Evening journal., 1910-12-15
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
A Story Of the Father Of the
House Of Representatives
By aHolland."
BY @Holland."

Nehemiah Day Sperry, the father OF
the House of Rep 'esentatives that Is
now holding its final session, is in
his eighty-fourth year. For fifty-seven
years he has been active in the poll
tics of his native state of Connecticut.
In 1858, when ne was 26 years old, he
became a member of New Havens
common council, and the greater part
of the time since then he has held
office. either elective or appointive.
Made postmaster of New Haven by
| Lincoln in 1861, he filled that post
for ove- twenty-eight years, and he
has been in Congress since 1894. He
lretires next March. having refused to
stand for reelection last month on
account of his advanced age, though
he is in perfect health and is char
acterized by the mental vigor that
was his when he went on Ericsson's
bond and thus assured the building OF
the little cheese box on a raft that
revolutionized naval warfare.
Fifty-four years ago in March, when
Mr.. Sperry had served a year as sec
-etary of state of Connecticut, his
party-at that time the Know Moth
ings- met to nominate a candidate
for governor. 81 was pretty active in
politics" said Mr.. Sperry, land ! had
good many friends in the organiza-
tion. / also had a good many friends
among the Democrats. IL has always
been my idea that a politician should
make friends among his political op-
ponents: have always found it a
good policy. And noting that ] had
la-ge personal following among the
opposition, my own party friends be-
gan urging thef party to nominate me
as governor, using the argument that
could poll a large vote among the
Democrats.
so we'll did these friends talk,
that even before the convention had
been called to order I discovered that
the delegates we're bound to nomi-
nate me for governor. ! went around
among them and told them they must
do no such thing, but they paid no
attention TO me- Indeed, when the
convention met the delegates seemed
unwilling to wait for the regular or
der, so 'sot' were they in their desire
to name ~ d. Sperry for governor.
"Well at last ] went out upon the
platform, and for a time could not
make myself heard. When ! had Sc
cured quiet l said to them You must
not nominate me for governor But
they would give no heed to me. Then
again l said to them: You must not
nominate me for governor; for / can
not accept. And If you will be quiet
long enough / will tell you why !
coaxed and waited, and at last they
became quiet enough for me to ex-
plain. L cannot accept because
could not be governor even were
elected, / said. The constitution OF
our state says that a man must be 80
years Of age to qualify for governor
shall not be 30 years of age until
next summer and the governor is
sworn In IN May. Therefore, you will
see that IL you nominate and elected
me, / could not serve. But II you are
willing to take my suggestion. will
advise that you renominate Governor
William 7. Minor
"Of course, once / had got my ex.
PLANTATION made, they had TO take
serious heed of It, But they were
still keen to have me on the ticket
and so, after they had renominateC
Judge Minor for governor, they chos,
me again as their candidate for sec
retary Of state. And Judge Minor anC
were reelected. and from then oI
until / went to Congress I'm 1894
never again held an elective office.
Il wonder" added Mr.. Sperry re
fiectively, how many other men hav,
missed being COVE nor by being si'
months or so too young to qualify TO
that officer"
Copyright, 1910, by r. j. Edwards
All rights reserved.)
To rnnrroxr Mr. EdxVordo will foII A