Evening journal., 1912-10-17
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
How Blaine Got His Chance
in National Politics
By Holland.

In August 1879, I spent part oil
one afternoon in the editorial ofiicel
OF Ex-Governor Nelson Dingley, of
Maine. His home was at Lewiston.
Maine, and he was the editor Of AMI
influential newspaper published inI
that town. An important POLITICAL
campaign was pending in Maine and
James G. Blaine was directing theI
activities of the Republican organiza-
ton
1T is only sixteen years since Mr.
Blaine first became prominent in
national politics through his electien
TO Congress as the successor of
Governor Morrill," Governor Dingley
said. Short as the time is. l find that
the belief verey generally prevails
throughout Maine and, think,
throughout the country, that Mr.
Blaine owes his first important step
in national politics to the friendship
of Governor Lot NJ. Morrill,"
] confessed that this was my inn
preston, and that / had occasionally
heard men in public life say that but
for the friendly interest years before
Mr.. Blaine represented Maine in Con-
gress.
YES, that is the general impress
sion; | suppose it is due to the nation
al prominence which Lot NJ Morrill,
has gained" continued Governor
Dingley. He was the third Republi-
can governor to be elected in Maine
that was in the year 1857. He was
the successor of Hannibal Hamlin
as United States Senator when Mr.
Hamlin became vice president. He
severed a second term in the Senate
and became very influential. In
the last year of President Grants ad-
ministration he became Secretary OF
the Treasury, succeeding Benjamin
H. Bristow.
yet Governor Lot M. Morrill, was
not the Republican politician whose
friendship and counsel made it possi.
BILE to send Mr. Blaine to Congress
from the Augusta district in 1862. The
confusion is in part due to the fac
that Governor Lot M. Morrill, had Z
brother, Anson p Morrill, who was
also governor-the first Governor
Morrill, was elected to Congress from
the Augusta district and took his sea
at the extraordinary session of Con
gress called by President Lincolr
which met in July, 1861 Lincoln be
came very fond of this Governor Nor
rill.
an the second year of his congreS
siOnal term certain very importan
railway matters in Maine, relating t
the extension or development of wha
is now the Maine Central Railroad
system. compelled Governor MOrril
to give much OF his time to this mat
ter. He was greatly interested il
this railroad property AS the tim
approached for the convention whicl
was to nominate a candidate for Con
gress in the Augusta district in tn
summer of 1862, Governor Morril
summoned his friends and said {
them that he found his business re
sponsibilities and obligations made
imperative that he should devote hi
entire time to the interests of tn
Maine Central Railroad He kneV
/ that he could be renOminated 70
Congress by acclamation: he calle
! this conference of Republican leaders
therefore, for the purpose of givin
them an opportunity to consult as {
who would be the best candidate {
nominate, as he himself would de
cline a second term.
"These friends said to him; Wei
Governor, you don't need to be told Q
our disappointment at your decision
We feel that you are needed in Wasf
ington and we know that unles
there were imperative business reas
ons to prevent it you would accer
a second nomination But If you car
not go back you can certainly advis
us about the nomination of you
| successor
Well, if my advice is worth any
thing, Governor Morrill, answered,
should strongly recommend that 70
nominate James G.. Blaine I think
has very great abilities. He stumpe
Maine with me in 1856 for John {
Fremont the first Republican car
didate for president. ] am certai
that if yoWnominate him for Congrei
neither you nor the state of Main
will ever regret it,
"That counsel was sufficient
was Immediately acted upon by Oh
Republican leaders OF the August
district, and II led TO the PRACTICAL
unanimous nomination of Blaine fc
Congress-, and to his triumphant elel
rion
Governor Anson p Morrill, and NJ
Blaine were very intimate person
and political friends. But this Cove
nor Morrill's name was speedily mi
ed up by the public with the name
his brother, Governor Lot Nj. Morri
for the first Governor Morrill, devote
himself exclusively to railway affair
while the second Governor Morr'
entered upon political career whi'
made him almost as distinguished
was his colleague in the Unite
States Senate, William Pitt Fesse
deD."
Copyright, 1912. by e. j. Edward
All rights reserved)
Tomorrow Mr.. Edward will u
"Why Long Speaking Never Tir