Evening journal., 1910-11-30
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
Samuel ]. Tilden,
Politician
BY "HOIland."

/ A year or so prior to the Democratic
| national convention of 1876 the lead
ing Democrats of the West were of
/ the common opinion that the Demo-
cratic candidate should be named from
/ among the western Democrats, or at
least, should not be chosen from
! among the Democracy of New York
state. They reasoned that it was high
time that the West should be recog-
nized by the national Democracy in
the selection of a candidate for Presi-
dent, and not be compelled longer to
find consolation in the nomination Of
a candidate for vice-president from
that section.
Meanwhile, Samuel J. Tilden, then
governor of New York, was perfecting
the adroit strategy by means of which
he expected TO secure the Democratic
nomination for President And how
skillful and subtle was his strategy,
and how little suspected, an anecdote
which ! will now relate will well IL
lustrate.
One day in the early spring of 1876
Governor Tilden, at Albany, was help
ed on board an express train run
ming from Chicago to New York. He
complained when the porter Of the
parlor car, which was of then then
( common stateroom variety, showed
him small room, the only one vacant
Il am suffering considerably" he
said. Il want a place where | can
! lie down"
1t SO happened that the general
counsel Of the New York Central,
Chauncey NJ. Depew, was returning by
this train from an important railway
meeting at Chicago He heard Cover
nor Tilden's complaint, and immedi-
ately invited its author TO share his
/ own room, which was large and
boasted Of 4 sofa, among other con-
! veniences and comforts.
IL am suffering severely from a boil
on my leg explained Mr.. Tilden, ''and
| have not been able as yet to conquer
it. ] shall be glad to accept your
offer, because | can lie down upon
4 your lounge
The governor had hardly stretched
himself out when a>third man In great
excitement, entered the room and
greeted the governor. He was Charles
W. Hutchinson, at that time mayor Of
Utica
Governor Tilden," he painted, Il
have hunted for you everywhere. l
| learned just in time TO catch this
train that you We're a passenger on
| it,
Please be seated, Mr.. Mayor" said
the governor.
Il can't sit down; | am too greatly
interested" replied Mayor Hutchinson
The fact is, there is serious trouble
all along the line of the New York
Central. The party is in peril. You
are in peril. And / have come to tell
you in the hope that you will be able
to put an end TO the trouble"
sit down, please. Mir. Mayor said
the governor, very calmly.
II can't sit down; I am too excited
And want to talk to you privately -
You can say here whatever you
! choose answered Mr. Tilden. You
need not be afraid of Mr.. Depew. We
are old friends We don't agree po-
litically. but YOU need haYe no fear of
him. What occasions your excite
mentg''
why, there is a general freight
agent OF the New York Central who
has great influence with all the men
of the road. They're mostly Demo
Gratis, you know, and he is packing all
the party caucuses with them He Is
delegate TO the state convention; he is
going to defeat all your other friends.
At the state convention we want to
elect Seymour a delegate to the ma
tional convention. But If this man is
not called OF we can't do it,"
DO you know this freight AGENT?
the governor asked, turning to Mr.
Depew
tsT lspovt, ho fs , Eruf-rlaac ognufs
don't know anything about him po-
litically," Depew replied.
We'll, what can | dO?" asked the
governor Of the mayor. II don't see
how | can properly interfere"
"Oh, yes, you can. You know VIII
liam II. Vanderbilt He will listen tC
you. You see him and ask that this
man be called Off or discharged"
AN excellent suggestion" Governor
| Tilden replied, "a very excellent sub
gestion. Mr. RMayor You have done
me a real Service by coming to me
and making It." And then he init
mated to his caller that the interview
was at end. The train was slowing VI
at Poughkeepsie. and the mayor bade
the governor good day and went from
the room.
Tilden arose carefully from the couch
limped painfully to the door of the
stateroom, cautiously thrust his head
out to see whether the mayor of Utica
had really gone, and then returning
whispered to Depew:
This man of whom Hutchinson
complained recently called upon me
! was very much impressed with him
I had several conversations with him
He will do nothing Of which | do not
approve What he is doing | do ap-
prove" And, winking slyly, Governor
Tilden again stretched himself out
upon the sofa.
From that moment Depew knew
that the delegates to the New Yorl
state convention would be men whom
Tilden could trust, who would elecl
their delegates to the national con-
vention united in Tilden's support, and
with whom western delegates could
make no bargain looking to the side
tracking Of Samuel J. Tilden. And all
that Tilden planned for occurred
Hence. Horatio Seymour, Democratic
candidate for President against Gram
In 1868. did not 60 to the national con-
vention as a delegate, because Tildet
was not sure Of him. Yet, because o
the adroit politics that'Tilden played