Evening journal., 1911-02-17
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
The InVeterate Smoker Who
Couldn't be Tempted
BY "HOlland."

| When President Hayes, following
( his Inauguration, sent TO the United
States Senate his nominations for cab
met officers, the list of names included
that of Richard w. Thompson OF lndi-
ana for Secretary of the Navy.
At once there was great scratching
Of memories on the part of public men
and the public generally. thompson
was the universal query, who's
Thompson?" And straightway the per-
sonal friends and political acquaint-
ances and associates of Daniel W.
voorhees,, "the tall sycamore of the
Wabash, "who from 1877 until his
death in 1897 represented Indiana in
the Senate, fell upon him with the
/ question.
"Oh, that's Dick Thompson" Voor-
bees replied Enthusiastically. III
know him well. l don't like his poll
tics. but he is a splendid man. And
then. when pressed for further details,
he would add well. we heard of him
i'm Indiana years ago. He first went TO
! Congress in 1870, when you and 7 were
BOYS. And now he's dragged back into
public life because, ! suppose, the
President thought il best to have as
Secretary of the Navy man who had
never travelled by water except upon
a Wabash river canal boat or an Ohio
River stern-wheeler."
In sooth. when Uncle Dick" Thomp-
son, as he shortly became known, en-
tered the cabinet he was unknown TO
the new generation, and completely
forgot by the old, despite his career in
Congress and his record as Federal
Judge in the late sixties He was lit
tie dried up wisp OF man. His per-
sonality was somewhat eccentric;
nevertheless, he was blessed with
abundant common sense. And he had
an infinite capacity for tobacco. Many
stories of his marvellous consumption
of cigars came to be told of him, and It
was said of him that like Seward IN
Lincolns cabinet, he had been granted
the privilege of smoking cigars at
cabinet meetings.
Certain It was that he Was a great
lover of the weed, and therefore, In
order to gain his favor, or to persuade
Il to lean their way, those who had
something to ask of him as Secretary
of the Navy frequently presented him
with cigars, sometimes Offering him
not a cigar or two from a case or
waistcoat pocket, but box Of choice
Havanas He was never known TO re-
iect such an Offering, and it was usual
ly observed by the doner that his
cigars were consumed with great gus
to, yet, somehow. they never helped
to produce the desired results.
These attempts to reach Uncle Dick
on his weak side had been going on for
some time when one of Senator Voor-
hees constituents, having some bust
ness with the Navy Department. asked
the Senator to accompany him thither
and introduce him to Secretary
Thompson.
Il will, on one condition" replied
Voorhees,. you are not TO take any
cigars with you, or II you have any in
your pocket, you are not to ofter any
to Dick. I'll explain later"
The friend agreeing, he was speed
lily introduced to Secretary Thomp-
son, who listened carefully to the
statement that the caller had to make
Then, as the latter was preparing 10
leave. Uncle Dick wrinkled up his
forehead and requested: Just tell me
over again, in as few words as pos
sible, what IL is that you want"
The caller complied, and hardly had
he finished when the Secretary ex-
claimed: "That is a perfectly proper
request I will give the necessary In
structions, so that It will be carried
out When you are in Washington
again I shall be glad to see you"
When they we're on their way from
the department, Senator voorhees, ex-
planned to his constituent.
81 was right" he said. you got
what you wanted. and got it at once
He was not suspicious of you, but
fond as he is Of cigars, he is instantly
suspicious of visitor who comes to
ask some favor and in the course OF
the conversation offers cigars He viii
take the cigars. but have noticed that
the chances are that he will not grant
the favor sought. So l asked you moi
TO offer cigars to Dick. / am sure thai
if you had done so your request would
have been held up, and most likel,
denied in tho end
Uncle Dick Thompson remained az
head of the Navy Department until Z
few weeks before the expiration o
President Hayes term, when he re
signed voluntarily, to take a remuner
alive civil position. He died in 1900
when ninety-one years Of age.
Copyright, 1911. by E. j. Edwards. AL
rights reserved.)
Tomorrow Mr.. Edwards will tell o.
oGrout rs n lOkQ Maker"