Evening journal., 1912-11-01
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
The Two CIergymen Who
Elected a United States
Senator
By Holland.

The late Nehemiah Day Sperry, of
New Haven, Conn, was elected to
Congress in 1895 by the Republican
party of which he was a founder in
his state. and served continuously
until 1911, when he declined a re-
nomination. In his last term he was
recognized as the father of the House,
for he was the Oldest man in that
body. Mr.. Sperry was a politician of
very great ability, and during his
long political career he was as popu-
lar man as could be found in the
State of Connecticut, having many
friends in the opposition party. For
many years he was postmaster at New
Haven, Conn, Lincoln first appoint
ing him to that office.
Politics often turns on queer and
little things" Mr.. Sperry once said
to me.
You doubtless remember that in
1872 General o. S. Ferry was reelect-
ed a United States Senator from
Connecticut, Notwithstanding the fact
that the Republicans, who were in
majority in the legislature, had nom
mated by a large majority in caucus
General Joseph r. Hawley as their
arily a nomination of that kind was
equivalent to an election.
"But some over-zealous friends of
General Hawley failed to keep faith
with the friends of Senator Ferry. The
agreement between General Hawleys
friends and Senator Ferry's friends
was that no attempt would be made
to elect to the legislature men secret
ly or openly pledged to the election
OF either Hawley or Ferry to the
United States Senate. Although Cen
eral Hawley was too honorable a man
himself to permit any violation or
misunderstanding of this agreement,
yet some of his over-zealous friends
in the western part of the state,
where Senator Ferry lived, were un-
faithful to the pledge. For that reas-
on Senator Ferry's friends in the Re-
publican caucus felt that they would
be justified in bolting the action Of
the caucus and in voting for Senator
Ferry, provided there was the slight
est chance of electing him.
while this matter was under con-
sideration a little man who repre-
sented one of the towns of western
Connecticut in the legislature came
to see me at the New Haven post Of
fee He told me that if / could get
one or two ministers of the gospel
to support the legislative friends of
Senator Ferry in voting for him for
Senator in spite of the fact that Haw-
ley was the party's candidate, then.
with such moral support, every one
of Ferry's friends would undoubtedly
vote for him at the election by the
legislature.
"At first it seemed to me that the
suggestion was absurd, for / did not
care particularly about the interfer-
ence of ministers of the gospel in
practical politics In the cOure of thu
evening, however, il seemed to me
that the little mans suggestion might
have a good deal of wisdom in it. The
more thought about it the more con-
vinoed ] was that possibly the way had
been opened by which we could elect
Senator Ferry. after all.
so the very next day | called upon
Theordore B. Woolsey Of Yale College
and the Reverend DR.. Leonard Bacon
who was then one of the great in
fuences in the Congregational church
of New England After ! had laid
before them the facts, both of these
clergymen said that they would glad
/ ly sign a letter protesting against tho
defeaet of Senator Ferry in caucus
and cordially recommending all of his
friends in the legislature to vote fol
him. even though their votes were
Intellectual.
"This letter did the business. II
strengthened the friends of Ferry So
that they agreed unanimously to sup
port him through thick and thin. AL
that remained to make his election
certain was to secure the solid Demo
cratic vote in the legislature fol
Ferry. That vote he got, and Senator
! Ferry, who was esteemed one of the
intellectual giants in the United
States Senate in his day, was re-
/ elected.
"Only a few of my most intimate
friends ever knew where | got the
first hint of appealing to distinguish
ed clergymen to support us in an at
tempt to re-elect Ferry"
Copyright, 1912, by e. ]. Edwards
All rights reserved)
Tomorrow Mr. Edwards viii tell ol
"The Wife Who Helped Write a Fam.
Gus Law Book"