Evening journal., 1914-11-20
New News Of Yesterday
A Generous Political
Opponent
By Holland.

The late James G. Patterson, Of
Hartford. Conn, who died in 1901,
was often spoken of by men Of inn
portant affairs as citizen of the
United States rather than as a citizen
Of Hartford. He was so prominently
identified with the construction Of
many Of the public works and build
ings of his time that his name was as
familiar almost to the citizens of
large communities in the United
States as to those of his home town
of Hartford. Besides, he was for
years the chief executive of an in
suranco corporation whose business
covered the United states.
Notwithstanding his many activities
and the time which he devoted to
scholarship. Mr.. Patterson IN the
I early part OF his career took strong
interest in politics For that reason.
he became the executive head OF the
Republican party organization in
Connecticut for two or three years
before the beginning of the civil war.
Mr.. PATTERSON did not permit his
political views 10 lntefere with his
personal relations. He was one Of
the warmest Of the friends OF Thomas
II. Seymour. who. In his day. was the
leading Democrat IN the State of Con
necticut. He had been governor OF
/ Connecticut and had served as minis
ter TO Russia His personal charm
was so convincing that he was said
to have no enemies
In the campaign of 1860 Il was
/ deemed essential that Connecticut
whose State election occurred at that
/ time-should give a Republican ma
! iority for William A, Buckingham
who was the pariys candidate for
( governor. The democracy. in order TO
make capital OF the great popularity
of Thomas H. Seymour. nominated
/ him for governor The contest was
desperate one and the Republican
party organization was under the di-
rection Of Mr.. Patterson. He was
triumphant by the small majority Of
Sal.
An incident occurred during the
campaign which illustrated the char
acter OF MIR. PATTERSON. The charge
was made that, Republican chief as
he was, he had nevertheless loaned
cratic candidate for governor. and
held Mr.. Seymour's note for the
amount.
The fact was that a year earlier,
when travelling in Europe, Mr. Batter
son met Mr.. Seymour and found that
the great Democrat was In consider
able embarrassment Seymour was
not a provident man in respect to
money. He was both thoughtless and
generous. He told Mr.. Patterson that
he had exhausted his letter of credit
and was a good deal put out and in
oonvenienced because OF his improvi-
dence. ThereupOn, Mr.. PATTERSON Of
fered to share his purse with Mr.. Sey.
mour. The offer was accepted, ant
! Mr.. Seymour insisted upon giving Mr.
4 Patterson an l. o. U. in acknowledge
y ment. That was all there was to thu
report that the Republican manage
had lent money to the Democratic
a candidate.
As soon as Ar. Patterson hear,
that this campaign story was afioat
he went to those who were in author
4 ity in the Democratic campaign ang
said: TON Seymour owes me moth
ing; / have no note OF his. There il
now none in existence" Then h,
took from his pocketbook Mr. Sey
mour's /. o. u and tore it up in the
presence Of the campaign manager
saying ''If Seymour himself wants
to tell the story, he can do it;
. won't"
Mr.. Seymour instantly gave out fol
publication the real facts upon which
the campaign charge was based.
I / Copyright. 1914 by e. j. Edwards
All rights reserved).
Tomorrow Mr.. Edwards will tell o
n "An Excess of Judicial Dipnifv"