Evening journal., 1912-12-03
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
The Enthusiastic Cleveland
Supporter Who Dropped
Out"
By Holland.

One of Grover Cleveland's most ear
nest supporters in the Presidential
campaign of 1884 was J. Hampden
Robb of New York city. who died in
1909. AS a member of the organiza-
tlon known as the County Democracy,
the great rival of Tammany Hall in
New York city, he was thought by
many to have been second only to
William c. Whitney and William K.
Grace in the personal influence eX-
cried in the metropolis in behalf OF
Clevelands election to the Presidency.
He was often spoken of as a model
citizen. since, although he had ahun-
dant opportunities for most leisure
Is life and for qualification or MS ar
tistic and literary tastes, nevertne-
less he gave fully of his time ana
means TO a political service whlcn ne
sincerely believed would be OF bene-
fit to the people.
During the many ceremonies, Soc
ial and public, connected with CleVe-
lands first inaugural, and Tor some
time thereafter, it was plainly evil
dent that Mr.. Robb stood very close
10 the Democratic throne, so TO speak.
But as time passed it began to be
observed that apparently his relations
with President Cleveland were termi-
mated Mr.. Robb's frields. when ask
ed about II. stated that he no longer
took anv interest in politics. At last
il was announced that he was gong
TO Europe with his family for a pro-
Cleveland's private secretary dur
ing his first administration was Col
onel Daniel s. Lamont, who held
cabinet position in the second CleVe-
land administration
zone evening, shortly after Hamp-
den Robb had sailed for Europe, /
was sitting with Tho President in the
library. where we we're both at work
unon some executive business said
Colonel Lamont. Suddenly, the
Governor stopped in his work and
after looking at ne quizically 1or
moment or two sid
Dan. what has become or Hamp-
den Roob? / haze not seen MIN or
heard ANYTHING about him for a good
while II looks as though ne nad
That is exactly what he has DONE
l replied.
"'Did he have any special reason
the Governor ajked.
".Yes a very special one. He was
erievously disappointed that you did
NOT recognize hs services for you and
tbo marty in tie Presidential CAM
paign 49,. c.,on,,or
asked
"'Wen, he yanted an appointment
IN one of the higher grade foreign
missions did not expect appoint
ment 10 a fist-class mission, al
though I think he would have been
gratihed IL vol had sent him to Italy
"'How should i know that he want
Cd an appoinment of that kind?' said
cleveland. lie never said anything to
me about il. He never made any re-
quest that h be recognized in that
Or any other way.
WELL sid / in reply, 'Robb
thought he hd a good reason for not
making a rnuest- He believed that
Won smoke n perfect sincerity when
on several occasions when you were
a candidate for Governor and a can
didate for resident you said that the
office Ashoud seek the man. Robb was
certain tht it would spoil any mans
chances fir recognition for appoint
ment if h we're to. ask you for such
appointmht. He thought that IN
view of Al that he did for you and
the party 1t would have been appro-
priate iffou had asked him after you
became resident If there was any
thing TIT he wanted. If you had
done tht. he would have told you
that he wanted a foreign mission. AS
Won didnot send for him nor COM
nunicak with him, he made up his
mind tat you did not want him for
anvthiK And he was so disappoint-
ed tina he decided to quit politics
permanently.
.Cleeland was clearly nonplussed
when said that to him." Colonel La
mont continued "He did not know
what .eply TO make and for that rea-
son Y did not make any
(Couright. 1912. by E. J. Edwards
All rights reserved.)