The Washington herald., 1908-03-08

Each recurrent Presidential campaign
brings to mind some prominent feature
of the ones which have gone before. for
every one has had its phase of unusual
interest but in none has a woman
played such an active part toward trying
TO nominate a candidate as forty years
ago. when beautiful Kate Chase used
every means that her social and pOliti-
cal power could command 10 make her
father. Chief Justice Chase, the sue
cessor of Andrew Johnson.
She was a brilliant and wonderful
woman. who. when only in her early
teens, began TO study politics and show
a masterful spirit: and whose great am
bition was TO see her father in the
Presidential chair. With this end in
view when she came to live in Washing
ton, her father having been called from
Ohio TO a place in Lincoln's Cabinet.
would she extend the hospitalities OF
her fathers home only TO those who
were likely 10 be useful or potential in
helping her to advance his interests.
Even in the matter of marriage, Kate
provide her with means to set UP a
salon at the National Capital, and also
further her ambition Of seeing her
father in the Executive Mansion. When
Gov. William Sprague came to the
United States Senate from Rhode Island
he was considered by far the greatest
"eligible" in the country, but Kate Chase
soon outdistanced her rivals in COM
manding his devotion. and at twenty
three years of age became Mrs. Sprague.
The ceremony was performed at the
Chase mansion at Sixth and E streets,
Washington. ana was long remembered
as the most brilliant affair of the time,
for it was attended by statesmen, sol
diers. and~ diplomats
Mr. Chase was now more than ever
stimulated by his daughter in his
ambition for the Presidency. AS early
as 1856, and again in 1860, had he been
proposed as a candidate for this Office,
and the following letter will show the
trend Of his thoughts when another
Presidential election was at hand:
''If ! were controlled simply by per-
sonal sentiments I should prefer. the re-
election Of Mr.. Lincoln TO that of any
other man. But l doubt the eXpediency
Of re-electing anybody. l Think a map
with very different qualities from those
the President has will be needed for the
next four years. l am not anxious 10 be
regarded as that man. and 1 am quite
willing to leave the question 10 the de-
cision Of those who agree that some such
man should be chosen.
With Mrs. Sprague. however. the desire
10 see her father Lincoln's successor
dominated her existence and she dexter
ously exercised her hospitality and her
social leadership in encouraging the move
ment which was organized in his behalf.
with the result that he retired from Lin
coins Cabinet The President shortly af-
toward, Notwithstanding the political
rupture with Chase. offered him a place
on the Supreme bench. a vacancy having
occurred. owing to the death of Chief
Justice Taney. the first for a period of
nearly thirty years. This Office Chase ac-
cepted. though ii was a great blow to
his daughter. as she saw I'm il a scheme
to head of his ambition for the Presi-
dency. It almost caused a rupture be-
tween Mrs. 6prague and Charles Sumner.
who was a great friend, and who had
warmly urged the appointment OF Chase.
thinking him well fitted for the Supreme
bench. The first time she saw him after
the nomination had been confirmed she
exclaimed: And you, too, in this busl-
ness of shelving papa. Never mind, /
will defeat you all
Early in the year 1858 attempts were
made TO start movement by which the
Chief Justice might become the candidate
for President on the Republican ticket
but II was impossible TO make any head
way along this line. owing TO the great
popularity OF Gen. Grant Attention was
then turned TO the Democratic party by
Chase's friends. and early in the caiA-
paign did Mrs. SDrague begin her work
She appealed 10 party managers, 10 dele
gates, ard to newspaper editors to enlist
them in her fathers cause. Indeed. there
was a current runlor in Washington that
70 each of the correspondents in that city
who entered into the service 500 week
was paid for their usefulness in keeping
the Chase movement before the public
Some journalists VINO could not be bought
were fattered with the elegant hospitality
OF Mrs. Sprague's drawing
The Democratic national convention met
in Tammany Hall. New York City, on
July 4. with Horatio Seymour as chair
man, and for four days there was a bat
tie over the Presidential nomination.
twenty-five ballots having been taken
tefore its close. The most conspicuous