Evening journal., 1910-04-30
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
How the Money to Re-
elect Lincoln Was Raised
BY "Holland."


AS a remarkable instance of how i'll
is possible for a man to accomplish
a work regarded at the time as of
supreme Importance and still remain
in comparative obscurity, the case of
Harry Vanderbilt, a nephew of Com
modore Vanderbilt. who died recently
in New York city at "A green old age
after making a fortune for himself as
a manufactures, is of especial interest.
For this Vanderbilt, on the authority
of his lifelong friend. r. J. Jayne,
who earned n name and "a fortune for
himself In the seventies by uncover
ing a nest of great customs frauds,
should be accredited with the honor of
having made il possible for Abraham
Lincoln to secure his reelection to the
presidency in 1864
For some years prior to the out
break OF the civil war" said Mr.. Jayne,
who is now almost eighty years Of age.
Harry Vanderbilt held a responsible
position in the Portsmouth (New
Hampshiro) navy yard but when
Salmon p. Chase became Lincoln's
first Secretary of the Treasury, Mr..
Vanderbilt went to that department as
appointment clerk, remaining there
for more than ten years, or until the
middle Of Grants administration. 1t
was during Lincon's first administra-
ton that Mr.. Vanderbillt's ability as
trusted political worker was discov-
cred and proved on several occasions
by the party chiefs.
1T is we'll known that, following
Lincolns denomination, the party lead
ers in charge Of the campaign greatly
feared that Mr.. Lincoln would fail Of
re- election on account of the inability
of the national committee to obtain
funds sufficient to carry on a thorough
and aggressive campaign. 1t was at a
very anxious period of the war; The
drain on the resources of the nation
had been eXhausting and no immediate
relief was in sight. Taxation had
reached what appeared to be the limit
of safety and all demands for money
| for political purposes were met by sui
lenness or absolute refusal.
"The national committee seemed to
be powerless to find a way out Of the
unpromising situation. It's chairman,
Henry J. Raymond, the distinguished
newspaper editor, was not an adept
IN tho art Of raising campaign funds
and he had a profound distaste for
ordinary political methods of getting
money for campaign purposes Gov
ernor Il. ID. Morgan. Of New York, his
! predecessor in the national chairman
! ship had collected upward of a hum
dred thousand dollars to conduct Lin
coins first campaign, but it was esti-
mated by the party leaders that con-
siderably more than double that sum
would be required TO re-elect their
candidates. To whom should be all
lotted the herculean task of obtaining
this immense sum-
1T was at this trying moment that
the name Of Harry Vanderbilt was
suggested as that Of man who knew
many prominent men in the money
centres. who put forward his name
Mr.. Vanderbilt never learned, but inn
mediately thereafter he was asked to
undertake the task Of raising the cam
paign fund, and. with characteristic
modesty. lie replied that he would do
his best to get together the badly
needed funds.
Quietly, and with his mission known
to only a few. Mr.. Vanderbilt began
the task Of trying to raise at least
two hundred and fifty thousand dol
lars and as much as three hundred
thousand dollars If possible. The first
city that he visited. as / now remem-
ber IL, was Boston. There he made per-
sonal appeals TO men Of wealth who
were of the Republican party and al
last secured from them, either In &C
tual cash or pledges, eighty thousand
dollars. Next he canvassed Philadel-
phia, where he also secured g large
] arNrrnl nfHnf
cities. In none was his mission known
to or even suspected by any one OF
whom he did not call; and in this ran
ner he at last got together a funo
that totaled close on 20 three hundred
thousand dollars. to the great delight
and relief of the national committee
Then. having been assured by those IN
the secret that he had performed q
great service in behalf oc the Union
Mr.. Vanderbilt went back 10 his duties
as appointment clerk in the Treasury
Department
Just. how Mr.. Vanderbilt induced
tho men he visited to contribute L
the campaign fund. no one ever knew
exactly" added Mr.. Jayne. "All an,
Zone ever learned from him was tha
he made personal appeals. He nevel
boasted about the important part III
played in making possible the re-elec
ton OF Abraham Lincoln. I am on
OF the very few men with whom Harr,
Vanderbilt ever talked about this fea
OF his; and am certain that I am th'
only one now living who koows per
sonally that il was he who raised tn
Lincoln campaign fund OF 1864"
Copyright, 1910, by l.. J. Edwards
a-..aa-
On Monday Mr.. Edwards will tell o