The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1910-01-29
Holu Fillmore Tricked State

reading as does the early life OF
Abraham Lincoln.
ut was my good fortune to know
Fillmore we'll He became comptrol.
Ter of the state of New York in lS47,
and not until the following year was
he nominated for vice president on
the Wing ticket with Gen. Teylor.
During that period was deputy teas
urer Of the state, Mr.. Fillmore S>e.
quently dropped into my office to chrt
with me, and in this manner | calf 9
to know him intimately.
But Of all the things he told ne
contidentially of the great politicians
of the day, and of all the things he did
to my own personal knowledge notln
ing threw for me so interesting
light on the mans character as did
his methods Of tricking the state
whenever he wanted to be absent
from his office 1t is a story that
illustrates perfectly the crafty side
of his nature. His other and nohler
side was that which any great man
and true patriot possesses.
Soon after he became comptroller,
Fillmore brought to the treasurers
office some blank warrants and asked
me whether, if he signed them in
blank, they could be utilized in case
he were absent from his office, for
he expected to go pretty often to Buff.
falo and other points in the state.
answered that this could not be done.
but added that if he were out Of the
state at any time, then his deputy
would have authority to sign war.
rants, which the treasurer would be
obliged to honor
Well said Mr. Fillmore, IL |
should go to New York and take the
Housatonic railroad, which runs
through Connecticut, it would take me
out of the state for few hours, then
my deputy would be authorized to
sign, and 1t would not make any diff
ference II l got to New York City
that wayT
of you notify us that you are go
ing into Massachusetts and Connect
cut | replied, then your deputy
would be authorized to sign the war.
rants until you notified us Of your re-
turn to the state
THAT was all the assurance that
Mr.. Fillmore wanted, and after that
for several months, whenever he went
to New York City, he took the Housa-
tonic railroad instead of going by
steamboat down the Hudson, as al
most everybody else did. But first
he always notified us that he was
not to notify US Of his return to II
until he was back in Albany.
But | think that without question,
the strangest of all his subterfuges 10
trick the state Of his time, and so give
himself more time, he employed at
the time the suspension bridge over
the Niagara river was under construc-
ton.
There was to be some sort Of cere.
mony at Niagara in which he wanted
to take IT, and II was to occur at
time " some important warrants
would have to be signed by the comp
.roler. Nevertheless, he went on TO
Buffalo, had himself taken across the
liver In basket in which the bridge
"orkmen were conveyed across the
chasm, and then sent us word tina.
lie was In Canada, so that we would be
to recognize this deputys
signature on those important war.
ants and all others until such time
Is he notified US that he had returned
o the state.
Think of tt. man who wae n
'e wee president in two years, and
PRESIDENT in three years and a half
alter, being the party to subterfugs
ike that. For he was actually out Of
he state less than an hour. though
officially he did not return to if Tor
ome days
Copyright 1909. by T. J. Fdwards)