Arizona republican., 1898-04-08
STEWART l.. WOODFORD.

HULK.
 STEWART l.. WOODFORD.
 A Brief Bit Succinct Account of Our
 Minister to Spain.
 Washington, April 7.-Generai Stew art L. Woodford, bearing the brunt Of the diplomatic play in Madrid, is one of the great men of the hour. His po- s1tion has been most delicate. It has been necessary for him to stand firm as the representative of the govern ment at the Spanish court, to curb a spirit which would naturally be war like, to hold a discreet tongue, to parry the thrusts of trained diplomats all to the honor and dignity and possibly peace of this country. He has been in most exasperating and trying positions, and through all the long course of the passage of delicate and dangerous messages he has been calm, adroit, prudent. His conduct has add ed luster to a record which really needed no polishing.
 General Woodford was good soldier and a good lawyer before President Mckinley picked him as a good dipio- mat for the important post of Madrid. His Americanism is about as old as settled America. His ancestors helped to cut down the forest in Connecticut and latterly fought in the revolution and the war of 1912. He was born in New York city September 8, 1925 His literary education was given by Yale and his professional by Columbia col iege. His name went on the New York bar in 1857, and he has been an hon orable and distinguished member of it to this time. His profession has only been interrupted three times-cnce by l call to arms, once by a call to con- gress and once by call to diplomacy. | There are no failures to his credit Lincoln was the first president who was attracted to him. The young law yer was asked by him to go into the campaign, and MT. Wood ford went in to it with his coat off The war broke out soon after and he got into the ser vice as soon as he could. He was as sistant United States district attorney for the southern district of New York but the place had no strings which could hold him back from enlistment He put his name down on the roll of the volunteers and began military duty as high minded private The promo tions came along in the natural order: from captaincy to lieutenant colonel and to colonel for bravery in acti on. He served as judge advocate of the de- partment of the south and chief of the staff of General Gilmore Charleston and Savannah knew him as a military 1 governor. All calls that were made upon him were answered by readiness and faithful service. The govern ment got through with him in 1865, and he went back to New York to look up his clients.
 General Woodford had trouble in keeping out of politics. Chances to go on the bench, handed to him on plat ters, were refused. His friends drag ged him reluctantly into one of the gubernatorial elections in New York He was elected. being second on the state ticket. Congress was open to him in 1S6S He refused the nomi- nation. The Tweed ring defeated him | two years later, when he ran for gov ernor. A majority of political move ments in the state after that knew the force of General Woodford All man. ner of offices sought him. He went to congress in 1872, where his brilliancy made him a noted figure.
 General Woodford appeared again in presidential affairs at the conven- tion which nominated President Hayes. He led the fight There was a disposition to repay him by naming him for the vice presidency. The plan failed by narrow margin President Grant made him district attorney, and President Garfield could net see how President Grants selection could be bettered. and forthwith reappointed him to the same place. This ended his political career until President McKin- ley turned aside the host of appli- cants for the Spanish ministry and begged General Woodford to undertake the delicate mission. He was practic- ing law at the time the appointment was made. The general had been an ardent supporter of Major Mckinley at the St. Louis convention. and as soon as the election was over the general was slated by his friends fol all the positions within the range oi presidential favor. Many times was he written about as some probable" sec retary. He filed no application. He was too big to do that. The ministry sought him. It was hard task and he knew it would grow harder each day. The emergency seems to have 1 brought up the man.
 Personally General Woodford is one of the most delightful men of the country. He is gruff and bluff. but the gruffness and bluffness fit his char acter and history. He is as gallant as the gallantest don. There is noth- ing lacking in a social way. He was once president of the Union League club in New York, and his family has led in the most brilliant circles. The wisdom of President Mckinley ir sending him to Madrid is becoming more manifest each day. If any mar ever had opportunity to make a dis astrous mistake General Woodford ha: had it. A small man could have failed utterly. General Woodford has showr not only bravery but sound diplomatic and judicial ability. He and Genera