The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-04-08
BY Il. y. w. Common.

Five times in the history OF the
Federal government he North Caro-
ina been represented in the official
family Of the President. Andrew
Jackson. himself q native OF the State,
extended the honor through John
Branch. William Henry Harrison
through George f. Badger, Millard
Fillmore through William A. Graham,
Franklin Pierce through James c.
Dobbin, and Woodrow Wilson through
Josephns Daniels. 1t r. a coincidence
not without interest that in each cas-
the representative OF the Old North
State has been entrusted with the port
folio OF the navy. The coincidence Is
all the more striking when it is re-
called that the Craftsmanship Of the
Marine COMMITTEE in the Continental
Congress, which may be regarded as
the f~orerunner Of the secretaryship Of
the navy in the Presidents cabinet,
was held for a time by Joseph Hewes.
also a North Carolinian.
Such a series Of condolences could
not be permitted to pass without ex-
citing In the curious a desire for some
satisfactory explanation. An explana-
ton. satisfactory to one individual at
least, was offered in 1859 when the
appointment OF James G. Dobhin as
Secretary Of the Navy was announced.
Why Is IT," asked a wit OF Phila-
delphia, that the Navy Department
is SO often assigned 10 a North Caro-
n without waiting for an
answer. he replied to his own query:
Because North Carolina Is the Rip
Van Wrinkle of the States, and the
navy is h Rip Van Wrinkle of ouY
national defenses." But however
satisfactory this explanation was in
1859, it will not pass in 1913. North
Carolina long ago walked from hel
-1Vvphn~o ,rl Ga 4 GA Y~-c~-C DoAI:~
commissioned as midshipman in ths
navy a fine young fellow who wa.
destined to prove. ffty-four years lAtel
In Manila Bay. that the American
navy Is a very wide-Awake part OF ou'
national defcnseS. It appears, there
fore, now that another North Caro-
linian has succeeded to the Navy De
partment, that further Investigation
into this Interesting subject Ii neces
eary.
John Branch.
h hrst representative OF Merit
Carolina In the Presidents cabinet wa
John Branch. He was a maj Of dis
tinguished Revolutionary ancestry, O
liberal education, and Of high socia
position. After being graduated fro1
the University Of North Carolina, h
studied 'aw under Judge John Hay
wood. n Of the States most cminen
~jurists. but having inherited an am
pie estate, he abandoned the bar 10
the freer and more congenial life G
the plantation. Both by inheritanc
and by training. his talents led hi1
into public life. Eight times he va
elected To represent his county 1
the State enatc and twice elected b
his fellow Senators their presiding 81
iicer. He was twice elected Governe
NJ North Carolina, and twice sent I
represent the State in the Senate /,
the United States. AS legislator an
As executive he allied himself with u
liberal movemen Of his day. ]
North Carolina two such rnOyemen
formed the tine Of domArcation b.
tween the liberals and the coneerv,
tiveS-the Prcgressives and the r
dictionaries OF that period. One W;
he movement for the ESTABLISHING
III public schools the other was Il
movement in the interest Of intern
improvements. Branch's record I
both questions places him In the ran,
Of the Progres1dveR. Later as q m~x
her OF the Constitutional Coaventis
Of 1885. he stood with the Progr<
MveS or that body In advocati,
amendments to the Constitution d