Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1905-12-09

n
rendered his resignation as attorney gem
eral. For a time he practiced law in
Washington and then returned to Oregon
and resumed his law practice interrupted
lin 1864. 4 movement was set on foot
the wear of senatorial election, over
twenty-five years ago. to return Judge
Williams to the Senate. majority of
the Republicans We're favorable to his
election. but the Republican minority
united with the Democrats and elected
John H. Mitchell, recently found guilty
OF defrauding the government.
Since then Judge Williams has been
besought by parties and individuals to
consent to the use OF his name for various
offices Of honor and trust but has in
yariably declined, until a few years SINCE
when ne was elected mayor.
| know that millions would listen, as |
did with deep interest, to what this dis
tinguished ex-member of his cabinet said
about President Grant, if they had
chance. Let me give them chance to
read what he said
WAS it Gen. Grants habit to take an
active part in discussing questions which
came before the cabinet ?"
IF the question was one which should
lie settled by the head OF department,
the general would refer the matter to
that cabinet minister. In question like
the initiation bill. for instance. Gen Grant
always listened attentively to the opin-
ions of the cabinet, now and then max
ing question or suggesting an idea.
That bill passed, as you remember. After
prolonged session of the cabinet, when
the question veto or no veto was dis
cussed from every standpoint, Gen. Grant
closed the meeting by saying. Gentlemen.
it is my plain duty to veto that bill;
shall veto it, ~
Did the President generally approve
OF the acts Of his cabinet Office IA the
management of their respective dep TT
mcats. and did he appoint to ollic he
men recommended by cabinet officer
"GeneralN. yes Gen Grant was iery
good in the matter Of appointing men rec
commended by the heads of departments.
He never failed to appoint any one that
/ recommended, and cannot recall more
than an instance or two where he failed
to comply with the requests of other
cabinet officers. He did not always APP
prove of our actions. | refer to one case,
without using names. A federal official
had been found guilty of embczzement.
was tried, convicted and imprisoned. He
had many influential friends and they
hes0ught the Pres lent for pardon.
Grant referred them to the attorney gem
cral and m every instance | reported I'M
favorably. At last the wife OF the pris-
oner came to my Office and pleaded that
her husband be liberated She was a
beautiful woman, refined, highly educated
and intelligent, and her appeal was the
most pathetic that | ever listened to- It
was hard task to do, but | had to say
to the lady, i cannot help you; your
husband was guilty, and if | favor a
pardon for him, how can | refuse others
whose oifenses were not so great as hsg'
In those days Gen. Grant had a rule
that no woman seeking pardon for friends
should be admitted to his office. but by
some means this lady reached his room
and made her plea. When he said he did
not sec how he could comply with her re
quest she fell upon her knees and with
tear sprinkled cheeks begged the Presi
dent to give her back her husband. If
not for my sake, for the sake of my
children; for the sake of an unborn
child That day Gen Grant sent a note
directing me to take the necessary steps
to pardon the man, and it was done
When | met him | said MIR President.
YOU made Il mistake in that case. That
man was an emheZzler; it was a perfect
~ clear case He ought to have re-
manned in prison
MIR. Williamc. know ii was a mis-
take; know the man was guilty; /
SNOW he ought 10 have been kept in
prison. but what is a man to do when
such Woman falls upon her knees and
pleads that hci life and that of her nm
born child depended on my saying yes .
There was sign Of tears in the Prcsi-
dents ewes a. he said it,
Was Gen. Grant cordial, ioyiaI and
friendly with the cabinetr'
NJ times. very much so. When there
was any important work to do at cab
met meetings, the general always gave
close and serious attention When we
met and there was nothing to do. | have
known him to talk for two hours, and
most ontertaiuingiy Usually at those
social gatherings he would talk of the
Mexican and Civil wars and the men he
served with, but never about things that
he did. lie frequently told us of great
movements made by sherman. Thomas
or Faragut; or by Lee, Stonewall Jackson
Tor l-CHgStreet. He was ALWAYS very cor
dial in greeting cabinet members, hut the
class that was most warmly greeted was
his old comrades of the Mexican and
civil wars. Those he met with both
hands extended to grasp the two hands
Of the visitor"