Evening journal., 1914-07-13
New News Of Yesterday
When the President Made
an Unconventional Visit
By Holland

At the time of the exciting discus
sion in Congress which preceded the
enactment of the so-called Sherman
silver law IN the latter part OF the
administration of President Benjamin
Harrison, l spent an hour or two
with George 8. Coe, who had been
ranked among the foremost Of Ameri-
can bankers, but who at that time
had practically retired from active
banking life With Mr.. Coe, the
Secretary of the Treasury in Lin
coins administration, Salmon b.
Chase, maintained, In civil war days,
intimate relations. II was In MT.
Goes Office that Secretary Chase met
the bankers Of New York, Boston,
and Philadelphia. i'm the summer Of
1861. and urged them to furnish him
with fifty millions in gold, OF which
the government was in sore need.
After the national banking law was
passed and the new system was
established Mr. Coe maintained inti-
mate relations with the First Comp
troller Of the Currency, Hugh McOul-
loch. ] asked Mr.. Coe If It were
true that McCulloch, when Secretary
of the Treasury in President John
sons administration, was preparing
for an early resumption Of specie
payment, and if he had resumed
specie payment il would not have
been necessary 10 make a utilization
of silver somewhat similar to that
provided for in the so-called Sherman
silver law
oh" replied Mr.. Coe, smiling,
/ that is TOO deep and intricate a
! question to answer now. All that
can say is that / presume McCulloch
counted, in case he we're able TO re-
sumo specie payment on a very large
use of silver. But now that you are
mentioning his name, / shall be glad
/ to tell you of a little experience / had
associated with him which was very
pleasant.
you know, Of course, that Presi-
dent Arthur appointed McCulloch
Secretary Of the Treasury after the
resignation of Judge Gresham, l think
in the fall of 1884 McCulloch. | was
told, was greatly pleased not SO
much at the opportunity of returning
after sixteen years, to the Treasury
Department, as at the manner in
which President Arthur invited him
to enter the Cabinet at the head OF
the Treasury Department
"He said TO a friend of mine thai
one evening his servant told him thai
a gentleman had called and was IN
the library. McCulloch went to th'
library and was astonished as vel
as delighted to find that his caller
was none other than the President
of the United States. He had haC
considerable experience in admins
tratiOn etiquette but this was the
first time he had ever known a Presi
dent 10 call upon citizen unan
nCuneed, exactly as a neighbour or
friend might do.
"He said. however. that he learned
after he entered the Cabinet tina
President Arthur was the master of q
very happy and very dignihed un
Conventionality.
but what was Mr. MoCullocht
astonishment at first seeing the Pre-
sident in his house in comparison
Ito that which followed Presiden
N Arthurs explanation Of his CALI FO
the President told him in, "A yer
, kindly manner. as though he wer
seeking q favor aud not Offering
great compliment, that he had calle
10 ask him n he would enter hi
Cabinet as Secretary of the Treasury
There had been no recommendatio
to the President of McCullOch; nc
body had even suggested his namI
i He was the Presidents own persona
aud exclusive choice.
"Of couse, there was nothing 10
! McCulloch TO do but TO express hi
, sense of Indebtedness for the con
o. pliment and his Willingness to sery
y the President He was in goo
= health and he was so circumstance
/ in his business affairs that he coul
without embarrassment return
e public life.
r "McCulloch had many honOrs. an
o. he will pass into history as one ,
e the best Secretaries of the Treasur
o Aud yet | am satisfied that no dil
g tmctiOn ever came to him which gay
: him such qualification as did II
90 manner in which President Arthur,
o that unconventional way. offered hi
T. the Treasury Department portfolio
e Copyright. 1914. by e. j. Edward
l. All rights reserved.)
n Tomorrow Mr. Edwards will Il
is 1.-The Actual Truth About Andre
Tohnuon -