Evening journal., 1911-04-21
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
The Portraits That We're
Used for a Temptation
BY "HolIaDd."

In the eulogy delivered last Febru-
airy by Chauncey NJ Depew in the
United States Senate at the memorial
service for Stephen B. Elkins Of West
Virginia, Senator Depew alluded to the
fact that President Harrison had COM
missioned Senator Elkins. when the
latter was Secretary Of War, to urge
Depew 10 withdraw his declination of
President Harrison's invitation to him
to enter the cabinet as Secretary Of
State
There was a dramatic feature of
that meeting between Mr. Elkins, then
Secretary of War, and myself" said
Senator Depew few days later. The
details of that meeting, however, were
not appropriate for a eulogy; ! re-
ferred TO the incident simply TO Illus
trate the abiding confidence which
President Harrison had I'm the discre-
ton and tact of his Secretary of War.
After James G. Blaine, I'm 1892, re-
signed his portfolio as Secretary of
State I'm President Harrison's cabinet
continued Mr.. Dcpew, IL received an
informal but very frank and kind in
timatiOn from the President that If
were willing to accept the office IL
would give him the greatest grati6ca-
ton TO nominate me as Mr.. Blaine's
successor as Secretary of State. | re-
piled that, while greatly appreciating
the distinction and the confidence
President Harrison revealed in that in
vitation. yet I'm view of my close af-
iliations with some of the larger
railway interests in the United States,
] thought it would be inexpedient toI
accept the office Of Secretary of State.
President Harrison then sent for
me. and Lcalled upon him at the White
House He renewed the offer of the
State Department, and asked me, be-
fore absolutely declining, if J would
not consider the matter for a day or
two ! answered yes, although IL was
mere act of courtesy for me to accede
TO the Presidents request, for my
mind was fully made up.
'On the following morning as ] was
coming out from breakfast at my ho-
tel, met Elkins. judge that he was
waiting for me. We chatted for a mo-
ment or two. and then he asked me II
| would not like 10 take a little walk
with him. j nodded and he led the
way TO his own office in the War De-
DtliNtHis we AdA lntIe AbI WHllt
chatting. and then Ell1ins asked me if
would nottlike to go with him over
to the State Department. 7 acquiesced.
with no suspicion that he had any
particular purpose in mind
"The first thing he did when We en-
tered the department was to lead me
In front of the portrait of Thomas JEFF
ferson. after which we passed before
the portraits of John Marshall, James
Madison, James Monroe, John Quincy
Adams, Henry Clay, Daniel Webster
Edward Everett and William II. Sew
ard. stopping for a moment or two be
fore each one. Then when we had fin
ished this survey Of the portraits Of
the great Secretaries of State. Elkins
turned TO me. There he said, are the
faces aud the pictured lips of men
far moro eminent and distinguished.
even, than the Presidents Of the
/ United States as a whole To have
! your picture hung in that line is fame
That was all stephen p. Tlkins
said. But ! knew. then. that he had
come from the President TO me. and
that with infinite tact he had taken
this method of tempting me to accept
the Presidents Offer Yet. when 7 told
him what my reasons were for de-
clining It. he would not gansay me-
Copyright. 1911, by E. J. Edwards. All
rights reserved
Tomorrow Mr.. Edwards will tell Of
"The Condolences that Interested
Blaine.