The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1912-05-08
LUCK AND ABILITY.
Ellis H. Roberts Was Credited
With Having Both.
Ex- TREASURER YET ACTIVE
"reminiscences Of His Feud with Roe.
COO conklIng and He Final Vic
tory-Plan to Establish iAmer.
lean Hospital In Paris. (
BY GEORGE CLINTON.

! 20.
| Washington.-In the different de-
partment buildings of the government
there are hanging on the walls pic
lures Of former officials whose work
was done In the rooms which their
portraits adorn. In the war depart
ment pictures Of the former secreta-
ries OF war hang on the walls Of tho
rooms used directly by the present
secretary, Henry L. Stimson. They
are fine old portraits. most Of them.
and they represent q line Of men
from the days Of the foundationAof the
government until the present hour.
BY general admission, tho i finest
work of art in the collection IL the
portrait Of Jefferson Davis, vito was
president Of the Contederacy tand who
at one time held the cabinetI position
OF secretary Of war. In the streasury
department there are PORTRAITS not
only of former secretaries of the
treasury, but also of formerFcomptrol-
lers of the currency and f01mer treas
urers of the United States and Of 9TH
or men in high official position.
Until a few years ago Ellis H. Rob-
erts Of Utica, N. Y, was treasurer Of
the United States. Mr.. Roberts IL
still living and enjoying "a virile old
age. He was keen politician and.
politics He is approaching ninety
years of age and yet he Is still max
ing addresses upon governmental sub
jects and upon subjects of historicaL
interest It used to be said Of Mr.
Roberts in Washington that he had a.
! luck stone in his pocket and ability in
his head all through his,public career
Feud Between Roberts and conkIins.,
Roscoe Conkling, one of the famous:
senators of the United States, was
from Utica, and Conkling and Roberts,,
although both Republicans, were very,
much at outs. For years and years.
Conkling tried to put Roberts down.
and out but at the end, it is said,-
Roberts had as much to do with put
ting Conkling down and out as any;
other man in public life, unless Presi-;
dent Garfield be excepted.
Early in life Roberts and ConklIng,.
as the Washington story goes, were
the best possible friends. Roberts,
was the editor Of a,newspaper now no.
longer in existence; but in it's day one
of the ablest journals in New York
state. Conkling and Roberts fell out.
The Conkling influence defeated Rob
erts for Congress. He was fmme-
diately appointed assistant treasurer
of the United States at New York
city. Almost as,soon as this appoint
nent was made Roscoe Conkling and
Thomas G. Plaht resigned from the
senate Of the United States because
they resented another appointment
made by President Garf1eld.s They
asked the legislature of New York to-
vindtcate them by returning them to
the senate The influence Of Roberts
and his paper helped to kill Conkling
politically. for all time and to kill
Plat for "a season.
Later when Conkling had been out
of the political arena for some time,
Roberts, who had held a good office
all the time. was made treasurer OF
the United States. Platt came back
into political life and became for a
time chief Of the Republican party In
New York state. Conknng and Plat
are both dead, butt Ellis III: Roberts is
alive and vigorous and apparently It
does not need his picture in the treas
ury department to recall to Washing
ton men some, Of the1steries of his life
while he was;in the midst Of public
affairs. H., --. II:
For American hospital In Paris.
Senator O'Gorpnansof New York has
introduced into icongressea bill to In
corporate an eAmertcan3 hospital in
Paris, France. Men whostare interest.
ed in this plansare Americans Of note
In either the professional or the bust
ness world. Among thesincorporatora
are J. Pferptnt Morgan. John H.
Harjes, 8. F. b Biddles and Drs. I'd
mund T. Gross and Crosby whitman.
1t Isl said that. there Is need in
Paris. where 80 many Americans 60
to stay for months either as sight
PEERS orIas (studantssof the arts, for q
hospital where medical and surgical
attendanoe{ and icarel cam ,be given te
citizens Of the United sstates;> "grat
utiously Tor otherwise" II, +. Il
/ No ONE realities lperhsps ,how] man,
Americans there are in Paris lat al
times. The, number runs into man,
thousands. There are thousands O
young men and women students II
the French capital who claim Anerfcs
rs their birthplace amt their home
Some of tho Amertcanss who 30 t
i France lose a,good deal 'pf theirl Amer
lcanism, in IA short time, but most o.
them, hkeAall other goed citizens O
the Requisite, lcling to, theirs btrthrigh,
I tenaciousN. There are boarding
/ places in the. form offclubs maintained
In Paris for American students where
they cantbe4properly ssafeguarded dur
j ing their Partisan life. Congress- Ii
now asked to- incorppnat al hospital1ir
order that Parisian-Ameacans'' may
be cared for. In a sense. under 1.-THE
!: AmericanI flae,'
i And Straight.
I Motorist Say, my good man, lwhere
Il do9 these roads lead to?
j Farmer-Tot jail. mister, II ye amt
1 smart enough: to git BY the constable
i Cold storaseNcat Nest.
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