The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-07-15
POLITICAL INTRIGUE.
"Reminiscences of Thirty Years Ago
or More.

"reminiscences OF Th1rtF 1earS ago
Or More.
Now that the political atmosphere Is
surcharged with electrical activity,
"reminiscences of former regimes possess
a peculiar interest, a fact that is recog-
nized by a writer in the National Maya
zine for July:
When Chief Justice Salmon P. Chase
died Gen. Grant found great difficulty In
selecting his successor. Great pressure
was brought to bear to promote one OF
the associate justices. Gen. Grant de-
sired to do that, but was not long in dis
covering that, while he would greatly
please one Of the justices by such a
course, he would seriously displease all
Of the others and their friends, and the
idea was abandoned. 1t was finally de-
cided to name Roscoe Conkling, who had
recently been elected to the senate.
Senator Conkling declined. There were
two or three cabinet meetings, largely
devoted to discussing candidates for chief
justice. One Of these meetings was held
without the knowledge of the attorney
general. Gen. Grant settled upon Judge
Williams. now living in Portland, Or,
and his name was sent to the senate. st
knew nothing about it until my name was
sent to the senate. 1t was my grea test
surprise" said Judge Williams recently.
1.-The next day, when 1 met Gen Grant
1 said: Mr. President I am under many
obligations for your kindness in this mat
ter He replied: 1T was the proper thing
to do"
The history of that appointment is very
interesting. AS will be remembered the
senate did not act upon 1t. The desire
of many senators to see an associate
justice promoted was a marked factor in
preventing prompt confirmation, but
there was a still greater factor Mrs
Williams was a talented, beautiful wom-
an; she was leader in Washington So
ciety; few equaled her and none ex-
celled. This distinguished society leader.
while very popular with a large element,
was unpopular with an influential ele-
ment. That element consisted of the
wives of some senator's representatives,
judges and other high officials whom
Mrs. Williams greatly surpassed in at
fractions. 1t was a thorn in their sides
to have her the wife of a cabinet minis
ter; what would it be when she was the
wife Of the chief justice? The pill was
very bitter one for them The idea of
this lady from PARKWAY Oregon, the
backwoods, as they said, ranking them
1t must not be. And they united, almost
as one, in the most bitter warfare upon
Judge Williams that has ever been
known at the national capital Every
newspaper that opposed the Grant adj
ministration made it an especial business
to traduce and besmirch the attorney gen.
eral. Grants choice for chief justice.
And every Republican paper that could
be reached by the pressure, which was
most powerful, joined in the loud baying.
The senate hesitated. Some Of its men,
bers clamored for different appointment.
The delay and the wholesale, vicious at
tacks had a most depressing effect upon
Judge Williams. He finally said to Gen
Grant: This bitter, cruel, unjust oppo-
stticn Is too much for me; 1 cannot bear
1t any longer. I want you to withdraw
my name" 81 will do so, Mr. Williams,
If you insist, but 1 do not wish to. I am
prepared to stand by you to the bitter
end"
mo, Mr.. President; please withdraw
my name The tension is too great-the