The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-04-10
Asked by Cleveland to Serve Without
Solicitation.
ASKED TO COME TO WASHINGTON
Given Two Days to Decide and As
sumes the Position Almost Without
MISUNDERSTANDING Bcstows
on Him Fullest Confidence.


Virginia, who vas then filling the Office
OF Collector OF Internal Revenue for the
Western District Of Virginia. it'll head
quarters az Lynchburg. received tele-
gram from the Honorable Joseph 5.
Miller Commissioner Of the Internal
Revenue asking him 10 come immedl-
ately 20 Washington and 70 advise nm
promptly by wire when he might be eN-
pected. Any man less excitable or less
plucky than General Lee would have
been ratified by such "A command; for
Just at that time the collector Office was
being rigidy inspected by a United
States Revenue Agent, IN order 20 trace
a serious defalcation. One OF the super
dinate deputies. holding over from Lees
predecessor. had been robbing the office,
as was subsequently ascertained. Lee
was entirely without blame and he knew
Il.
UNDER INSPECTION.
But the fact that a revenue agent was
IN his ONCE and close on somebody's
tracks was enough 10 worry him. or any
other person under Ike circumstances.
The distinguished collector had not been
In Office long enough 20 become thorough
" familiar with the hold over person.
mel or to get at the bottom OF this par
ticular matter, had not been In once
long enough to know just who was
sloner's telegram he replied with char
acteristic promptness. and not nerve
I'm him uuivered that he would leave by
the next train. which would Do due IN
Washington al 1:l0 L. NJ.
His train. when II did arrive. was over
an hour late. but Commissioner Miller
was waiting 10 receive General Lee
"WeH. here I am said the collector
Miller told him that President CleVe-
land wanted 20 gee him; wanted TO see
him that night. il he arrived before II
o'cIock. otherwise he wished to see him
the next morning early. Miller did NOT
tell Lee what was up-he himself did
not know-but simply said the president
had sent for him.
AT THE WHITE HOUSE
Mr. Cleveland. an old personal trlend
OF Commissioner Miller had directed the
commissioners or Lees immediate chiet'
to summon the collector by wire ana 10
turn the collector over TO him when ne ar
rived. This course was adopted 70 pre-
vent newspaper sensation or publicity or
any sort. When Lee called on President
Cleveland on the formers arrival the
talk was brief and to the point.
81 want YOU TO go 10 Cuba as consul
General and Commissioner ENtraordl-
nary" said the President.
Il will have 20 think over the matter
would ike TO confer with my VIE that
all said the Collector Of Internal heNe-
nue..
"That IS right said President Cieve-
land. .but I need you in cuba. and
hope YOU will be able 70 accept the office
OF Consul General"
TWO DAYS A PLENTY.
How much time win l have TO con-
sider?" asked Lee.
Two days" said Cleveland.
81 will let you know I'm less time than
two days" said Lee. Lee accepted by
wire.
about it was from the BRIEF A So ,sat
Press item. announcing the fact that
General Lee had been appointed Con-
sul-General TO cuba, vice Raymond ~
Williams resigned.
Mr.. williams had held the lucrative
office Of Consul-General for score or
years. and had grown rich on 1t. the
income from the office had run all the
way from twenty 10 forty thousand DOL
lars per year, according TO the TOBACCO
and sugar conditions. Lee has received
less than fifteen thousand per year. VII
Hams was a capable man. but his SYM
pathies were decidedly on one side.
WILLIAMS PRO-SPANISH.
He was pro-Spanish. so panish in his
feelings as 20 be irritating 10 an admin
istration that was eager for an exact
knowledge Of the situati0n-truth unvar-
nished and without tint OF preconceiyed
ideas
In the latter part OF June Lee had ar
ranged his affairs and was ready 70
start for the Pearl Of the Antilles IL
was a sweltering day when he called
al the White House FOR his instructions
and leave taking. He had had several IN
fsr Of - fIInaN
But the most important interview was TO
be with his personal friend, President
Cleveland. Lee naturally expected that
Cleveland would outline his policy 70
him. He thought His Excellency would
al least give him an idea Of his relations
with Spain, touching Cuba.
WANTED 70 KNOW.
But Cleveland did nothing OF the sort.
He had ideas, to be sure But all he said
TO Lee was this: General 1 want you 10
90 to Havana, study the situation, ana
report TO me the facts and your views
The sickly season I'm Cuba had come. the
season of humid mornings and cloud
burst, water-spout afternoons; the sea
son Of the black death. Smaller souls
would have been nervous and quaked, no
doubt; but not Fitz Lee. The doughty
hero cared not for health conditions.
brave and eminent physician OF Rich
nond-wrote TO President Cleveland cali
ing his Excellency's attention TO the yell
low fever prevalent I'm Havana az that
time and begging him 10 hold the Consul
General-elect over until the fall OF the
year.
But tho President did not act on the
letter. Then came DR.. Walter Wyman.
Surgeon General OF the United states Ma
rfne Hospital Service. who has charge OF
all the quarantine regulations near this
country, and who IS an acknowledged
authority on yellow fever. and suggested
TO the President that It would be extra
hazardous for Lee to 90 10 Havana until
later I'm the year; that II he did 90, ne
would hardly live through the summer.
CUBA NEEDED LEE.
Cleveland. kind-hearted, but positive and
blunt. grunted one OF his characteristic
grunts, and said.
This is no time TO be thinking about
such things as fever. The United states
needs Lees services In Cuba right now"
The President said no more, and Lee
with the true soldiers contempt for death,
went right along.
1 saw a good deal OF General Lee in
Havana during his first ten days SER
vice as COnsul-GeneraL lie kept MS
mouth shut SO far as giving out his I'M
pressions went. lie was pronounced
success from the start. He impressed
every one with his singu.-r fitness lie
was courageous and tactful a soldier ana
diplomat.
II Is said that General Lee has been pro-
Cuban since he first began to study the