Evening journal., 1913-05-30
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
How Andrew Johnson Was
Nominated for Vice
President
By HOLLAND.

Chauncey NJ. Depew related to me
recently the inner history of the man
ner in which Andrew Johnson, Of
Tennessee, was nominated for Vice
President by the Republican party,
lrstead OF the distinguished son Of
New York, Daniel S. Dickinson, whom
the leaders Of the party had agreed
to name as Vice-presidential candi-
date with Abraham Lincoln.
Judge William c. Robertson, whose
appointment as collector of the port
OF New York by President Garfield, in
1861, led to the resignation of Senator
Roscoe Conkling, and Thomas c..
Plat was chosen a delegate from
Westchester county, New York State,
to the Republican national convention
in 1854" said Mr.. Depew.
81 went with Judge Robertson to
the convention and received the proxy
of one Of the delegates of the con
vention who could not be present.
Judge Robertson suggested to me
that we pay a visit to William II.
Seward, then Secretary of State, be-
fore attending the convention. We
therefore left New York a day or two
earlier than we would otherwise have
done so that we might have ample
opportunity to spend a few hours
with Seward.
Seward was very warm personal
friend of Judge Robertson. He owed
in a great measure his election to the
H..Ha O.. a
time TO the support given to him by
Judge Robertson in the New York
State Legislature
1--WE called upon Secretary Seward
at the State department He was ex-
tremely cordial He invited US to
take dinner with him and his family
at his house, which fronted Jackson
Square. In Washington. None but
members of his family was present at
the dinner table After dinner was
over the family went from the dining
ROOM leaving Seward. Judge Robert
son and myself alone at the table.
"Mr Seward said that he was yery
glad that we had come to see him.
for he had a matter of great import
ance to talk over with us. 7 can
repeat almost his precise words.
"He said: I understand that there
has been a practical agreement to
nominate ex-senator Daniel s. Dick
inson for Vice-presdent on the ticket
with Lincoln. Now want TO say
to you that Lincoln himself will not
in any way interfere with the action
of the convention. Any man whom
the convention is satisfied to nomi-
nate for Vice-president will be salts
factory to Lincoln.
Therefore you must not suspect
that what I am now going TO tell you
reflects in any way the view Of the
President greatly fear that the
party will make a serious mistake II
II nominates Dickinson for Vice-pres-
ident 7 know that. strong Democrat
as he was. he has become an even
stronger Union man, but I also know
that except for the fact that he Is
/ a Union man he is ono of the most
! ultra-Democrats in this country.
Moreover he is a man who cannot al
ways control his temper. His discre-
tion is not good. Now If anything
/ we're to happen to Lincoln so that
Dickinson would become President, |
think he would give the country a
regular old-fashioned Democratic ad-
ministration.
"'fn my view the wise nomination
would be that of man who repre-
sents the border States. I think that
Andrew johnson. Of Tennessee. fills
the bill. He has been Governor. he
is United States Senator and has been
a very strong Union man in Tennes-
see ever since the war began. Be
sides that he was early in life poor
white" of Tennessee. I think his nom
inatlOn would appeal very strongly
to the border States and also to the
Union element in the South. VIII you
see II you cannot prevent the nomi-
nation Of Dickinson and bring about
/ the nomination Of Andrew Jackson ?
I'VE promised Seward that we
would do what we could. We went
to the convention a day before it was
| Organized. The first delegate VIC
talked with was Governor Minor. Of
! Connecticut. He agreed with us and
he took the whole Connecticut dele
I cation with him. Then we talked to
other delegates, and they finally
agreed TO leave the matter entirely to
the New York State delegation. Our
delegation had secret meeting
which lasted from o'clock in the
evening 10 o'clock in the morning.
We told the delegates what Secre-
! tdfy seward ndd salu 10 US, mere
was a very hot battle for a time for
the New York delegates felt that
the nomination for Vice-p president
should go to New York. At last we
took vote and by one majority the
New York delegation decided to sup
port the nomination of Andrew John
son. OF Tennessee. When the other
delegates heard of this action they
cheeriully agreed to support John
son. Therefore It was due to the sug.
gestion Of William II. Seward that
Andrew Johnson was nominated foI
Vice-president instead of Daniel S
Dickinson. of New York"
Copyright 1913. by f. J. Edmards
All rights reserved
Tomorrow Mr. Edwards will tell o.
THE Mystery Connected with a Dis