The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-08-03
REHuRL1c SPECIAL

tEHUbLlC SfEClAA
Washington, Aug. 2-Mrs. Cushman K
Davis's marriage to Mr.. William Hunter
Doll in Washington last Wednesday. re-
calls the greatest social feuti in official cir
cles Washington has seen since the day:
drawing room, tea table and Cabinet
1t grew older.
It involved in Its destructive course the
President Of the United States, the Vice
President of the United States. the chair
man Of the Republican National Commit
tee two former Governors Of Minnesota, a
United States Senator. who was also chair
man Of the Committee on Foreign Rela-
lions, and two charming and accomplished
women.
1t gave tho United States something
spicy to talk about for more than two
years. It kept one Of the former Gov.
ernors of Minnesota out of the Cabinet
on two occasions. and prevented him from
going as the American Ambassador to Rus
STA. 1t divided Washington society into
two hostile camps, just as 1t had divided
the society of st. Paul and Minneapolis fol
a decade. It finally expanded its force
leaving much wreckage in itsScourse, and
two social lionesses became two social
lambs under tho influence of the magic
diplomacy Of Ali Ferrouh Bey. the Turkish
Minister.
1t all came about because Mrs. Cushman
K. Davis. who became the wife of Governor
Davis of Minnesota, about 1879. was de
creed not to be sin society,"" The decree
was issued by Mrs. William r. Merriam. the
wife Of rising politician. who later became
~ r.
was elected Governor Of Minnesota In the
fall Of 1873. He and his wife were promi-
nent in St Paul society, and Mrs. Davis
Ram. the acknowledged leader Of the -Four
Hundred OF the Minnesota capital.
BEAUTY OF A sEAMsTREsS.
To tell the story chronolos1cally, Miss
Anna Agnew was engaged as a seamstress
In the Davis household in 1878. Miss"
Agnew had been the child wife Of the
printer named Evans. but had secured a
divorce. Miss Agnew was a very beautiful
young woman. who had to work for a liv-
ing, and was not too proud to do 1t. She
was descended from q famous Scotch
family. the MalcolmA
chickering's soon occurred in the Davis
house. Then came separation and a d.
vorce. Mrs. Davis went to Kansas to live.
She had been gone year when Miss Anna
Agnew became Mrs. Davis No. q This made
a great sensation In st. Paul society. Mrs.
Merriam. rs the leader in the social world
In the Northwest. had sympathized with
Mrs. Davis No. L She blamed wife No.
for the estrangement. The drawing rooms.
the clubs and the cafes buzzed with the
excitement.
Mrs. Davis No. was promptly cut by
the smart set. She was not in society, and
It was decreed that she should not go in.
She was socially ostracized. Mrs. Davis
No. 3 while not too proud to earn her own
living, was very sensitive and high-spirited.
She felt her position keenly. {
The political wheel in Minnesota turned
once or twice and VIM. r. Merriam became
Governor OF Minnesota. and Mrs. Merriam
went into the position Of mistress Of the
Executive Mansion, which had once been
filled by her intimate friend, Mrs Davis
No. l.
And now came the time for her to avenge
her friend. The inaugural ball and recep-
ton constitute the great social function in
st. Paul each winter that new Governor
takes his seat. The one which celebrated
the Inauguration Of Governor Merriam was
exceptionally brilliant. with the beautiful
and accomplished wife as hostess. Invita-
tons went to everybody who was anybody
in the State. But not to former Governor
and Mrs. Davis. They were ignored.
MRS. DAVIS NO. AsCENDs.
Once more the political wheel turned In
Minnesota and Cushman X. Davis went to
the United States Senate. With him to
reside In Washington went his wife. Mrs.
Davis found the social atmosphere Of Wash
ington far different from that Of st. Paul.
Doors had been closed to her there. No
Washington doors were closed. The wife
Of United States Senator whose husband
was on the Committee on Foreign Relations
was treated with great consideration.
Mr. Mckinley was elected in 1896. He set
about making UP his Cabinet. I'M nearly
every tentative list that went out the name
Of VIM. r. Merriam figured-now for Secre-
tary Of War. now for Postmaster General.
and now for Secretary Of the Interior. SEN
ator Davis objected to any place being
given to Mr.. Merriam. He threatened to
fight any nomination that might be given
to Mr. Merriam. He was even willing to
20 to the unprecedented length Of opposing
the confirmation of McKinley's Cabinet If
Merriam's name was in the list.
Vice President Hobart thought he could
arrange matters so that Mrs. Davis would
withdraw her opposition and Senator Davis
would consent to the nomination being
made. The next time he met Senator Han
ma, chairman Of the Republican National
Committee, he told him all about It.
..Now," said he in conclusion, you have
the whole story. I've burned my fingers
and am through. Suppose you try"
Senator Hanna tried. He reported at the
white House few evenings later, and his
listeners were the President and the Vice
President.
EFFORTS TO CONCILIATE.
'Mr President" said the Senator from
Ohio, "the Vice President tackled this and
burned his fingers. He told me to try. I've
tried and my fingers are blistered. too. 1t
is now a case for presidential Intervention"
There never was feud between men that
William Mckinley could not heal. But when
he tackled the famous feud between the So
cial leader of st. Paul and the social leader
of the diplomatic circle he confessed defeat
and beat q retreat
The story was told in Washington at the
time that Mrs. Merriam went to the extent
of calling on Mrs. Davis and asking her to
withdraw her opposition to her husband.
Mrs Davis refused to be placated. The time
for her revenge had come and she made the
most of It.
So the feud went on through 1897 and 1895
The winter Of 1898 and 1899 witnessed con-
siderable social rivalry between the women
Mrs Davis was almost at the top of the
social ladder then.
T2,,f all feffda come tn an erd rrhav oro