The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1904-02-12

traits o. character OF those with whom
he had TO deal He pointed out a
marked trait in Gov Andrew G. Cur
tin, Of Pennsylvania, who was earnest,
able and untiring in keeping up the
war spirit Of his state, but was at
times Overbearing and eXacting in his
intercourse with the general govern
ment-
Upon one occasion he complained
and protested more bitterly than usual
and warned those in authority that
the execution Of the War Department
orders in this state would be beset
with difficulties and dangers
The tone Of the dispatches gave
rise to an apprehension that he might
not cooperate fully in the enterprise
at hand. The Secretary Of War, in
anger, laid the dispatches before the
President for advisory instructions
They did not disturb Dir. Lincoln in
the least In fact. they rather amused
him After reading all the papers
he said, in a cheerful and reassuring
tone, Mr.. Secretary, never mind
these dispatches; they don't mean
anything just go right ahead. Gov.
Curtin is like a boy 1 once saw at
the launching Of a ship. When every
thing was ready they picked out this
boy and set him on the ship to knock
away the trigger and let her 90. At
the critical moment everything de
pended on that boy. He had TO do the
job well, by a direct, vigorous blow,
and then lie fat and keep still while
the ship moved over him. The 10y
did everything right; but he yelled
as If he were being murdered from
the time he got under the keel until
he got out. 1 thought the skin was
all scraped on his back, but his hide
was not touched"
The master Of the yard told me
that this boy was always chosen for
that job; that he did his work well;
that he had never been hurt. but that
he always squealed in that way
That's just the way" continued Mr..
Lincoln. that Gov. Andy Curtin does.
Make up your mind that he is not
hurt, that he is doing the work right
and pay no attention to his sQuealing.
He only wants to make you under
stand how hard his task IS"
Sometimes the President yielded to
Secretary StantOn's judgment. Rev.
Charles ". Heisler, a Methodist min
lister, who still survives, had rather a
soft snap" as chaplain Of a hospital
in Philadelphia His wife was very
i'll, and the Secretary of War had Just
ordered him 70 his post Of duty at the
Dry TOrtugas, or some place equally
unsatisfactory. Heisler wanted the
order rescinded. He saw Mr.. Lin
coin. explained the whole matter tc
the President, who said: 4 think this
preacher ought to be allowed to re-
main where he is"
Lincoln reached 10 a pigeon hole in
his desk and took out a card, on
which he wrote:
Edwin n Stanton, Secretary Of
War: If the. exigencies Of the service
will permit, let up on 8Ir. Heisler and
leave him where he is A. Lincoln"
Rev. Heisler went over to the War
Office in high spirits. Stanton was in
one Of his UproariOus humOrs- For
the modern Carnot, in spite Of his
many virtues and his solid Presbyter-
ianism, could, when angered. swear
Ike a moss trooper. He read Mr..
LincOln's card and said to the minis
ter, Go back and tell Mr.. Lincoln 1
viii be id If I viii do what he re-
quests" After the President had lis
tened patiently to Stanton's message
he said with a twinkle in his eye,
Wen, 1 never did have much iniu-
ence with this administration.
Rev Mr.. Heisler resigned next day
as chaplain in the United States -serv-
ice.
The next time the writer saw the
President the first thing he said was:
Il did something this morning which
has aroused the ire OF Secretary Stan
ton Congressman DennfsOn, Of Penn
sylvania, came to me With the mother
| make our way along the walk Dur