Evening journal., 1913-11-06
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
The Priced Paper Simon
Cameron Rejected
By Holland.

Yesterday | told an anecdote which
was narrated to me by Colonel Ed
ward Jay Allen, who now lives in
Pittsburgh in an enviable retirement
because these later years OF his life
are associated with the most happy
immediate surroundings and. because
his recollections of those strenuous
days when American energy was pio-
neering the emigrants across the
Great American Desert are very
vivid.
Colonel Allen blazed trails across
what used to be called the Great
American desert, and one OF his most
remarkable achievements was the
construction OF the emigrant road
over the Natchess pass. While he
was living in Olympia, Washington in
a cabin of his own construction,
Brevet Captain Geor-e B. Mcclellan
was his guest for some months. A
strong attachment was established be-
tween the two young men.
Ten years later just after McClel-
Ian had been appointed in command
of the Army Of the Potomac at Wash
ington, Colonel Allen ca d upon him
and was greeted with the utmost cor
diality
Mcclellan had vivid. recollection of
the admin stratiye md executive abil-
ity revealed by the young man, Ed
ward Jay Allen, when he was open
ing what Is now the empire of the
Southwest
So he told Allen that he wanted
him with the Army of the Potomac
to undertake some very important
administrative work in connection
with the administrative department
He said: 81 will write a letter to
President Lincoln, urging him to make
the necessary appointment, so that
you can take right hold of my COM
missionary department"
Colonel Allen, who was recently
describing to me this incident, said:
1T was q very warm ard strong let
ter that he gave me to take to the
President. Il revealed, l thought,
perfect confidence established be-
tween the President and the Comman-
der of the army of the Potomac.
showed the letter to some friends pc
fore / took it to Lincoln. Among them
was Governor Isaac /. Stevens, and
John G. Covode, who was chairman
affairs. and General Fred Lander.
There were perhaps dozen in all
who added warm and signed indorse-
ments to Mcclellan S request.
Next morning / called at the
White House and the President re-
ceived me with simple dignity. He
read my letter carefully through. l
recall his glance when, after reading
the letter and the Endorsements. he
turned to me and said, 'Mr. Allen. we
have urgent need of such men rs you
"Then he took the letter and finding
a convenient place at the bottom of
the sheet beneath the indorseme ents,
he wrote. 4 cannot too firmly rec
ommend this nomination. A Lincoln.
Having done this. he gave me the let
ter and told me to take 1t to the sec.
retary of war, Simon Cameron, who
was a citizen OF my own State, Penn
sylvania.
Il went into Secretary Cameron
office, confident that the tequest mad
by General Mcclellan. the indorse
ments of u Sc strong men and tn
~earnest recommendation Of Presiden
Lincoln would avail with him.
"In a moment I was chilled through
cameron luask-llke lace neNel
changed expression as he read thu
letter. He turned to me- cold ant
impassive and simply made this re
mark: The Presidents recomm d.
tion has not the slightest weight Will
me- And then he tossed the letter al
though II were some rifing thinl
across the table.
II went out Immediately. 7 wa
deeply hurt. so deeply that I did no
have the heart to see Mcclellan 4
tell him Of the shameful slight whic
had been put upon him.
81 went home and recruited regl
ment-the One Hundred and Fifty
fifth Pennsylvania Volunteers. Blu
when we reached he frept McClella
was no longer with the Army of tn
Potomac. Burnside was in comman,
/ never saw Mcclellan again.
81 would greatly prize that pape
which Simon Cameron so ignomiou:
ly rejected, if l could now get it,"
| Copyright. 1913. by. E. j. Edward
All rights reserved).