Evening journal., 1910-05-25

leaders since the AANlt W al A@e-eA
ecdote or Incident is fresh from Mr.. Ed
ward notebook, and, either IA Mne!e ogs Vs
in part it constitutes NEW NEWS OF
Who made the news-the hisJory-or from
equally authoritative sources. AS I'M
portant contributions OF the truman IN
terest' sort to American hlstory, tnese
articles have a distinctive value al thelr
own.
one morning in the mid spring of 1854
as / was passing the White House. 1 met
coming out of it the Secretary of the
Navy, William Z. Chandler, afterwards
Senator from New Hampshire, still later
member of President Rooseve'ts So
called Ananias Club, and 1t all times a
skilIful and resourceful politician. AS we
walked together in the~oireotion of the
Navy Department. / noticed that the
usually buoyant head of the navy did not
seem himself and / venturel-te inquire as
to the state Of his health.
Mr. Chandler smiled grimly "Oh, my
physical health was never better" he re-
piled. but 1 have just had a shock that
makes me feel mentally sick" He paused
for a moment, then added: 4 Will tell you
about it, but not for publication at this
time
perhaps you read in the papers two or
three days ago that I was elected dele
gate to the Republican national conven-
tion, and the understanding was that /
was to be chosen chairmon of the New
Hampshire delegation? We'll, 1 was to be
the delegations chairman, hut President
Arthur sent for me this morning, when 1
met you / had just come from an hours
talk with him. and / will not head the
delegation.
1.-THE President sent for me simply and
solely to tell me that he did not want me
to 90 to the convention as "a delegate.
When he first said that / could not believe
I had heard him Alright, but when he re-
peated il, ] was aghast. Why, Mr.. Presi-
dent 1 excls aimed, If you don't let me go
as a delegate TO the convention you will
not have any one there with practical
leadership IN national politics to direct the
delegates who have been elected to sup
port you. You know enough about poll
tics to know what that would mean. You
also know that Blaine vii be represented
at the convention by some very foxy poll
ticlans; and there will be other skilled pol
itcians on hand to watch for Edmunds
interests"
" I know said the President. but
do not want to be nominated as the result
Of any political manipulation. 1 want a
nomination that will reflect the desire Of
the party. or none at all 1 don't believe
IL is diguifed or proper for q cabinet Of
ficer to appear at a national convention
and there work for the nomination Of his
chief
what could 1 say I'm reply7" said Mr.
Chandler Il could only intimate my fear
that the politicians who are opposed to the
president would secure control OF the con-
vention and defeat his nomination. But to
all that the President again declared that
he did not care to be nominated except in
the manner he had already indicated, and
so. I am not going 10 the convention, and
I haven't the slightest idea who will lead
the Arthur forces at Chicago"
In the late summer of 1854. Just as the
presidential canvass was sctsvely begin
ming, again met Mr.. Chandler. and the
talk turned 10 Arthur's defeat for the
presidential nomination.
"Ah. II 1 had only been AZ that con-
vention," sighed Mr. Chandler regret
fully. II know now many Il tho inside de-
tails Of that meeting AMI / can say TO
you that there was one moment during
the preliminary work OF The convention
when. had 1 been there. : am certain I
could have brought about an agreement
among certain groups Of delegates which
would have led to the nomination of Ar
thur instead Of Blaine Tor president But,
as have already conhded to YOU, Arthur
would not let me go as delegate and
as his political manager, end the golden
moment passed with no one 10 take ad-
vantage Of It: for, as I feared the day the
! President forbade my attending the con-
vention. the skilled politicians opposing
him were more than a match for the prac
tically leaderless delegates who had been
sent 10 Chicago TO support him."
Copyright. 1910. by E. J. Edwardsa