Evening journal., 1910-12-20
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
The True Story Of a Famous
Political BIunder
BY "HOIlAnd."


When the standard biography OF 7
David Bennett Hill. former governos
of New York and United States Sena-
tor, and once a leading candidate for
the Democratic presidential nomina-
tion is written, it win contain a let
ter which has now for sixteen years /
been kept in Governor Hills safe IN. |
Albany Il will be an extraordinary
revelation with ] espect TO a most dra- /
matte incident in Governor Hills ga
reer Il will put him IN an absolutely
new light upon matter for which he
was subjected to the seve-est eriti- |
cism In order that there may be
good understanding of II, il will be
necessary to repeat some political
history.
In the last year Of Governor HIPS
term as governor OF New York-1S99
IA very close election took place in
the state. For some days there was
doubt whether o. not the Republicans
had secured a majority I'm the state
Senate. IN any event, the majority
would be a very small one, possibly
no greatec than olV vote.
The issue at last ceutered upon the
election Of senator i'm Duchess
county, OF which Poughkeepsie is tho
county seat. There we're strong sus-
plcions that the returns had been tam
pered with. and that the correct re-
turns would show that the Republi-
cans candidate fo- senator had been
elected. The matter was taken to the
courts. and Justice Edgar NJ. Cullen,
now chief justice Of the New York
Court Of Appeals, and a Democrat, de-
clded that the Republican returns
were the correct ones, and issued "a
mandamus to the state canvasing
board to accept these returns. But
through what many regarded as the
Interference of another justice, Isaac
~. Maynard, the returns thus man
damused were not sent to the state
canvassing board. Instead, the Demo
C -atic returns were sent, and Of
course, these being the only ones be-
fore the state board. they were COM
PEELED TO declare the Democratic sem
ator elected In that way the Demo-
cratic party secured control Of the
Senate, and Governor Hill was Sc
ye.ely criticised because he seemed 10
support Judge Maynard, certainly be-
cause he did not. when the facts be-
came known, take action looking to-
wards the possible impeachment of
Maynard.
Three years later the state Of New
York was to elect member of the
highest court, and Judge Maynard
was nominated for that membe ship
by the Democrats. II was the COM
mon impression that Mr. Hill, who at
that time was United States Senator.
had forced the nomination, and when
Judge Maynard was beaten by a hun
dred thousand majority this defeat
was regarded all over the country
more a criticism of Hill than OF May
nard.
The real facts are now narrated for
the first time, and they follow
senator Hill reported TO some of
his friends that Richard Croke- had
said that Maynard Il nominated.
could be elected The friends re-
piled; Croker is mistaken; he can
not be elected.
81 will make further investigation, 80
said the Senator. "and having done
that I will consult with my col
league, Senator Murphy" The latte
had been elected Senator through The
capture of the Democratic legislature
in the manner above described
Meeting his cOlleOguelin Washmgtl ln
some time later, Senator Hill said:
"The general impression in New Yo-k
is that If we nominate Maynard he will
be defeated"
I'VE have got to nominate him, and
i'm my opinion he will be elected, 3"
retorted Murphy.
Again Hill made an investigation,
and became definitely satisfied that
Maynard would be overwhelmingly
defeated He therefore determined 20
write Maynard The Senator began
the letter to Maynard by saying:
II am about to write a letter which
VIII give me more pain than any I
have written since | entered public.
| am going to tell you frankly that in
my opinion, in the opinion Of prac-
tically the entire bar of New York
state, and Of majority of the Demo
cratic leaders. YOU cannot be elected.
| would therefore suggest TO you that
you in some discreet and satisfactory
way, make IL known that you must
mot be considered as candidate for
the court of appeals bench"
Judge Maynard received this letter
by messenger I'm due time that mes
sengor returned to Senator Hill with
this reply: Judge Maynard says that
he can afford to be defeated by the
people, but he cannot afford to be hu-
inflated by his party He therefore
Will not withd -aw. but will insist upon
his nomination"
Very well,' replied Senator Hill.
"If he insists ! have no doubt mis-
nomination viii be made. But 1 am
afraid he will-regret it,"
And regret his action Maynard
surely did.
Copyright. 1910. by q. J. Edwards.
All rights reserved)
TmOrrOW Mr.. Edwards will tell oG
"The Act OF kindness that Spelled
Political Disaster"