Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-03
BLAINE AT HIS BEST.
How He Got Through Pension Bill for
Zachary Taylor's Daughter.

l
In the North American Reuie,c for December
Gen. W. I. Sherman has an article on James
G. Blaine, in which he tells the following an
! ecdote:
| In the year 1873 Gen. U. s. Grant was Presi-
dent Of the United States I was General-in-
/ Chief of the armies of the United States and
James G. Blaine was Speaker of the House of
| Representatives. All were resident in WASH
ington, ID. q. / was seated in my office in the
old War Department, now destroyed and re-
placed by better one, when my orderly pro-
| duced the card of Mrs. Wood" widow Of the
late assistant surgeon-general, q. 8. A., an old
| friend. Che a daughter of Zachary Tay-
Tor. Her husband had been forty-four years in
/ the army. OF course instructed him to show
the lady in. She was deeply yelled. then not
uncommon by reason of the many dependent
widows and orphans who thronged the national
/ capital to appeal for help.
She, without unwilling. handed me a letter
/ IN the familiar handwriting of the venerable
| Gen. David Hunter, asking me to befriend
claimed:
What! are you the widow of nv old Sur
| geon-General Wood and the daughter of Gen.
Zachary Taylor?'
Yes" she answered, raising her veil and
revealing her features, then of an old lady. but
beyond question the daughter of Gen. Zachary
Taylor.
Dear Mrs. Wood what does this mean?
| What can do for you?"
She replied: Il do not know, but Gen. Hun
ter. our steadfast friend, has sent me to you."
And she went on to explain:
when my husband died. in 1869. / supposed
had estate enough to satisfy my moderate
wants went to Louisiana. took possession
OF the old sugar plantation, collected few of
the old slaves with promises of wages or shares
| tried to make a living. but everything was out
OF JOINT. then tried lease, with no better
success. Now my daughter writes me from
Austria that she Is sick, and begs me to come
| to her. Gen. Sherman! l must go to my
daughter, and have not cent. NV old
friends are all dead and 1 know not what
to do"
1 naturally inquired how much money was
necessary. She said $1,000. l had not the
money. General Hunter had not the money.
How about your pension?''
When my husband died after forty-four
years OF faithful service, 1 thought l could
take care of myself and never asked for PEN
SION but now my child calls to me from
abroad
Mrs Wood. 1 am sure we could easily make
up a case under the general pension law which
VIII give you $50 month, but it can only date
from the time of your formal application"
What goodwill that do me?" She exclaimed;
my daughter is calling for me now. NV
passage across the ocean will cost 1920 and the
incidental expenses afterward will run up to a
Jul thousand"
After few moments thought said: Mrs.
wood, we must get special bill. putting your
name on the same list with that of Mrs.
General Worth, Mrs. General Sumner and
others. and have this special pension to date
back to your husbands death. March o. 1869
This will require act of Congress What
member of that body do you know from
Louisiana?"
ALAS, none.''
What member from Kentucky"
Not one"
DO you know any one in Congress?'
Not single member"
Don't you know Mr.. Blaine? He is Speaker
OF the House, fellow of infinite wit and of
unbounded generosity?n
No. she had never met Mr.. Blaine
Now, my dear Mrs. Wood can you meet me
TINS afternoon at the Speakers room, say p.
m. punctually?"
Il viii do anything" she answered. "that
you advise
Then meet me at the Speakers room. south
wing OF the Capitol. at O'clock this evening"
VI course she did l was there ahead of time
sent my card to Mr. Speaker Blaine. who was
IN his chair presiding sSver a noisy House.
but who. as always. responded quickly to nv
call In few words l explained the whole
case. and we went together to the Speakers
room, across the hall. behind the ..chair ~
where sat the lady. closely yelled No courtier
since the days OF Charlemagne ever approached
lady with more delicacy and grace than did
Alr. Speaker Blaine the afflicted widow of Sur
geon Wood. the daughter of Gen. Zachary
Taylor, former President Of the United
States. After a few words of inquiry and ex-
PLANTATION he turned to me and said:
Great God has it come to this. that the
daughter OF Zachary Taylor, and the widow of
faithIuI army surgeon who served his coun-
try and mankind all his life. should be here
knocking at the doors of Congress for the pitt
ful pension of $50 a month";
could only answer: Its true, and pity it's
It's true"
Turning to Mrs. Wood, Blaine continued
Your father was the first man ever shouted
for as President, and for you. his daughter
VIII do all man can in this complicated gov
eminent will make your case my own Don't
leave this city till you hear from me-"
Finding had touched the proper chord of
his generous nature, advised Mr. Woods to re-
turn to Gen. Hunters and await the result
Blaine escorted her to the stairway with MANY
friendly expressions, returned to the chair. and
resumed his functions
/ did not remain. but learned from friend
atterward the sequel. Blaine sat in his chair
about an hour giving attention to the business
OF the house. occasionally scribbling on bit
of paper and when lull occurred he called
some member to take his place and walked
straight to Mr.. Holman. the universal OBJ
iector," saying: Holman have a little mat
ter OF great interest which l want to rush
through. Please don't object"
what is it,"
n SpcO4dl ptuSlOH lOr the WIDOW OF Surgeon
Wood, the daughter of Gen. Zachary Taylor"
is it all right?"
''Of course it is all right and every Ameri-
can should blush that this thing could be-"
Well" said Holman, ..go ahead: will be
out OF the way in the cloak ROOM
Watching his opportunity, James G. Blaine,
as member of Congress for Maine. got the eve
and ear OF the acting Speaker, made one of his
most eloquent and beautiful speeches. intro
duced his little bill for the pension of Mrs
Wood for $50 month. to date back to the time
OF Surgeon Woods death (about four years)
which would give her about 81 400 of arrears
and 5000 year for life. 1t was rushed through
the House BY unanimous consent. and Blaine
followed it through to the Senate and to the
President, where it became a law and this
most deserving lady was enabled to go to Aus
tria to be with her daughter in her illness. I
understand that both now dead and that
the overlooking Treasury of the United States
is no longer taxed by this pension, but must
rescue from oblivion the memory of this pure
act of unrecorded benevolence
DemOlishing a Dude.
From the Brooklyn Eagle
L sat In an elevated car the other day and
- IL