The Washington herald., 1914-05-25
HISTORY BUILDERS.
"A Political Incideat Of the Hayes
Adm:nistrsjion.

A Political Incideat Of the Hayes
Administration.
written Expressly for The Herald)
ny DIR. u. ). EDWARDS.
In the recently published reminis-
censes os Theron @. Strong. leading
member Of the New York bar and son
Of one Of the most eminent New York
judges, the author feels justified In stat
ing that he had reasons for believing
that william NJ. Evarts was greatly.
disappointed because President Grant
did not nominate him S. Chief Justice
OF the Supreme Court OF the United
States to fll the vacancy created by
the death OF Chief Justice salmon u.
Chase.
Mr.. stronz intimates tfat President
Grant would undoubtedly have nomi-
mated Mr.. Evarts a. the successor OF
Chief Justice Chase had 1t not been
for tho fact that Senator Roscoe Conk-
ling, who lad no fondness for Mr..
Evarts. persuaded the President not
10 make the appointment
In 1877. Roscoe Conklilg, then Sen
ator from New York, made an excur-
sion to Eurors His friends chartered
a sieam BOAT 50 that they might make
him their guest until point was
reached in the lower bay in New York
where the Senator would be taken aboard
the steamship upon which he was 10
make his passage to Europe. Among MS
hosts were Gen Chester A. Arthur, who
three years later was to be elected Vice
President and to succeed to the Presi-
dency after the death Of President Gar
field; Alonzo B. Cornell. who two years
later was to be elected governor OF New
York. and Gen. George ii. Sharpe. who
two and one-half years later was to be
speaker of the lower house Of the New
York legislature.
These three men had been removed
from Office by order of President Hayes
for the good oi the service, as was al
legged. Gen Arthur was the collector OF
port, Mr.. Cornell. the naval officer. and
Gen Sharpe. the surveyor. This action
OF Hayes created a great division In the
Republican party. which was af:erwarc
intensified by the resignation Of Senators
Conkling and Thomas Is. Platt, from the
United States Senate. The facfonal
rift was SO great as to make 1t possible
to elect Grover Cleveland governor oi
New York. and then President OF the
United States.
After Senator Conkling's hosts had
biGden him adieu ard had watched him
until he was out Of sight, / had some
conversation with some Of the gentle
men, including Gen. Arthur, who were
membets of this party.
Gen. Arthur said to me: Il suppose
that IL President Grant had nominated
William NJ. Everts as Chief Justice OF th'
| Supreme Court OF the United states, We
I should not now be in the midst oil rae
tional disturbances. / have no justifica'
-
understanding of the situation. but be-
lieve that Mr. Evarts attributed to Sen
ator Conkling's appeal to President
Grant, the refusal Of the latter to nomi
| nate Everts for Chief Justice OF IN
United States Suprrne Court Mr.. Evart
did not know. / presume, that Preslden
Grant first offered the nomination o
Chief Justice TO Senator Conkling. wh'
declined II. I have been told that thl'
was the only case on record OF dech
! nation Of the officer of Chief Justice
| .After Corkling declined the offer
| Grant decided to nominate as Chief JUS
tice one of the three men who repre-
! sented the United States before IN
Geneva Arbitration Tribunal, which pass
! "a upon the so-called Alabama claim
against Great Britain. He first decided
10 appoint Evarts. who would have oeel
Obliged to give up his practice. worth
| least $1,000 year, IN oFuer u 1hAS III
Office.
! senator Conkiiug had what he though
tgood reasons for opposing this nomina
ton. Then President Grant nominate
I Caleb Gushing, who was one OF the tire
REPRESENTATIVES, Of the United States be
fore that tribunal. But it was imposslol
to secure the confirmation Of Cushin
lhv the Senate Then President Gran
nominated Morrison r. Waite. who wa
esteemed a junior representative OF tn
United States before the Geneva Trit
unal.
After President Hayes went into oi
fee there was strong ereason for presun
ing that influences were Immediately e:
tabIished for the purpose Of securin
John Sherman's nomination in 1850 fc
the Presidency. Both Sherman an
Eyarts, as you know, were members
HAYES administration. The first steT
toward Sherman's nomination were take
when Cornell, Sharpe and were remove
from the custom house
Now, we shall see whether the cal
ture Of the custom house in the inte
est of John Sherman is to be followe
by securing the New York Republica
organization in favor of Sherman's non
ination. We shall see"
(CoryriEht. 1914. bs DR.. Z. J. Edwards All nsh
rservcdl
Tomorrow-Dr Edwards will tell Wh
Commodore Vanderbilt Sold His 1sthmia
Route