The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-02-14
1BTOtCIGAR BOX TO Mr.. LODGE
EX-SENATOR CHANDLER fhL-
SEN7S 1T 1T 4 DINNER

lie Had Established the Pact That senator
Iodse wrote the words, which We
Pledge ourselves 10 Promote m
the Money Plank OF HI Republican
Platform OF 1900, which Pledged the
Party to International Bimetallism.
WAsHINoroS Feb. 13.-Former Senator
william E.. Chandler OF New Hampshire,
President of the Spanish Claims Com
mission, was the host at a very interesting
dinner tonight, the guest Of honor being
senator Henry Cabot Lodge Of Massa-
chusetts. Tho dinner was given primarily
for the purpose OF affording Senator Chand-
Ter the opportunity Of presenting to Senator
Lodge a handsome cigar box, made OF
sixteen parts silver and one part gold, as a
certificate Of the established fact that Mr..
Lodge Is the author OF the six words, which
we pledge ourselves to promote In the
money plank Of the Republican platform
81 1895, and which committe tho party
10 the cause OF International bimetallism.
For nearly six years Mr.. Chandler has,
with his characteristic persistency and
industry. sought to fix beyond all doubt
the credit for the insertion Of these words
in the platform. which he thinks were more
directly responsible than any other one
thing for the two elections Of President
Mckinley, and he has carried on a yolumi-
nous correspondence with Republicans Of
national reputation all over tho United
states.
just after the election In 1896 Mr.. Chandler
announced in his newspaper, the concord
Monitor, that he proposed to pay 500 IN
uash to whoever should produce the proof
of his authorship Of the six words above
quoted. The contest after awhile L&rro"ed
down to Senators Lodge and Foraker,
Gov. Merriam of Minnesota, Edward IAIl-
ierbach of New York and one or two other
members OF the Committee on Resolutions
after a score OF ambitious claimants had
been bowled over.
Becoming satisfied on their testimony
that MIR. Lodge was entitled To the money,
IL was paid over to him by Mr.. Chandler.
But Senator Lodge returned Il, saying that
in his opinion his title 10 the reward was
not entirely clear. Whereupon Mr.. Chand-
Ter reopened the correspondence on the
subject and a claimant appeared in the
person Of David X Watson. the Ohio MEM
her Of the Committee on Resolutions. who
made out a strong prima facie case.
The Investigation was continued up 90
the first Of the present year, when the
controversy was ended by the evidence
OF Senator Foraker, who was chairman of
the Committee on Resolutions In the con-
vention of 1898 He found among his
papers the original draft of the money
plank Inc the interlined amendment orig
inally written on "a telegraph blank, in
the handwriting OF Senator Lodge. which
we pledge ourselves to promote"
As Senator Lodge had declined the prize,
Senstor Chandler spent the 500 and a
little more in having the beautiful cigar
box manufactured II IL about ten inches
long by six wide and has the Senator'S
in gold on the cover and an
inscription setting forth briefly the facts
NJ its presentation. At the dinner tonight
Chandler read the correspondence
hat established Senator Lodges title u
prize, and the Senator accepted il in a
fitting response.