Evening journal., 1912-09-07
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
The Two Old PIaymateS
Went to the Senate Together
BY Holland.

The Spring state campaign Of 1868
in Connecticut was regarded by the
politicians Of that day as OF national
consequence They looked upon it
as the barometer which would rea-
sonably indicate the result Of the
Presidential election in the Fall.
For the Spring campaign the Re
publican leaders in Connecticut Sc
cured some of the countrys most
popular stump speakers. Among
them was James w Nye, United
States Senator from Nevada.
Senator Nye gained a great repu-
tation as a stump speaker in the
presidential campaign of 1860. He
was then resident Of New York
State. AS a speaker he was witty and
humorous. He could be pathetic.
He was gifted with personality
which always captured his audiences.
Abraham Lincoln regarded some OF
the speeches made by Nye in the
presidential campaign OF 1860 as
among the best dilivered at that time.
Linsoln determined, therefore. in
case he was elected President. to
give to Mr. Nye the opportunity Of
accepting some good appointment.
He offered Nye the post Of Territor-
ial Governor of Nevada, an offer
which was accepted Shortly after
reaching Nevada Nye renewed an
acquaintance OF his early days with
William NJ. Stewart, then gaining
high fame as mining lawyer and
already on the road to the great for
tune which he afterwards amassed
and lost. When Nevada became a
State, in 1864. these two men became
It's first United States Senators.
After Senator Nye had spoken at
great mass meeting in the Spring
campaign OF 1868. he was entertain
ed at the house Of prominent New
Haven Republican There he was
asked whether he or VIM. NJ Stew
art was the first to be elected United
States Senator from Nevada.
I'VE we're only one night apart in
the election" Senator Nye replied
Stewart was elected first and
was elected upon the following day.
II happened in this way. Stewart
came to me and said
Jim, | have promised to accept
election as United States Senator on
one condition
j
I had never heard Of any other man
who would not be willing to accept a
United States SenatoTship without
any condition. I asked him what the
condition was and he told me that he
wanted me to go TO the Senate as his
colleague. He said that the Legisla-
ture would elect two Senators. one
on one day and the other on the
next. asked him II he really meant
/ that he wanted the Legislature to
elect me a Senator also, and l didn't
hesitate to say that I wouldn't hesi-
tate two seconds about being traus-
ferred from Nevada to Washington.
Then asked him If there was any
special reason why he wanted me to
20 to the Senate as his colleague.
Yes, he said. there's a senti-
mental reason. Jim. YOU and I were
born and brought up In adjoining
counties in New York State. We
knew one another as youngsters. We
liked one another We got separated
when went TO California in 1919
We got together again when you
came to Nevada as Territorial Gov
ernor. Now. want to be able 10
say that two New York State boys,
who knew one another in their boy
hood have been sent % the United
State Senate together from the new
State OF Nevada.
Well, If Stewart was satisfied
with that reason, I certainly was
And this little story explains how II
happened that Bill Stewart, as We
used 10 know him in hoyhood DAYS
in New York State, and I, Jim Nye
also a New York State boy, turned
up in the United States Senate to
gether as the two first Senators 10 b.
elected from the State OF Nevada"
Copyright, 1912, by r. ]. Edwards
All rights reserved)