The Washington times., 1905-06-01
B()NAPARTE WILL
RULE The NAVY
Man of Striking Personality
and Positive Ideas.
GRAND NEPHEW OF NAPOLEON
Champion of Reform in Maryland Poll
tics-Assoeiate Counsel in Post
office Conspiracy Cases.

Charles J. Ronaparte, of Baltimore. re- /
former and descendant of royalty, is |
President Roosevelts new Secretary OF
the NaFv.
He will enter the Cabinet to succeed /
Paul Morton en- July 1st..
President Roosevelt announced the Sc
lection OF Mr.. Bonaparte for the Navy
portfolio late yesterday afternoon at the
White House. He has had the accept
ance of the Baltimore lawyer in his
hands for ten days. The President had
MIR. Bonaparte in mind for the place
ever since it was known definitely that
Mr. Morton was TO retire with the end
OF the fiscal year.
To the public the appointment came
as & complete surprise It promises TO
be one of the most notable the Presi-
dent has ever made.
Mr.. Bonaparte is a great grandson OF
Jerome Bonaparte. King of West
phalia. Napoleon Ronaparte was his
grand uncle. He is ifty-four years old
and a lawyer. He insists that he is an
independent Republican, but his party
record has been assailed by some Of the
old Republican war horses, who assert.
among other things, that he voted for
Grover Cleveland.
Counsel in Postal Cases.
SAiieiktS Lie SDtSi event III his aCltsS
career which brought him in close
touch with the President and resulted
IN his being rewarded with d Cabinet
position was his prosecution OF the pos
tai frauds President Roosevelt selected
him as special counsel for the Govern
ment with Holmes Conrad, OF New York,
IN the investigation He chose Mr..
Bonaparte because of his inpla ca BILE
hatred of -'grafters"
Soon after Mr.. Bonaparte went to
work ne had q controversy with Charles
EMORY Smith, former postmaster gen
erai. Postmaster General Payne did not
IKE the appointment. Mr.. Bonapafte's
party record WIGS questioned, and he was
the subject of sarcastic remarks by
Representative Grosvenor, but he main
tanned that he was an Independent Re
publican
Mr.. Bonaparte's speciality, ever since
ne graduated from the Harvard LAW
School. in 1874 has been fighting all
kinds Of fraud and graft in the public
service. He was giving and taking heavy
blows In fight for better municipal
politics when Mr.. Roosevelt left. Har-
ward. where the name of Charles j.
Bonaparte for ten years had been
revered among the undergraduate
The President and his future Secretary
of the Navy have been friends for years
Mr. Bonaparte touched elbows with MI
Roosevelt when both were fighting the
battles of civil service reform
Known as a "Silk Stocking
In Maryland politics Mr. Bonaparte
has trained with the silk stocking ele-
nlent IN the Republican party. He is d
Catholic, and Is counsel for Cardinal
Gibbons, and was counsel for the Cath
olic University Of America in the fInan-
ciai differences which were brought
about by the failure of the university 5
treasurer, Thomas Z. Waggaman. He
was always bitter enemy Of Senator
Co ~ ain. and repeatedly made what was
known as the ''Gorman-Rasin Ring
a special object Of attack c.4.o.
Mr.. Bona parties entry into the CABINET
will make him the most prominent Re-
publican in Maryland. He viii become
supreme in the dispensation or patron
age,
Some Like Napoleon.
Charles Joseph Bonaparte is grand
son Of Jerome Bonaparte. who was a
brother of Napoleon /. 1t does not take
close look at his face to see features
that recall the familiar pictures OF his
ancestors.
Persons who have made a study of
heredity point to his rise TO prominence
as an example of its influence, and that
his greatness is the awakening of a
spirit that has been dormant in his fam
tly for time. Mr.. Bonaparte has never
been conceited about his ancestry, Du'
has ALWAYS considered himself - an IN
detgen6ent individuality. and ne mas q
positive aversion TO being compared &c
his ancestors.
He frowns when asked If he is de-
scsndant OF the French imperial family
and likes still less TO have persons just
introduced to him whisper to one anothei
that he looks much like the great frencf
warrior and statesman. He is not 9
descendant of Napoleon Bon2parte, bu'
is a great-grandson OF Charles Marie az
Bona parte, who was the father of Ma
poleon and of Jerome BonaDarte
a Thorough American.
Mr. Bonaparte is an American through
and through He cares little for foreign
travel, and the places made famous by
charm for him. He is. perhaps, proudel
of his grandmother than of his more
historical ancestors. She was Elizabeth
Patterson, daughter of Baltimore mer-
chant. and known as one of the iaires
women of her time. one OF the group ol
RaItimoreans that have won wide dis
tinction for beauty and brilliancy.
- When King Jerome died in June. 1857
he said nothing in his will Of his frs
marriage Nine. BOnaparIe applied 10
a share of the estate, but her claim
were not allowed In the French courts
TO recognize her rights 70 q share OF th
will of her husband would have beer
tanfamount to recognizing her as
would have complicated the succession
To the throne.
Father Not KaturaiZed.
Mr.. Bonaparte's father was never nat
,.raIized as an American citizen. Thi
act would have interefered with his as
,,,,.a lions 10 recognitiOu as q member O