Evening journal., 1913-08-14
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
How the Nation Is Indebted
to Secretary Gideon WeIIeS
By Holland.

The late c. S. Bushnell, who will
always be associated with the build
ing of the Monitor, and with the sue
cessful attempt to secure from the
navy department at Washington per-
mission to accept a vessel on trial,
a permission which was vindicated by
the triumph of the Monitor at the
battle Of Hampton Roads, a battle
which revolutionized the navies OF
the world, had the greatest admira-
tion for Gideon Wells, who was secre-
tary Of the navy "a the administrations
of Presidents Lincoln and Johnson.
Both Mr. Welles and Mr.. Bushnell
we're citizens of Connecticut, although
they never met until Mr. Bushnell
called upon Mr.. Welles at the Office
of the secretary of the navy some
months after the beginning of the
civil war Mr.. Welles, after the war
and, in fact, after The Monitor type
fighting. ship, always acknowledge the
great service done by Mr.. Bushnell
in bringing the Monitor plan to the
attention of the navy department.
Some years after the war Mr.. Bush
nell was narrating to a group of his
friends in New Haven some of the
trials and difficulties which he was
compelled to overcome before he was
able TO lay the plans of the Monitor
before Secretary Welles.
81 don't think the people Of the
United States have ever realized how
much they owe TO Gideon Welles, %
he said His administration of the
H. ,.fs
the beginning of the war to the end.
He perfected the plans for blockading
the southern ports and it was this
blockade which practically starved
out the southern army
Nelles was a man of real modestv.
He never spurged or attempted in any
way TO gain public applause. He never
struttcd. and that is probably the chief
reason why he was not more conspicuous
in war days.
81 think now that President Lincoln
had not only great admiration for the
modesty and complete lack of self con
seriousness which were Characteristic Of
Mr. Welles. but also for his ability.
'T remember one conversation ! had
with Secretary Nelles. perhaps a year
after the Monitor fought the historic
]
NIerrimac. 7 told Welle- then. as had
Mt other times. that if it had
not been for his action i'm agreeing Ia
man the Monitor and 10 give II a trial
trim the chances are that the Monitor
tvne of war vessel wouiG never have
been adopted.
"He said to me i'm reply Bushnell
almost all Of the navy officers were
opposed to that little ironclad turrei
ship. was a landsman and they
thought knew nothing about fighting
ships. but it seemed to me that the
fundamental idea of the Monitor was
a good one. But | was in a very
peculiar position. If the Monitor
we're successful I'm demonstrating hel
/ ability as a fighting vessel construct
| ed upon absolutely new and original
! lines then I was sure of being great
| Is criticised because / had not ordered
the construction of a number Of yes
sells Of that kind On the other hand
! If the Monitor was unsuccessful il
her trial trip then was certain o
being criticised because / had en-
couraged or countenanced what wal
sure to be called a rash and absurd
venture. There | was between thu
devil and the deep sea, as the expires
sion is. But I decided to he unin
fiuenced by any thought of criticism
/ have had the criticism Just the same
but ] have the consolation Of know
ing that the Monitor did beat thu
Merrimac and put an end to the caree
Of that dangerous ironclad'
] Copyright. 1913. by +. J. Edwards
All rights reserved.)
Tomorrow Mr.. Edwards will tel
How Grover Cleveland Looked Afte
His Successors Comfort"