Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-05-28
NAPOLE-N ON A STAMP.
Possible That United States May Use
His Portrait.

| Washington. May 27.-Shall Napoleon
Ronaparte be accorded the unparalleled
distinction of representation upon one
of the postage stamps of the United
States?
The occasion for this possible depar
ture from established custom lies in the
prospective issue of stamps by the
Postoffice Department to commemorate
the purchase of the Louisiana tract of
land from France in 1903. The decision
to issue n special series of stamps has
not been finally reached, but from good
authority, it is learned that there is lit
tie doubt of an affirmative decision.
1t is understood that the COM
memoraticve series of stamps will COM
prise only four denominations: /, g 5
and 10 cents. The details of size. shape,
and design have not been considered
officially but suggestions as TO designs
have been made and filed for future
use Among the ideas advanced is that
of placing upon the four stamps por-
traits of the leading factors in the ne
gotiations in 1903 and leading men of
the two negotiating countries in 1903.
In the first class jefferson and Ma
poleon, of course stand alone and I'M
disputed in title. 1t is suggested. and
the department officials consider the
idea a valuable one, that Thomas JEFF
ferson'S bust appear upon the tWo-cent
value. which is distinctly n domestic
stamp, and that Napoleon's portrait
adorn the five-cent stamp, which car
ries letters to all countries within the
postal union.
In view of the fact that it is contrary
to the regulations of the Postoffice De-
partment that the portrait of any liv- |
ing American shall be placed upon a
postage stamp, President Roosevelt is |
barred. However, President Mckinley |
was the Chief Executive at the time
Congress authorized the Louisiana Pur- |
chase Exposition and made liberal APP |
preparation therefor, and it is held that |
his official act in approving and sign |
ing the act is ample warrant for plac-
ing his portrait upon one of the pro-
posed stamps. This view of the matter |
is further borne out by the action of the |
Congress in authorizing the minting of
100000 gold dollars, to be sold as SouVe-
Mrs in connection with the exposition,
each bearing the bust of either Mckin-
ley or Jefferson-125.00 900 of each having |
been coined. Carrying the scheme to it's
logical conclusion, President Loubet, |
of France would be entitled to the |
fourth place.
At this point. however, the regula-
tons of the PostoItice Department loom
up. This rule. as stated, is to the effect
that no living American shall be repre-
scented upon United States postage
stamps. President LOubet is of
course. not an American, but he is /,
alive. and the question is, would the
Postofice Department consider the
French President eligible.
In case President LOubet should be
ruled out. the fourth portrait must be
selected from outside the participating
quartet and the bars are therefore COM
pletely down.
1t has been suggested that, in this
event. the portrait of Louis XIV. of |
France. in honor of whom Louisiana
was named. might he considered as
next in line Then Columbus, the dis
coverer of America is brought for
ward as proper figure to be thus hon
ored.
In this connection, it may be re-
marked that up to this date there IS no |
record that any nation save the United |
States has ever issued a postage stamp |
bearing the effigy of a sovereign of |
another nation. At the time the de-
partment determined to place the por
trait of Martha Washington upon the |
eight-cent stamp of the series recently |
issued. the assertion was made that she
was the first woman to be thus hon |
orcd by this government, and this state
ment was accepted as true until a
the fact that the four dollar stamp of |
the Columbian series, issued in 1898, to
commemorate the Worlds Fair at |
Chicago, bore the portrait of Queen |
Isabella of Spain.
The same Columbian series also con-
tanned the portarit of Christopher Co