Evening journal., 1910-11-21
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
How an Ex-Cablnet Officer
Got Even With a
President
Nv oHOIIaud.S
BY "HOIIand."

When President Grant, in 1874, call
ed Benjamin II. Bristow of Louisville,
KY, to the Cabinet as Secretary Of the
Treasury, It was said that the Presi-
dent had made no more fitting 9p-
pointment than that of this lawyer,
who rose to the rank of colonel in the
Union Army during the Civil War.
Bristow was a handsome man, built
/ somewhat on the physical lines of
! General Hancock, although not quite
/ so tall; and he somewhat resembled
\ Hancock in the contour OF his fea-
! lures and the manner In which he
trimmed his wniskers.
A few months after Bristow entered
the Cabinet what were called the
"Whiskey Ring" frauds were exposed,
scandals involving undervaluation OF
whisky so that the Treasury Depart
ment did not receive the lawful inter-
nal revenue tax. Bristow. as Secretary
Of the Treasury, prosecuted these
cases vigorously: and in the course of
the prosecution some of President
Grants friends seemed likely to be
some smirched. Grants intense 10y
atty to his friends, and Bristow's COLI
! scienuous devotion to duty and prir-
ciple, brought about strained relations.
I so that at last Bristow retired from
/ the Cabinet.
This occurred in 1876, a presidential
election year, and instantly Rristow
became the favored candidate OF the
so-called reform element I'm the Re-
publican party for the presidential
( nomination. Meanwhile, 81 had been
| known for weeks that the leading
candidate at Cincinnati would be
James G. Blaine and that Roscie
Conkling would probably be a good
second; and the belief was general
that President Grant would De graft
fed were his staunch political and
personal friend, Roscoe Conkling,
nominated
Up to the time OF the announcement
OF Bristow's candidacy, the Conkline
forces were hopeful Of bringing about
the nomination of their man: but
when they learned Of the new entry In
the field, and observed how the reform
element was focking to him, thoy be-
came alarmed, and as the time ap-
preached for the conyening of the con
vention. they became of the fixed opin-
ion that the candidacy OF Mr.. Bris-
tow, n continued in the convention IT.
self, would make the defeat Of Conk-
ling certain and probably result in
the nomination OF Blaine.
To obviate this disaster, shortly be-
fore the convention met small grour
Of intimate Conkling emmissaries
sought secret consultation with some
personal representatives OF the reform
elements candidate.
"Bristow cannot be nominated. ano
you know it." the COnkling men said
substantially. Continued support ot
him simply means the defeat of Conk
ling. Now in order TO carry the presi
Dental election, we Republicans hav,
got to have the electoral vote Of New
York state. II Conkling Is the candi
date, he can carry the state agains
any Democrat who could be named
The Democracy is going TO nominal,
Iilden. Conkling can beat him in New
York state"
But your New York delegation il
not unanimous for Conkllng," was tn,
reply. IF It were unanimous TO
Conkling, probably Mr. Bristow woul,
insist that his name be withdrawn"
Not unanimous for Conkling?" ex
claimed the New York senator's ad
herents. why, the delegation is in
SlNtttu 10 vote Tor MIN.
Yes, that is So" was the retorl
but Mr.. Bristow knows that there 1
one man In the delegation who vii
not heed those instructions. and, fur
thcrmOre he is the man Mr.. Bristo,
has selected to make the speech plac
ing him before the convention for IN
presidential nomination"
Who is the MANI" Bristow's friend
were asked
, 1T is George William Curtis" wa
the answer; and they added knowinS
= ly: II Curtis will support Conkling
nomination. then. we think. Mr.. Bri.
tow would withdraw; but he won't.
Il was as Bristow's friends said
would be. George William Curtis, rel
resenting a New York district, place
Bristow I'm nomination in a super
speech, and the votes that Mr.. Bristo
. received in that convention on II
/, first ballot they numbered 113-wer
in the opinion Of many OF the del,
gates, chief among the causes whiC
led TO the defeat OF Roscoe Conklir
for the presidential nomination. Gel
eral Grant and Roscoe COnkling wei
always of the opinion that had NJ
Bristow and his fiends been willing
throw their support 70 Conkling, tn,
the New York senator would ha'
+ been nominated instead OF Rutherfol
q B. Hayes, an absolute dark hor
D. when the convention met Among N
Bristow's more intimate personal al
% political friends IL was always unde
e stood that By contributing 10 the d
ID feat Of Conkling's ambition, Mr.. Bri
tow felt that he had fully evened
scores with the President who want
T. him TO be Attorney General and Z
Il succeed in making him Secretary
"a the Treasury.
r Copyright. 1910. by F. J. Edwarl
"a All rights reserved.)
: Tomorrow Mr.. Edwards Will tell