The Washington herald., 1914-07-13
HISTORY BUILDERS.
When the President Made an Uncon-
yentional Visit,
Written e1pfessly for he HsfaIdl
By DIR. Il. J. EDWARDS,

By DH. IL. J. EDWAhDss
At the time Of the exciting discussion
in Congress which preceded the enact
ment of the so-called Sherman sil-
yer law. in the latter part Of the admin
istration OF President Benjamin Harrison,
spent an hour or two with george s.
coe. who had been ranked among the
foremost OF American bankers, but who
at that time had practically retired rom
active banking life. With Mr.. Coe the
Secretary of the Treasury in Lincoln s
administration, Salmon b. Chase, main
tained. In civil war days. intimate rela-
| tionA. II was in Mr.. Goes Office that
Secretary Chase met the bankers OF New
York, Boston. and Philadelphia, in the
summer of 1851 and urged them to fur
nish 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 estao-
lisbed Mr. Coe maintained intimate rela-
tions with the First Comptroller of the
Currency. Hugh McCulloch. ! asked Mr..
Coe II Il were true that McCulloch. when
Secretary Of the Treasury in President
Johnson's administration, was preparing
for an early resumption OF specie pay
ment, and II he had resumed specie pay
ment II would not have been necessary TO
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 20
answer now. All that / can say is that
presume McCulloch counted. In case
he were able to resume 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 expert
ence / had associated with him which
was very pleasant
You know. o. course. that President
Arthur appointed MGCulloch Secretary
OF the Treasury after the resignation Of
Judge Gresham. l think in the fall oi
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 &c
enter the Cabinet at the head OF the
| Treasury Department
1 He said to a friend Of mine that one
! evening his servant told him that gen.
tleman had called and was in the library,
McCulloch went to the library and was
! astonIshed a as well as delighted TO find
that his caller was none other than the
/ President of the United States. He had
had considerable experience In admins
tration etiquette. but this was the FIRST
time he had ever known President &c
call upon a citizen unannounced, exactly
He said. however. that he learned aft
er he entered the Cabinet that President
! Arthur was the master Of a very happy
and very dignffied unconventionality.
But what was Mr. McCullOch's aston
/ ishment at first seeing the President in
his house in comparison to that which
/ followed President Arthur's explanation
OF his call, For the President told hin
in a very kindly manner, as though h
were seeking favor and not offering :
great compliment. that he had called tC
ask him IL he would enter his Cabinet
as Secretary OF the Treasury There had
been no recommendation TO the President
of McCulloch; nobody had even suggest
: ed his name. He was the President;
/ own personal and exclusive choice.
"Of course. there was nothing for Nc
! Culloch to do but to express his sense Of
Indebtedness for the compliment and hii
willingness to serve the President HI
was in good health and he was so cir
cumstanced in his business affairs tha
he could without embarrassment r4urr
TO public life.
! ''McCulloch had many hOnors, and h
will pass into history as one of the bes
I Secretaries of the Treasury. And yet
am satisfied that no distinction evel
! came to him which gave him such graft
fcation as did the manner in which Pres
ident Arthur, in that unconventiona
way. offered him the Treasury Depart
ment portfolio"
lCoryrght. 1914. By Z. ]. Edwards Al rights re
| seTTedl
Tomorrow DR.. Edwards will tel '.Th,
Actual Truth About Andrew Johnson