Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1906-06-06
HOW IT HAPPENED
That senator Frye was selected as
one Of the Peace Commissioners.

William r. Frye that he had been selected
as one Of the commissioners to negotiate
the peace between the United States and
Spain is story that has never been told
! II illustrates admirably the character Of
the modest great isian OF Maine.
The telegram from President Mckinley
came 10 Lewiston first Of all. IL was a
long telegram, protfering the appointment
as commissioner, and urging acceptance IN
manner that showed that the President
had set his heart upon securing Senator
Frye. But Senator Frye was not within
reach Of the telegraph. He was some
where in the vastness Of the kangeiey
region listening to the click OF the reel
instead OF the click OF the telegraph key
As urgency bristled all over that mes
sage from the head Of the nation, the Hon.
Seth NJ Carter. of Lewiston, was called
into consultation by the telegraph people
But Mr.. Carter did not know the abiding
Mace OF the senator and his party. He
only knew that they were not at the sens-
tors camp at Indian Rock, but were on
tour among the lakes.
The intelligence was transmitted to
Washington that the whereabouts OF the
senator was not known, and that the
delivery Of the message could not be
assured. Back came the imperative word
that the message must be delivered II the
whole of northern Maine had to be ran
sacked, and that no expense should be
spared TO find Senator Frye, who was
| biissfuliy settled to his fishing after ell
those troubIous days Of war.
The telegram finally reached him at
Enrol, transferred to. the telephone. The
| senator and his friends were at table en-
joying a fisherman's meal when word
came that Mr.. Frye was wanted at the
telephone. Now Senator Frye will never
| talk over the telephone IL he can avoid II.
Therefore he sent his son-in-law, Wallace
II. White, in his stead.
"The President asks you to take the APP
pointment OF peace commissioner" re-
ported Mr.. White.
"Reply that viii not accept under any
circumstances cried the senator. He
spoke with just little petulancc, for
the purr of the reel still sounded In his
ears, and he had come back to Maine
heart-sick and soul-tried. "Ill not do 1t, !"
he repeated; II don't want it,"
sBut,n deprecated Mr.. White, wouldn't
1t be well to delay your reply little
while and think on the matterr That
seems rather hasty answer"
| Senator Frye did not reply. and Mr..
White did not Immediately return the re-
fusal.
| An hour or so later the senator suddenly
| broke out with:
81 suppose, after all, that such request
| by the President is more or less in the
nature OF a command, and that ! ought to
accept. But / don't want to-I don't
want to-"
| 1t was the soui-protest of man who
had honestly won and earned his vacation
among his simple pleasures in his own
home State. Honors and triumphs
weighed light in the balance. But at last
his sense of public duty overruicd, and,
like one who reiinquishes the chiefest
treasure of ail-like boy turning back 10
his task, he said with sigh:
sTeIl them that accept"
1t is impossible for man like Senator
Frye to escape the demands his country
makes ON him.
length OF service. Thus IL is that Maine,
/ though a small state, has maintained a
position second to none In that body.
| When the Craftsmanship OF the foreign re-
lations committee WAS made vacant by the
death OF Senator Davis, Mr.. Frye was en-
titled by seniority to succeed him, but as
custom precludes the holding OF two great
chairmanships by any senator, he elected
to continue at the head OF the commerce
committee, for which he was especially
| fitted by long service, and where he felt he
could be OF uore use to his state.
1 This is Is not the first honor that he ms
| passed by without regret. II he had re-
manned i'll the House instead OF succeed
| ing Blaine in the Senate, it was conceded
generally that he would have been the
next speaker; and several times ne has re-
| fused to be a candidate for the vice.
presidency when the office was within hi.
grasp.
1 Mr.. Frye, by the death Of Vice President
Hobart, and later by the accession Of
Vice. President Roosevelt to the Presi-
dency, became acting vice-president by
virtue OF his Office as president pro tenn
pore OF the Senate, serving in that capa-
city practically continuous term OF 81,
years. During that time he performed tbs
double duties Of vice president and sena.
tor, continuing as chairman of the grea
committee OF commerce, to maintain hi
prestige in the affairs OF the Senate
though acting as its presiding officer.
Thus, during those years, he exertet
much more power and influence than /
he had filled the chair by election. Thes,
double duties to some extent impaired hi
health, but since relieved from the labo
of presiding he has recovered his strength
and vigor, and his step has now its old
time elasticity.
A to his impartial and conservative,