The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1904-08-18

capitol, and while waiting to repair
to the senate chamber where he was
to deliver his inaugural and take the
DATA, ne remarked that he felt very
weak, and must have a stimulant.
Hamlin answered that he didn't drink
and had nothing of the kind, but would
procure something. He sent to The
Hole in the Wall a Congressional in
stitution in those days, and got bottle
of brandy. Johnson took the bottle
and poured an ordinary water goblet
nearly full of the fiery liquor ana
tossed it off. The president-ele
on such an important occasion trusted
himself to speak extemporaneously.
The first glass of brandy had no par
ticular effect. and as the party pre-
pared to adjourn to the senate chamber
Johnson, who walked with Mr.. Hamlin,
excused himself when nearly to the
chamber. saying that he must have
another glass of liquor. Hamlin re-
turned with him, and the dose was re-
peated.
When Johnson began his address
the brandy had not begun to work on
him and he started splenddly, but in
q
and the spectacle he presented was
disgraceful. In the assemblage were
Mr.. Lincoln, his cabinet, the diplomatic
corps. members of the senate and
house and distinguished officers of the
army and navy. The limit was reached
when the new vice president pointed
a finger at the secretary of the navy
and hiccoughed: Mr.. Secretary (hic)
What's His Nance 'Welles. said a
voice in the audience. Yes, Welles
(hic),' and he was induced to cut his
drunken harangue short. He was taken
to the residence of General Frank P.
Blair, who stood sponsor for him, and
was i'll in bed for a number of days.
We reporters are frequently called
upon to edit speeches, and after the
scene in the chamber was over under
took to collect our wits and think what
was best to be done with Johnsons
speech. Republican senators rushed
speech must be written for the records
and democratic senators followed, in
delivered and be SO published in the
| Globe. We We're between two fires, but
| finally decided to prepare speech for
| publication in the record. By the
terms of the Globes contract the
speeches delivered in Congress were
frequently not published for several
days after they We're delivered, so we
had almost week to do our work in.
meanwhile the democratic papers
all over the country printed the speech
verbatim, including the 'hics' and made
| much capital of the disgrace Johnson
| had brought upon the country.
About week after the occurrence
the revised version was completed and
| was intrusted to take it to General
Blair's house in order that Johnson
| might read it. General Blair received
| me and when he learned my errand he
| insisted that he read it before it was
shown the vice-president. Accordingly
he went through it painstakingly, and
with his usual hardness Of compre-
hension failed to discover that it had
been 'doctored' l forgot to say that
Blair had not been present when the
| original was delivered, so he might be
| forgiven. Why, that's all right, said
he. I don't see what all the row is
| about. That's a good speech. I'll call
! looking very much the worse for wear.
He took the manuscript and COM
| menced reading it. I've read it
| through said Blair, and if | were you.
Johnson, l wouldn't change a word of
| it. Not damned word Johnson COM
pleted the reading without answering.
He sat a moment afterward as if try
| ing to recall something, and then smote
| the table with his hand and said very
| mpressively I won't, l won't change
word, by God
That is the story of how Andy
Johnson's inaugural appeared in the
official record in an expurgated form
| much to the surprise and disappoint-
| ment of the democratic party