The Charles Mix new era. (Wagner, Charles Mix County, S.D.) 1???-1911, 1910-03-11
Fillmore Tricked State

reading as does the early life OF
Abraham Lincoln.
1T was my good fortune to know
Fillmore well. He became comptrol.
Ter OF the state Of New York I'm ls47.
and not until the following year was
he nominated for vice president on
the Wing ticket with Gen. TAYLOR.
During that period ] was deputy treas
urer Of the state. Mr.. Fillmore fire.
q~uently dropped into my Office 10 chat
with me-. and in this manner | came
to know him intimately.
But Of all the things he told me
confidentially of the great politicians
OF the day, and of all the things he did
to my own personal knowledge. moth.
ing threw for me so interesting n
light on the mans character as did
his methods OF tricking the state
whenever he wanted 10 be absent
from his office, II liz a story that
illustrates perfectly the crafty side
OF his nature. His other and nobler
side was that which any great man
and true patriot possesses.
Soon after he became comptroller,
Fillmore brought to the t~reasurer's
office some blank warrants and asked
me whether, IL he signed them in
blank. they could be utilized In case
he were absent from his office. for
he expected 10 60 pretty often to Buf.
falo and other points in the state. I
answered that this could not be done.
but added that II he were u OF the
state at any time, then his deputy
would have authority to sign war
obliged to honor.
Well said Mr.. Fillmore, II I
should go TO New York and take the
Housatonic railroad, which runs
through Connecticut, il would take me
OF the state for a few hours, then
sign, and IL would not make any diff
ference II | got to New York City
that way
IF you notify us that you are go
ing into Massachusetts and Connect
cut l replied. then your deputy
pt oahh3i ~ III AAe NAs~
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 tool the Housa-
tonic railroad instead of going by
down the Hudson. az al
most everybody else did. But fret
always notified us thai he was
the state and took equal care
to notify us OF his return to Il
until he was back In Albany.
But | think that without question.
strangest of all his subterfuges to
the state OF his time. and so give
more time. he employed At
time the suspension bridge. over
he Niagara river was under construc.
ton.
There was to be some sort of cere-
nonv at Niagara In which he wanted
o take part. and IL was to occur at a
when some important warrants
would have TO be signed by the comp
roller. Nevertheless. he went on TO
Buffalo. had himself taken across the
in "A basket In which the bridge
were conveyed across the
,hasm, and then SEM us word tina,
ie was In Canada. so that We would be
compelled TO recognize this deputy's
signature on those important war
and all others until such time
Is he notified us hat he had returned
the state.
Think of 1.-THE man who was "a
,e vice president in two years. and
PRESIDENT In three years and a half
alter, being the party to a subterfugs
ike that. For he was actually out of
he state less than an hour. though
he did not return to II for
.ome days.
Copyright. 1919, by Il. J.. Edwardsl