The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-01-23
His Children are Opposed to his
Union With Mrs. Dimmick.
AN UGLY FAMILY QUARREL
1t Began Before the Harrisons
Went to the White House.
BITTERNESS BUT NO SCANDAL
Mrs. Mckee and Russell Harrison
Insist the Match is Disrespect-
full to Their Mothers
Memory.

/
Indianapolis, Ind, Jan. 20 The
marriage of Benjamin Harrison to
Mrs. Dimmick is not approved of by
Mr. Harrison's family. The statement
that Mrs. Mckee will visit indianapolis
before the wedding is true, but she will
not come 10 prepare a home for her
fathers bride. She will visit friends
here outside of her family and will re-
move from her former home the last
of her personal possessions,
Friends here of Mrs Benjamin Nc
kee and Mr.. Russell Harrison and of
the late Mrs. Benjamin Harrison are
surprised and annoyed at the persis-
tent reports from New York that the
children of the ex-President will
make a distinct and possibly, perma-
nent breach in his family, and separ-
ate him definitely from his children.
Neither Mrs. Mckee nor Russell Harri-
son are on speaking terms with their
step-mother to be and both have in
terposed an earnest, though dignified.
opposition to the proposed marriage.
This opposition arises, they insist,
not from any dislike OF their father
marrying a second time. but solely
from feeling that circumstances CON
nected with the history of the acquain-
tarce which leads 10 the approaching
marriage make the event an act OF
disrespect TO the nieIuorl OF their
mother.
The true story OF the acquaintance
and courtship of benjamin Harrison
and Mary Dimmick, rs told by one
whose authority is as undeniable as
would be that OF Benjamin Harrison
himself. is given below. Much OF detail
that would he interesting is suppress
ed because its publication would serve
no good purpose, but, as matter OF
Justice TO the children Of the eN-Presi-
dent and to forestall the flood of Cos
sip and scandal that would naturally
follow the open breach in the family
the friends of Mrs. Mckee and Mr..
Harrison feel that Il plain, authorize
tive statement of the facts should be
made at once.
In the first place, it should be stat
ed that Mrs Dimmicks character as "A
woman is in no way involved in this
matter That she has exercised over
the President an influence which in-
terfered with the domestic peace OF the
family and that he permitted and en-
couraged that influence is the most
serious charge involved
The trouble really began before Har-
rison's election. During the excite
ment of the campaign in 1883, Mrs Har-
son. at the suggestion Of her sister
Mrs. Scott-Lord, invited her niece,
IN. a..Tv 1,sTt ~
Dimmick. it is said, was in very low
spirits at that time, and the idea was,
that the life and excitement there
would divert her mind and improve her
health
Mrs. Di1nmick at once began TO take
very active part in the Harrison fam
lily affairs. Her influence over Gen.
Harrison quickly became very strong.
After some monts. and before the
family went to Washington, Mrs. Har-
rison discussed with an intimate friend
here the best way of getting Mrs Dim
mick out of the family.
When the family was settled iii the
White House matters became constant
ly more difficult. Mrs. Dimmick gain
ed steadily more influence over the
President in family matters. Mrs
Harrison suffered what she considered
were indignities. Mrs. Mckee and
Russell Harrison sided with their
mother. The President sfubbornly in
sisted that they were foolishly and
causelessly jealous.
Mrs. Dimmick's mother died and the
restrictions of the mourning period de-
priyed her of outside companionship
and threw her more than ever into
the company of the President.
Finally Mrs. Dimmick was given TO
understand, through relative, that
her continued residence in the White
House was unwelcome to Mrs. Harri-
son. She appealed to the President
and he refused to consent to her de-
parture under such circumstances.
The quarrel between the President
and Mrs. Harrison became critical
That it did not become public was due
to her own good sense and the efforts of
her son and daughter, who were hor-
rified at the prospect of white House
scandal"
Matters were adjusted somehow, but
thern continued to be unpleasant fric-
ton until mrs. Harrison's final illness
began. Mrs. Dinl6.ick was installed
by the President as nurse. Between
her and Mrs. Mckee, who also lived at
the White House, there was a state of
armed neutrality until the death of
Mrs. Harrison ended the strain. +
Mrs. Harrison had endeavored, dur
ing her illness to bring about pleas
anter state of affairs in the family, and
for time her work seemed to be sue
cessful 1t is understood that one
basis of the compromise was that no
such event as that about to take place
would be considered.
Mrs. DimmiclS continued to live in
the White House. After the Presi-
dents term ended, Mrs. Mckee re-
turned to indianapolis to prepare her
fathers home for his permanent resi-
dence. Mrs. Dimmick quickly APP
peared. AS soon as she could, with
out attracting comment, Mrs. Mckee
left, and she and her husband have
since made their home elsewhere.
Last summer Mr.. Harrison took a
ootfapa in the Adiroudacks and asked