The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1905-06-02
Will DO HIS DUTY
SAYS lAR BlONAPARTE

X
CHARACTERISTIC OF n e. NEW
sEcRETARl 4 iilic H HAVE
MADE HIN. OINTMENT III
FleUREsIN BALTIMORE.
/ BALTIMORE, Nd. June 2.-charles
IJ.s Bonaparte was presiding over a
meeting Of the Executive Committee.
IofSthe Reform League, Of which he Is
chairman, when the Associated Press
dispatch announcing mis-. appointment
Ito succeed Paul Morton as Secretary
|of the Navy was shown him. He said:
The President rendered me the pc.
sition about ten days ago After due
reflection i decided It was my duty to
accept. ! had no reason to think pre-.
viously that he had my name under
consideration for this Office. 1t Is
needless for me to say that appre.,
ciated very highly the great and un.
expected compliment implied in his
Ioffer.
j Nevertheless, did not accept with.
out much hesitation, for ] have always
been very reluctant to enter public
life. There Is nothing more to be
said except that 1 will try TO do my
duty and hope to make a creditable
record"
Charles ]. Bonaparte is regarded as
one Of Baltimore's most able citizens
and lawyers, is the possessor Of a
yitrlolic sarcasm and wit that few
have dared to encounter, while the &C.
centricities Of his personality have
always aroused respectful comment.
MIR. Bonaparte is the grandson Of
Prince Jerome Bonaparte, brother OF
Napoleon and King Of Westphalia,
and who married the beautiful Betsie
Patterson, Of Baltimore. Mr.. Bona.
parte has never referred to his con.
nection with the Bonaparte family,
preferring to be known as plain
American citizen, and he could not
be induced, under any plea, to talk
, on the subject.
,, No one in Baltimore has ever heard
him mention the subject. The French
officials decided that descendants Of
Betsie Patterson and Prince Jerome
. . 2 ~ .
could bear the name OF Bonaparte, but
that they could not be considered 6
, part of the Emperors family circle.
The last eighteen years Of her life
Nine. Bonaparte passed in quIet
Baltimore boarding house. Her for
!, tune amounted to s1,5OoO0O. Sshe was
;. extremely parsimonious, except witt
7 her grandsons, to whom she gave
large sums. To the last she mani
:, tested interest in European politics
but never cared anything for Ameri
can affairs. She died April 4, 1879
: In her will her grandsons, Jerome Ma
. poleon Bonaparte,s who died few
days ago, and Charles j.. Bonapartt
shared in nearly equal portions
Mr.. Bonaparte las been active in tht
!, political life Of Maryland, having
:. once been a Democrat, but has beer
:. an independent Republican for years
and the bitterest enemy Of the Dem
: ocratic State organization, controlle,
by Senator Arthur P. German. AS
leader in civil service and reform
), league work he has been the leader II
. the exposure of what he alleged to b.
:, corrupt politics of any party in Mar,
! land. :glg
MIR. and Mrs. Bonaparte are Ident
:, fed with the best social life Of Bait
: more, but he never entertains an
does not go out.
= Mr.. Bonaparte two years ago wa
: selected by the President as specie
counsel for the. government, wit
:. Holmes Conrad, of New York, In til
: investigation of the postal frauds. TIL
= President chose Mr.. Bonaparte b,
= cause of his implacable hatred {
"grafters." Soon after he went t
work lie had controversy wit
- Charles Emory Smith. former Pos
y master General. Postmaster Gener,
- Payne did not like the. appointment
~ Mr.. Bonaparte's party record W;
:" questioned and he was the subject
sarcastic remarks by Representa-,
AZ Grosvenor, but he maintained that
~ was an independent Republican,
~ In Maryland politics Mr.. Bonapar
:" has trained with the 'sik stocking
- element in the Republican party.
~ He has had no previous experien,
" with naval affairs, but the Presidel
!" considers this no drawback. He is n
!" a wealthy man but has a modera
"! fortune.