The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1906-07-12
Senator William P. Frye.
Honors that Came 10 Him Unsolicited HIS
Long and Useful Service in Congress.

81
William P. Frye that he had been Sc
lected as one of the commissioners to
negotiate the peace between the nlted
States and Spain is a story that has
never been told. 1t illustrates admlra-
bly, the character OF our modest great
man of Maine.
The telegram from President Mckiu-
lev came to Lewiston first of all. 1t
was long telegram, pTotferlng the APP
poiutment as commissioner and urging
acceptance in a manner that showed
that the President had set his heart
2lpon securing Senator Frye. But Sen
ator FRYE was not within reach of the
telegraph. He was somewhere in the
vastness of the Rangeley region listen
ing to the click of the reel instead of
the click OF the telegraph key.
As urgency brstled all over that mes
sage from the head of the nation, the
Hon. Seth NJ. Carter of Lewiston was
called into consultation by the t~e-
graph people. But Mr.. Carter did not
know the abiding place of the Senator
and his party He only knew that they
were not at the Senator's camp at III
dian Rock. but were touring among
tha lakes
The interference was transmitted 10
1yashiuorol, that the whereabouts of
e.a,,ato5 were rot known and that the
deffv.rv of tie massage could rot be
assured
Rack came the imperative word that
the message must he delivered if the
whole of No5tlern Maine had to be
rqnsacked and hat no expense should
be spared to find Senator Frye, who
was blisstully settled 10 his fishing
after oil those troub'ous days of war,
The telegram finally reached MN al
cr,ol transferred to the telephone.
Nhe senator and his friends were at
sau.r enjoying a fisherman meal "ieh
sword came that Mr.. Frye was wanted
AT the telephone. Now Senator Frye
H5.l newer talk over the telephone if he
ear. AVOID i. Therefore lie sent the
Hen. Wa ace II. White, his son-in,laW
In his stead
The President asks YOU to take the
amendment 1T peace commissioner -
reported Nh. Wlute.
.lery that vii, not accept under
any circumstances, " cried the senator
lie spoke with Just a little petulance,
for tle pu-r OF tie reel still sounded in
MS ears and he had come back to Maine
,ea.t-s;ck and soul-tried. "I'll not do
II he reoeate,l 81 don't want it."
Bat" deprecated Mr.. White,
..wou,dD.t i 6e we'll to delay your re-
nly q little willie and think on the mat
tar, That seems a rather hasty
ans,ra7,,
senator rrve did rot replv and Mr..
we. aid ,,,t imm4diate}v return the
raf,.sa1
a., b.,,,, c.r ca later the Senator sud-
5,.,-lr trol,.. ont with ~ surpose after
all flat smell p request by the Presi-
don't f.. no,, ar less IN the nature of a
,,,,.rr nj and that ought to accept.
Rut- don't want to-I don't want to. -"
II was the soul protest Of a man who
has lo1.p.tJy won and earned his vaca-
tion among his simple pleasures in his
own home State. IIonors and triumphs
z.-ioi.45 LIGHT in tLe balance. But at
last Il, sense cf public duty oyerruled,
and Hike one who reIinouished the
oiietes- treasure OF aIi-IiEe It boy
ttl,1.;rg hack to his task. lie said with a
..cJ. -T4li II .-,n that ! accent"
Ii f., lnpo.sible for man like
~.r,a+o,. I,,z-t. 10 4scaup the demands his
ao,,,,+,.,- mike, on bIm.
tras.;o.. in fine Senate is gained by
jAnori..f service. Thus it is that Name,
4lnrol a..nau State has maintained d
oos1+:o. ,pr,ud 10 none in that body.
Iyrar -rp .h;,7rnansbip of the foreign
relation, committee was made vacant
Inv -n- death of Senator Davis Mr..
trye WAS entitled bv seniority to sue
.aaa him and was strongly urged to
4.l,a mat nosltlon bv leading senators.
,..,4 Co.,. ,.,,s+o,o nracIndes the holding of