Evening journal., 1912-03-13
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
The Compliment That a
Famous Lawyer Treasured
By Holland

In the fall of 1880 commission
authorized by Congress and appointed
by President Hayes TO inquire into the
whole question of the relation Of labor
to capital and the condition of labor
throughout the United States, held
session of about a month in New York
city
The chairman Of that committee
was the late Abram S. Hewitt, who
was then a member OF Congress and
who was afterward chosen mayor Of
New York. One of the members Of this
committee was United States Senator
John p. Jones Of Nevada Another
member was the late William s Gros-
beck, who had gained a national repu-
tation and a position at the Ameri-
can bar which has now become tradi-
tional by reason of the marvellous
speech which he made TO the Senate
Of the United States sitting as a court
IN the impeachment case of President
Johnson Mr.. Grosbeck was one of the
counsel retained to defend President
Johnson, and the most attentive list
ener whom Mr.. Grosbeck had was
Roscoe Conklng. at that time serving
his first term as United States Sena-
tor from New York.
"One day, on account Of the tempo
rary absence of a witness, the COM
mittee took a recess for an hour,
said Senator Jones a few years ago.
The members began chatting abont
politics, for at that time the presi-
Dental politics was becoming hot and
there was great anxiety on the part OF
Republicans lest the Democratic vic
tory in the State of Maiue in Septem-
Der foreshadowcd the defeat of Gar
field in November. ] asked Mr. Gros-
beck what he thought OF the outlook,
saying that. as hc was q Democrat, he
might be able to give a more impartial
opinion respecting the situation than
any Republican could
Well replied Air Groshcck I
think the situation has changed a lit
tie. think You Republicans have
brighter outlook than you ac in early
September and / Will toll you why.
II spent the evening OF yesterday
in reading the full report of the
speech delivered by Senator Conkling
in the Academy of Music in support Of
the election of General Garfield.
have heard and have read many poll
tical speeches, but ] think that, in
dignity OF statement, in mastery ar
rangement of facts. in the logical de-
ductiOn Of argument from the facts
and in the whole architecture of the
speech. SO to speak. COnkling's adj
dress sf2a... unsurpassed II Will be
read all D.ar the country. In my be-
lief it Will greatly stimulate the Re-
publican party. Whether it does or
not. 1t is to me marvel Of intellec-
tual achievement
1T so happened that on the even
ing Of that very day" continued SEN
ator Jones. 81 met Senator Conkling
and told him what Mr. Grosbeck had
| said OF his Academy OF Music speech.
Ibid Grosbeck say thatg Senator
/ Conkling asked. Have I received such
an encomium from that distinguish
| ed man? You may say to Mr Gros-
beck. If YOU care 10 do so, that you
have told me what he said and that in
reply I said TO you. 1T was my priyi-
! lege to hear MIR. Grosbeck's argument
| in defense OF President Johnson be-
/ fore the Senate of the United States,
of which ] am member. sitting as a
/ high court of impeachment. To my
! thinking then and now, it was the one
/ speech that mastered the whole sub
/ iect II was the one forensic effort
that rose to the colossal responsibility
/ OF the occasion, and il was the speech
which saved President Johnson from
verdict of guilty on the charge OF
impeachment"
The next day | repeated to Mr..
| Grosbeck what Senator Conkling had
said of his impeachment speech; and
after bordering for a moment MIR.
/ Grosbeck said:
That is the highest compliment
ever received and I shall treasure
! it,"
Copyright. 1912. by % j. Edwards.
All rights reserved
Tomorrow VI. Edwards will tell OF
"The Chance Meeting That Led TO q
Great Inyenti0n.'