The morning call., 1893-10-15

and 1 wanted to be present to prevent any
trouble and take advantage of any situa-
tion that might come up. At first there
seemed to be little doubt but that father
would beinOmnated. The night before
the convention General Van Buren,, Gov
ernor Seymour's secretary. came In and
told me Mr.. Seymour would not be can
didate. and that he would only accept
Complimentary vote and then withdraw in
favor of Salmon p. Chase. He told me
that Governor Seymour would come IN
shortly himself and tell me that he in
tended 10 do this. but he never came. /
did not think re would at the time, as
feared he would not have the courage to
carry cut his resolution. He bad promised
to do something of the kind when he ran
for Governor, but when the time came he
proved too weak to carry out his promise.
1t was the same at this convention. He
was, you know, the presiding officer.
When his name was proposed he said
nothing, and he remained in the race unit
he secured the nomination"
WAS your father near being nomi-
mated" | asked.
Yes, at noon that day the situation was
such that he would have been nominated
had the convention not adjourned. A
California delegate had announced his
vote for Chase. This was unexpected and
1t created a sensation. The convention
was in an uproar and a stampede to my
fathers support was imminent. His enc
mics prevented this by moving a recess for
dinner and during this recess the combi-
nation was made that n omlDated Seymour.
The chief reason that my father WAS not
nominated was the doubt as TO whether ne
would accept the platform. l am sure he
would not have done so. A delegation came
to me while the convention was sitting and
told me that if l would authorize them to
assure the convention that father would
accept the pla form they would announce
This and it would surely secure the n0mina-
tiOn. | refused to do this. l told them
that knew the platform was not in ac-
cordance with his views and that / did
not think he would consent to carry out
its policy. He will do. said /, what he
understands to be his duty to his country
and his party, but l do not think his
ideas of that right are embodied in that
pla form. You can telegraph him con-
cerning it. As for me | cannot vouch
for it. Father afterward told me that he
could not have accepted the platform.
He had written a letter stating his views
before the convention was held and his
position on all questions was we'll
known"
"How about yourself. Mrs. Chase? 1t
is said that ii was your ambition that
made your father most desire to enter the
White House."
81 do not think that is so," replied Mrs.
will see how unfounded it is. | was
anxious that my father might be President
in order that he might carry out his ideas.
AS to social ambition, / bad been In
society all of my life. l was forced into 1t
very young. At the age of IA was the
at Columbus. where he was Governor
of the State, and | had at that tins three
children that | had to care for. When
came to Washington my father was
Secretary of the Treasury, and as the wife
of Governor Sprague my social duties
were equally great. The mere name of
being mistress of the White House had
never been great attraction to me, and
my fathers health was such that did not
want to see him become President and un-
dergo all of the worries and cares which
are associated with the chief executive of
The country. He nearly broke himself
down while he was Secretary of the Treas
ury, and he had just begun to recover.
From his earliest youth the Supreme bench
had been the goal of his ambition. and be
felt, as did. that TO be Chief Justice of
tie Supreme Court was an honor fully
equal TO that of the Presidency. He liked
his life and work as Chief Justice, and he
was especially fitted for the position"
How about your father as Secretary of
the Treasury? You speak Of the wear and
tear of the Office"
1T was terrible. He did not want the
position, and it was against his inclination
that he accepted it. President Lincoln
offered it to him while he was still at
Columbus He sent for father to come to
Springfield. 1 think. / do not remem Der
whether he went or not. but Lincoln aft
erward came to visit him at Columbus. 1t
was Just at the time of the celebration of
the anniversary of the Perry victory at
Cleveland, and / had gone to Cleveland to
be present at this. 1t was at this time
that met Governor Sprague for the first
time-my fate. Mrs. Lincoln came with
the President to Columbus. and they were
entertained by Governor Denison. Mrs.
Lincoln was piqued tina; did not remain
at Columbus to see her. and have always
felt that this was the chief reason why
she did not like me at Washington.
well, President Lincoln offered father
the Secretaryship of the Treasury. but my
father refused it. He had just been elected
TO the United States Senate. and he felt
that he could do more there than in the
treasury. He felt the same when he came
down to Washington and was sworn in as
United States Senator. Pressure, how
ever. from all parts of tha ponntrv and