stories he ever heard, SO
that, like Lincoln, be is ever ready with an
apt story as an illustration Of point His
reading has been extensive, for in his duties
as counsel and president of the New York
Central road he bas always devoted his
evening reading to that line Of literature
more congenial to his taste than law. He
laws aside his business at 5 o'clock, walks
home, and either spends his evenings in his
library or at some social gathering. He re-
ceives on an average of ten letters day
begging him to deliver addresses upon all
sorts OF subjects. He has responded te
these calls until he has become known as the
most popular speaker in the country. His
more important addresses are prepared
with great care, but his after-dinnea
speeches are generally impromptu. HI
thinks OF what he will say during the dinner
and then in so happy in his talk that people
wonder when he finds time to prepare x
many speeches.