The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-27
LUCY hAYES'S BUFFET
COLONEL BINGHAM SAYS 1T WAS
OWNED BY THE GOVERNMENT.
Its Sale to a Saloon Keeper Created
a Stir I'm WOmen's Christian
Temperance Union Circles.

Washington Special to Baltimore Sun.
The stir produced in white-ribbon councils
by the widespread publication of the state
ment that 1.-The famous mahogany buffet
presented to Mrs. Lucy Hayes by the
Woman's Christian Temperance Union has
been sold to an East Washington saloon
keeper" at the recent sale of White House
properties has resulted in some interesting
developments.
An element of mystery is now attached
to the history of the buffet which is becom-
ing cause for controversy in official and
social circles. 1t is precipitated by the eff
fort of Colonel Webb Hayes, son of the
late President Rutherford B. Hayes, dur
ing his visit to Washington in January
to obtain possession of the buffet, which.
he said, the government ought to have re-
tanned.
Three questions now present themselves:
Was the buffet presented to Mrs. Hayes
by the Woman's Christian Temperance
Union? Was it given to Mrs. Hayes by the
Cincinnati School of Design? Or was it
bought outright by the government?
If it was given to the Nation, it is con-
tended. it should have been sent to the
United States National Museum when dis
carded at the White House and not sold
to the highest bidder. Colonel Theodore
A. Bingham, superintendent of public build
ings and grounds, who perfected arrange
ment for the sale, is of opinion that the
buffet was bought by the government out
right and that it was therefore properly
sold. 1t is customary to dispose of old
government property at public sale. This
is authorized by law and it was upon the
assumption that the buffet was bought by
the government that it was condemned
and sold.
The sale occurred at an auction room on
Jan. IL last Afterward Colonel Webb
Hayes came to Washington from Cleveland
on his way to New York and while here
heard of the sale of what purported to be
the Hayes buffet He visited Colonel
Binghams office and asked for details. He
is said to have declared that the buffet
ought not to have been sold, as it was a
gift to the Nation. After the departure of
Colonel Hayes Colonel Bingham began to
investigate: From number of employees
connected with the White House since the
| administration of President Hayes he OBJ
tanned statements which he said substan-
TALLY confirmed his belief that the govern
ment obtained the buffet by purchase and
not gift. He informed the correspond
| ent of the Sun that records had been found
| showing that a buffet of like character had
| been bought from Henry l.. Fry, of Cincin-
| natl, about the time of the Hayes admins
tration. Colonel Bingham also learned that
| handsomely carved oak frame made by
|
Design for a portrait of Mrs. Hayes in the
| White House had been sent to her as gift
| but that 1T was not found suitable for such
| portrait and was returned.
1t is stated that this frame is now in a
| museum in Cincinnati. From the circum-
| stances Colonel Bingham is firmly of the
| opinion that this frame has been mistaken
| for the buffet. If the young ladies of the
/ same school really sent a buffet to Mrs
| Hayes no record of it has been found and
| the buffet has disappeared.
/ A dopf he -
| the buffet. He is Mr.. Joseph M. Frank
| who is connected with local brewery and
| a summer resort and German garden Mr.
| Frank took the correspondent to a store
room on the second story and there pointed
| out the buffet and many other ARTICLES OBJ
tanned in the White House sale.
"All L know about this buffet he said
is the history given me by Mr.. Webb
| Hayes. Four or five days after the sale
| returned here late one afternoon to find a
strange gentleman waiting. He said he
| was Colonel Hayes, son of the late Presi
dent. He asked about the buffet, expressed
| desire to see 1t and wished to buy it,
told him of previous offer of $3.50, and
said 1 would sell it for $1,000 to Colone
| Hayes il he would accept by Z o'clock tina,
| night. He said he had to go on to New
York and left. 1 received no answer. Since
| then nave received a letter offering me-
$1,000.
From the tenor of the letter. which i.
from a resident of Washington. the buffe
| was desired for some one interested In tn,
Woman's Christian Temperance Union A
that time my price was 5000. Now hav,
no particular desire to dispose of the buffet
wmch regard with a certain sense o.
pride and reverence, and would not sci
for that amount. If ii is not sold by mex
week will move 1t into the dining room o.
my own residence. The statement that 1
has been used in a barrOom since the sal,
is absolutely unfounded. 1 have not desc
Grated the buffet in such a manner. not ;
drink having been taken off it, although
am told every President who INDUCED IN
toddy since the days of Hayes drank from
at am a Cincinnatian and am familiar
with the School Of Design on Walnut hill
in that city. The finest families of Obi,
sent their daughters there. Colonel Have
told me the buffet was designed in tn,
school and that the young ladies sent it t,
his mother. He said that as Mrs. Hayes
could not accept the gift it was turned
over to the government as gift and lef
Pointing to two shields of the Unite,
States traced in symmetrical position OF
the top surface of the buffet, Mr.. Franz
said: ''Colonel Hayes told me when he wa
here that these were carved by notabl
women, the one on the right by Mrs Store
(wife of the United States minister t
SPAIN, and the one on the left by Mrs
Taft (wife of the Governor of the Philip
pnes.) Colonel Hayes said that after tn
death of his father Mrs. Hayes dedicate,
the Hayes home at Fremont. o.. to tn
memory of her husband, to be used as
storehouse for Hayes mementos. Colone
Hayes said he desired to send the buffet L
the Fremont home. AS am an Ohioan an
| favored the project L told Colonel Have
1 would sell to him for the reduced figur
of 81, COO"
While the correspondent was with MI
| Frank the buffet was pulled away from tn
wall in order to show that it's backing wa
of solid mahogany. Inscribed on the bac
| of the buffet. as with chisel. are the let
tiers, two inches high each, III. ID. Fry.
The name was chiseled in some time ag
and was dusty with age. This Inscription
seemingly in harmony with Colonel Bling
, hams contention. was brought to the atten
ton of the purchaser. who replied that hi
only knowledge of the history of the buffe
came from Col. Webb Hayes, who had nc
since been heard from. Since the publica
ton of the garbed stories. one of whic
said that a negro saloon keeper was usin
. the buffet as a bar, Mr. Frank has receive
almost 700 letters from all parts of tn
country, number from temperance advo
Gates condemning such use of the piece an
one from a clergyman.
Scarlet Fever serum.
New York Special.