Evening journal., 1913-12-30
new MEMS OF YESTERDAY
An kneCdOte Of Oliver P.
Merton
By Holland.

About a year after the second in
auguration. in March, 1873, of Gen
eral Grant as President, Senator Oil
yer p. Morton, who represented in
part the State OF Indiana in the
United States Senate visited his long
time friend. the late Nehemiah ID.
Sperry, at Mr.. Sperry's home In New
Haven, Conn There had been inti-
mate personal and political relations
established between Senator Morton
and Mr. Sperry years earlier and IN
the early part of the Civil War. Mr.
Sperry had visited, at the request of
the war governor of Connecticut VIII
liam IT, buckingham Morton, at his
home la Indiana at one or the most
trying periods OF the conflict, and Just
at the time that Morton was gaining
his reputation as one of the great war
governors. There we're not only poll
tical but temperamental congeniaities
which served to establish a very warm
friendship between these men. Years
later, Mr. Sperry was chosen to rep
resent the New Haven district in Con-
gress and was reelected for several
terms. and was dAring his last term
the oldest member of the House
chanced TO see Mr.. Sperry and
Senator Morton at the New Haven
railroad station Mir. Sperry had,
with soicitude and tenderness. pro-
yided for the comfort of his friend.
who, as a result of paralysis, had lost
completely the use OF his legs. II WIS
necessary TO carry him from one place
10 another, and an invalid chair was
provided for him. Under Mr. Sperry'
watchful eye the Senator was care
fully taken from the carriage to the
railroad car The day was unbear-
ably hot and the Senator wore over
his waistcoat nothing but an old
fashioned linen duster
a few hours later | had an oppor-
tunity to shat with Mr. Sperry about
Senator Morton He said:
"In my opinion Mr.. Morton we're in
good health and We're not constantly
! threatened with the recurrence of the
paralysis which has cost him the use
of his legs. he would be the Repuhli
! can candidate for President in 1876
I suppose Roscoe Conkling viii be ;
candidate. but he cannot get the
nomination. General Grant is very
+ fond of Senator Morton and relies I'M.
picity upon the Senator's counsel re.
srecting political matters. | am sure
Grant would be reioiced If Morton
were to become the candidate, al.
though Grant would share the appre-
henson of others that If he should
be nominated and elected Morton
would not live through the presiden'
tai term.
What a wonderful intellect and an
equally wonderful will power this
/ man Morton possessed! le was
combination of intellect and will pow
or which enabled him TO dominate th'
State OF Indi.na in the troublesome
times of the war He is "a man with
out a particle OF jealousy. and | don
think he has much ambition. Fo
instance, we were chatting yesterda.
about one and another of the member
of the Senate and l asked Senate
Morton whom he regarded as intel
loctually the ablest man in the Senat
on either side of the chamber. II
replied:
I should have TO think that owe
before | made a reply, but Sperry,
will tell you one thing, and tha
this. If you want 10 know who we
the ablest man intellectually whom
ever met IN the Senate, l wouldn
hesitate an instant In answering 20
that he was your own Senator, o.
Perry. II was a great loss to tn
Senate and to the country when Perr
died, a year or two ago
E" why, Senator Morton said /,
once asked Senator Perry the yer
question ! have just asked you, an
without any hesitation he replied tn;
yours was the ablest intellect in II
United States Senate
~ did not add" said Mr.. Sperr
another thought that passed throue
my mind, and that was this: Fac
OF these men who each had unhes
tatingly paid tribute to the intellec
OF the ether, was paralyzed, neith'
of them being able TO use his leg
But the disease which had physical
destroyed life in the lower part
the body had in no way touched q
brain OF these two men,
Senator Morton died in 1877 as q
direct result OF a second attack
paralysis.
CCopyrieht, 1913. by f. j Edward
All rights reservedl
Tomorrow Mr.. Edwards will t.
How Famous Railroad Man G
HIS FirSi lob -