Evening journal., 1912-07-18
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
A Famous Lawyer Who
Changed His Name
By Holland

After Congress agreed. in the early
winter of 1877. to the appointment Of
a commission made up Of six mem
bers of the House, six members Of
the Senate and three judges of the
Supreme Court, to pass upon the re-
turns from the four States whose
election returns for the presidential
election of 1876 were in dispute, the
managers upon both sides we're anx-
ious to secure the ablest counsel to
appear before this commission.
Both parties in each House of Con-
eress had pledged themselves to
count such election returns as we're
certified to as good by this electoral
commission If all the returns were
certified as establishing -maiorities
for Governor Hayes, then he would be
declared elected by one vote. On
the other hand, il was only neces-
sary TO obtain for Governor Tilden
the electoral vote of either South
Carolina. Louisiana or Florida in
order TO secure his election.
The Republican managers were
anxious to secure as counsel Mathew
Hale Carpenter. who had been Sena-
tor from Wisconsin. and who was
looked upon as one of the ablest law
yers of his time, as we'll as one Of
the most brilliant forensic orators.
Senator Carpenter was not only a
strong Republican, but was classed
among the radical Republicans. He
was, in fact, so radical as to advo-
cate absolute governmental control
OF the railroads Of the United States.
The Republican managers went to
Senator Carpenter and offered him a
retainer to appear as counsel before
the electoral commission.
81 can't do it." said Senator Car
penter
why not?" he was asked. Sure
ly, you don't mean to say that you
think Hayes was not elected%
What l think about the election
has nothing to do with the natter
Senator Carpenter replied. "Abram
S. Hewitt, chairman of the Demo-
cratic National Committee, has Of
fered me a retainer to appear for the
Democratic electors of the States Of
South Carolina. Florida and Louis
lana. / have accepted that retainer
and I shall appear solely in my pro
fessional capacity as a lawyer
The announcement that Senator
Matt Carpenter, one of the great Re
publican leaders, was to appear be
fore the commission as counsel for
the Democratic electors caused great
CONSERVATION. Many persons reason
ed that Senator Carpenters appear
ance In that capacity meant that he
was certain that the commission
would decide unanimously in favor
Of the Democratic claims.
The Senator made what members
Of the commission regarded as the
ablest speech of any delivered to the
commission In behalf of the Democratic
contention. 1t was just after the COM
commission had decided by majority
of one the vote being to z, in favor
Of the Hayes electors, that one OF
Senator Carpenters friends, George
II. Gorham, who for some years was
clerk Of the Senate and was at one
time Republican candidate for GOV
ernor Of California, met Senator Car
penter and said to him
rDont you think your support OF
Tilden for the electoral commission
will destroy your standing as a Re
publioan?"
To this Senator Carpenter replied
that Wisconsin would send him back
10 the Senate as long as he wanted &c
go. Finding Senator Carpenter n
good humor, Mr.. Gorham said TO him
Senator. / understand that the
Republicans of Wisconsin are dispos
ed TO detrone you, and that a charge
will be made against you that youl
real name is very different from th'
one you bear
oh" replied Senator Carpenter
that Is an old story II cannot d'
me any harm A good many mel
have changed their names withou
hurting them. Henry Wilson, Sena
tor from Massachusetts and Vice Pres
dent, changed his name. 1t wa
originally Goliath. Senator Levi o
Florida changed his name 10 Yulee
General Grant changed his nam
from Hiram Ulysses to Ulysses Simp
son. don't know what the reason
we're which led these men to chang
| their ndmeSi out Couiu bSA y"
why / changed mine,
"I was baptized Decatur MERIT
Hammond Carpenter. After ! wen
to Wisconsin to practice law the peo
ple in some way got an idea that m
name was Matthey Hale. There wa
famous lawyer OF Albany, n. j., o
that name. | suppose that more tnal
half of my letters came to me ad
dressed to Matthew Hale Carpenter
AL last, l decided that if people want
ed 10 call me Matthew Hale it was
very good name TO be called b
Therefore, l made application to tn
court change my name and 80
have been known all over Wisconsi
as Matt Carpenter"
In 1879 Wisconsin sent Senate
Carpenter back to the Senate for
full term, which was cut short b
his death two years later
Copyright, 1912, by r j. Edwards
All rights reserved)
Tomorrow Mr.. Edwards VIII re
Of sThe Man Who Let COmmodor
Vanderbilt 0utSee Him."