Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-21


porations in the country, and at the time
of his election as Vice President he was a
director in no less than sixty different COM
panies. Probably the greatest business hon
or which he attained was his selection as
one of the three arbitrators of the Joint
Traffic Association, composed of thirty-sev-
en- OF the most prominent trunk lines of the
country. Through his business connections
and his law practice he built up a large
fortune.
After his nomination and election to the
vice presidency on the ticket headed by
Mr.. Mckinley he came to Washington and
took up his residence in the cd Cameron
mansion, adjoining the site of the historic
old Seward house on Lafayette square,
where Blaine died. The Hobart residence
during the past two years has been the
scene of many delightful social affairs. So
cial1y the Vice President and his charming
wife divided the honors with the President
and Mrs Mckinley. Vice President Ho-
barts genial temperament and charming
personality made him very popular not
only In the Senate, over which he presided
came in contact with him. Mr. Hobart left
but one child. Garret A. Hobart, jr.,
boy of fourteen. Fanny, girl of twenty
two. died in 1895 in Italy, while there with
her parents.
Fine Presiding officer.
Vice President Garret A. Hobart has
made a record a presiding officer of the
equaled. In many ways the vice presidency
is a trying position. 1t is largely an office
of dignity, requiring close attention to the
work of the Senate. yet giving no oppor-
tunity to affect legislation directly except
on occasions when there is a tie vote, when
the presiding officer casts the decisive vote.
While such are the duties of the office there
have been Vice Presidents who indirectly
have welded considerable power, and Mr..
Hobart was one of them. He was popular
among senators of all parties, his conduct
of the Senate showed most thorough
knowledge of parliamentary rules and
usages, and he was always regarded as a
man of great personal force.
When Mr.. Hobart came to the Senate he
was not a novice as a presiding officer. He
had been speaker of the New Jersey house
of representatives during two terms, after
which he was president of the state SEN
ate. He was always known a splendid
parliamentarian. He was cool and collected
when legislative matters appeared to be
tangled, and his quick perception enabled
him to promptly bring about order amid
confusion. He had a remarkable memory.
which served him we'll in the performance
of these duties
Experience as a Legislator.
Mr.. Hobart was experienced in state and
national legislation when he came to
Washington. In 1871, when Paterson, N.
J., was in the control of the democrats,
Mr.. Socrates Tuttle was elected mayor of
the city, and Mr.. Hobart was chosen clerk
of the city council He filled that position
with such satisfaction to all concerned that
in the next year he was elected counsel
for the board Of cree holders. In the fall
of the same year he was selected as one
of the NEST available men in his party as
candidate for the lower house OF the
state legislature. He was elected by the
largest majority ever given a republican
candidate and took a leading part in that
hnl 10 Irytc =
the next year was elected speaker. In 1876
the republicans put him up as their candi-
date for the state senate and he was elect
ed He was reelected In 1879, and in 1881
he was chosen president of the senate and
reelected the next year. These legislative
positions gave Mr.. Hobart thorough train
ing as a parliamentarian, and so fair and
exact was he in all his rulings that while
in the legislature of New Jersey his de-
cisionS were seldom questioned and were
never reversed. His faculty for handling
business promptly made him a general fa-
vorite.
Might Have Come to Congress.
Mr.. Hobart might have come to Congress
number of years ago. He declined the NOM
nation for Congress on five occasions. In
1892 an effort was made to have him ac-
cept the nomination for the governorship
of New jersey. He declined to do So re-
peating his declination In 1895, when he
uiu every lHlES ne cOulQ TO elect MS friend
and neighbor, John w. Griggs, to the gov
ernorship. In 1875 Mr. Hobart was a DEL
egate at large from New Jersey to the re-
publican national convention. In 1880 he
was again delegate at large to the
uonaI convention, always being an ardent
supporter of James G. Blaine for the pres
idency. In 1884 he helped nominate Mr.
Blaine for the presidency, and in that wear
became a member of the national committee
In order that he might actively support The
man he had helped to nominate, which he
did with vigor. He was a delegate to all
later national conventions.
Mr.. HObart'S work as chairman of the
republican state committee in the election
of Governor Griggs won for him such un-
stinted praise that the republicans of the
state at once began to exploit him as a
vice presidential candidate The republi-
can state convention of April. 1896, unani-
mously declared for Hobart for a place on
the national ticket.
Popular In Society.
No more popular host and hostess than
the Vice President and his wife have ever
welcomed their friends in this city. From
the first day their hospitable home was es-
tablished on La Fayette square there was
a welcome awaiting Washington society,
and a dignified, but friendly interest in it's
affairs which was characteristic of the
head of the house and its mistress. The
Vice President was exceedingly cordial in
his manner, and was the life of every as
semblage he entered. At his own table he
was at his best, and his dinner parties were
the perfection of official hospitality. The
close friendship between the President and
Vice President largely actuated the latter
IN his selection of a Washington home
He liked his close proximity to the White
House and appreciated the historical flavor
which enriched the neighborhood. His
home which is the property of ex-senator
Cameron, is one of the oldest houses in
this city 1t was built by and occupied in
1898 by Benjamin Ogle Taylor and then,
and In the many years since, has been as
sociated with enduring records of social
and political life.
A Much-S0ught Guest.
Both the Vice President and his wife ac-
cepted invitations generally, and unless
they were entertaining themselves scarce
ly ever took dinner at home during the ses-
sion of Congress. The Vice President was
the life of every dinner he attended. His
wit and humor, kindly always, was so in
fectious that he easily took control of all
the merriment going in his company.
While this was true of the pleasantries of
life, no man was more Jealous of what he
regarded as the prerogatives due to the
dignity of his office. His refraining from
paying the first call upon the ambassador
from Great Britain was a case In point
which settled for all tirna moot DALI, -