The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-01
MORTON'S SUCCESSOR NAMED.
CHARLES y. BONAPARTE TO RE
SECRETARY OF THE NAVY.

milton OF the southern Repubiicans-A
Descendant OF NapOleOn'S BrJther.
WASHINGTON, May 3l,-Announcement
was made at the White House to-day that
Charles Jerome Bonaparte Of Baltimore,
Md. would succeed Paul Morton al Secre-
tary OF the Navy upon Mr.. Morton's retire.
ment on July i. Mr.. Bonaparte was Sc
lected. it was said, soon after II was def1n-
itely arranged that Mr.. Morton would re-
tire this summer. He has accepted.
In securing the services Of Mr., Bonaparte
the President has not only gratifed strong
personal inclination, but has in measure
recognized the growing importantly Of
Southern Republicans that the South sh ould
have a representative In the Cabinet. Since
the cordial treatment shown the President
in the South and Southwest. particularly
in Texas, on his journey westward in.April,
these opportunities have increased, and
while there ia no definite information to
that effect, 1t ia supposed that the President
has borne in mind the reasons presented
for recognition of the South in an appoint
ment to his official family.
President Roosevelt and Mr. Bonsparte'
have been friends and coworkers for many
years. Their principal common interest
was in the field OF civil service reform, of
which Mr.. Bonaparte has been the most
prominent and active exponent in the United
States His most recent association with
the President was in connection with the
prosecution OF the postal frauds. Mr.
Bonaparte having been selected by MIR.
Roosevelt as special counsel to assist the
Government attorneys in securing the con-
viotion Of August W. Machen and other
alleged grafters.
Mr.. Bonaparte, while Republican. has
always been very independent in politics.
He Is a Roman Catholic.
An interesting feature in regard to the
appointment of Mr.. Bonaparte ia that 1t will
place collateral descendant Of the great
Napoleon at the head of the United States
navy. Mr.. Bonaparte is a grandson OF
Jerome Bonaparte. King Of Westphalia,
brother OF Napoleon ]. The alliance be-
tween Jerome and the grandmother Of
Charles j. Bonaparte, who was Miss Eliza
beth Patterson Of Baltimore, was sur
rounded by many romantic features. in
which International politics and the es-
tablishment OF the Bonaparte dynasty
played part,
Jerome Bonaparte was a French naval
officer, and during visit to Baltimore in
1903, when he was 10 and she year younger,
he married Miss Patterson without the con-
sent Of his brother the Emperor. Miss
Patterson was the daughter OF prominent
Irishman Of Baltimore, who owned line
of clipper ships and was the weathiest
citizen OF the MARYLAND port. Jerome met
Miss Patterson at a ball in Baltimore in the
| fall Of 1903. They fell in love at first sight,
but the young lady's father foresaw trouble
In a marriage, and sent his daughter to
! Virginia But Jerome was persistent; an
Engagement was entered into through
correspondence and Miss Patterson's father
finally relented.
The marriage. brilliant affair, was cele-
brated in Baltimore on Dec. e. 1903. Ma
poleon sent word to Jerome that If he left
his bride his disobedience would be over
looked, but II he adhered to her she would
not be allowed to land in France. Jerome
and his wife remained in America until
March, 1905. when they sailed for Lisbon
on one Of Nine. Bonararte's fathers
| ships French vessel prevented their
landing. Jerome went to Paris to plead
with Napoleon, and his wife started for
Amsterdam in her fathers clipper, but was
prevented from landing by two men -of-war
and compelled to go to England. At Dover
a great crowd gather ed to witness her land
ing. and the Ministry at London sent regi-
ment to prevent trouble.
On July 7, 1905, just after she landed
in England, Nine. Bonaparte gave birth
to a son. She remained in England, re-
ceiving while there many messages OF
affection from Jerome. After making vain
efforts to have Pope Plus VII. dissolve the
marriage, Napoleon had the Imperial
Council Of State pass a decree Of divorce
Nine. Bonaparte returned to America
and Jerome was married to Princess
Catherine Frederick of Wurtemburg, by
whom he had three children. In the year
of his marriage. 1907. he was crowned
King Of Westphalia and reigned until 1913
when the Germans conquered the territory
Nine. Bonaparte made repeated eff.
forts to secure a recognition Of her sons
legitimacy. In the 'o)s, under Napoleon
III, the French Government granted
her formal trial Jerome Bonaparte
appealed to the Council of State to forbid
his son to assume the name Of Bonaparte,
but the Council granted Nine. Bonaparte'l
petition. Nine Bonaparte died in Balti
more in 1879.
Charles j. Bonaparte is the second son o.
| JeTOme Ndpoicoh A'ohopai'C, viz ch'y
issue Of the marriage of King Jerome anc
Elizabeth Patterson. He was born il
Baltimore on June Q, 1851, was graduated
from Harvard in 1871 and from the Harvard
!, law school in 1874, and has practised il
Baltimore since then. His wife was Mis-
Ellen Claiming Day of Newport, r. i
Mr.. Bonaparte is said to be eslthy.
BALTIMORE, Md, May 3l.-Mr. Bona
parte was attending meeting Of the execu
tive committee OF the Reform League
of which he is chairman, at the Hotel Bel
. vedere, when informed of his appointment
as Secretary of the Navy When a Telegram
was shown him announcing his selection
to succeed Mr.. Morton, Re wrote the follow
ing:
-The President rendered me the position
about ten days ago. After duo reflection
I decided 1t was my duty to accept. hat
no reason to think previously that he hae
, nv name under consideration for THU
,, Office. 1t is needless for rne to say tina
/ appreciated very highly the great and un
, expected compliment implied in his ofier.
Nevertheless. ! did not accept withou
much hesitation, for l have always beer
, very reluctant to enter public life. Their