Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1911-08-25
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
Senator Frye's Largest Fee
for Services Rendered
BY Holland.

The late Senator william P. Frye,
Of Maine, whose death occurred on
August 8. was the second selection
made by President Mckinley for mem
barship on the commission nominated
by Mckinley to negotiate the treaty Of
peace with Spain at Paris in the late
fell Of 1898.
McKinley's first selection was nat
urally John Hay, who, as Secretary Of
State at the time of the Spanish war,
had had charge under Mckinley Of all
the diplomatic matters which arose out
Of our difficulty with Spain 1t was
therefore not only highly appropriate
but essential that Secretary Hay
should be appointed a member of this
A., commission and made its chairman.
But there came into the mind Of Nc
Kinley as soon as he knew that itI
evolved upon him to appoint treaty
making commission the selection of
Senator Frye as the sesond member Of
that commission.
Mckinley and Frye became intimate
political and personal friends soon az
ter Mckinley entered Congress. Frye
had then been a member of Congress
three terms, and he once told me that
Mckinley was the first of the new
members whom he greeted on the day
that the new Congress of which Nc
Kinley was a member was organized.
Their seats in the House were within
easy reach They used frequently TO
sit side by side, chatting sometimes for
an hour or more. They were in perfect
agreement on the question of protac-
ton, and it would have been impos-
sible TO have found in the House two
men who were so thoroughly alike in
the simplicity of their personal life. IN
the integrity Of their standards. both
of public and of private life, as were
Mckinley and Frye Their intimacy
was maintained after Frye quilted the
House for thu Senate; it was contin
ued after Mckinley entered the White
House. And it was because of this init
macy and McKinleys high regard for
Senator Frye's integrity of purpose,
that the President decided to make mis-
long time friend the second member
Of the peace commission. b ssides, Nc
Kinley knew that Frye was of the
opinion that there was not only
moral obligation on the part of the
United States to take over the SOW
ereignty OF the Philippines, but, fur
thermore that the peace of the world
made that step essential
After the commission had finished
its work at Paris and the treaty of
peace was signed, then the question
arose: What compensation should be
paid to the members of the commits
sion? Discussing that point shortly
after the commission had returned
home the President said
81 expect to nOminats Judge Day
(now or the Supreme Court bench) as
United States circuit judge for the dis
trict of which Ohio is a part. / am go
ing to nominate Senator Gray of Del
aware as United States Judge of the
Circuit Court of the district of which
his home State, Delaware, is n part.
/ would gladly appoint Senator Frye
and Senator Cushman X DAVIS of Min
nesota to any high office within my
gift, but ] know that neither of them
desires to leave the Senate"
Casting about in his mind for some
way to reward Senator Frye the Presi-
dent recalled that his friend had been
dependent. ever since their friendship
began, almost wholly on his salary as
a member OF Congress. He knew of
several occasions when Senator FRYE
had declined TO accept fees for profess
sional services as lawyer, h9 knew
that Senator Frve's standard of con-
duct in that respect was severe He
also knew that the Senator had very
little money. Therefore, President Me-
Kinley decided that out of contingent
fund over which he had authority "a
make such expenditure as he chose hC
would authorize the pawn INT to SEN
ator Frye of ten thousand dollars and
like amount TO Senator Davis Of Min
nesota.
WIN Senator Frye received the draff
for ten thousand dollars he held it IN
his hands for a moment with almost
tender touch. and then said
"Ten thousand dollarsl That is the
largest amount of money ! have eva
received at any one time for any ser
I vice I have ever given. And / am verl
glad to get il"
Yet Senator Frya. had he been will
ing to accept fees. or 10 give heed e
tempting propositions TO become
| member of promotion syndicates, cOul'
, many times have received much NOR
, than ten thousand dollars for lending
} his name or giving his professiona
3 services.
/ IL may be appropriate to add tina
/ In recognition of the services of White
, law Reid. who was the fifth. member O
d. the peace commission, he was appoint
[ ed special representative OF the Presi
I dent at the coronation of King Edwar
VII.
Copyright, 1911, by e J. Edwards. A
. Rights Reserv ed
{ Tomorrow Mr.. Edwards viii tell {