The Washington herald., 1914-08-01
HISTORY BUILDERS.
An Unrevealed Political Secret.
Nv nR. Il. J..EpwARDs. ].

In the fan OF 1884, while on my way to
Boston, I found the late William p.
Frye. at that time United States Senator
from Maine. in the smoking compartment
Of the car. and he asked me TO sit beside
him so that we could have a chat. The
Senator said that he was on his way to
New England for the purpose OF making
campaign.
happened to mention TO Senator Frye
that in the spring Of the preceding year
was fellow-traveler with David Davis
who had a few days earlier completed
his term as United States Senator and
who was then on his way to Fayetteville
". c., where he was to be married.
told Senator Frye that had had long
and very interesting conversation with
Judge Davis, In which he narrated to me
some Of his early experiences as an Illi-
nois Judge when Abraham Lincoln ap-
peared before him as a lawyer. But
said that when ] ventured to hint that
would be glad II Judge Davis would
speak Of some OF his more recent ex-
periences. hoping that he might aIiude to
the electoral commission which decided
by majority Of one that Rutherford B.
Hayes had been elected President, the
Judge instantly changed the subject or
became silent.
What Judge Davis would have done
had he served upon the electoral commits
sion, as II was expected he would. will
always remain one Of the great mysteries
Of public life." said Senator. Frye. You
know that when Congress authorized the
appointment Of this commission and
pledged itself to accept its findings the
general expectation was that Judge Davis
who was then a member of the Supreme
Court bench, would he one Of the com
missioners.
He would have been chosen had It not
been for his still mysterious and sudden
election by the Illinois legislature as
United States Senator.
Il remember very well that those Of
us who were In the House thought II
doubtful whether Judge Davis would re-
sign his seat upon the Supreme Court
bench to accept election as Senator. We
know that Judge Davis was a very thrifty
man. To resign a place upon the bench
involved a loss Of a salary Of $4,000
year and the acceptance OF one Of only
5000. In addition to that. II Judge Davis
resigned from the Supreme bench he
would lose the opportunity to retire two
years later upon full pension Of $4,000
year.
Il have heard a good many eXplana-
tions Of the way in which Judge Davis
was suddenly elected to the Senate. but
I never heard the explanation which
believe Is the correct one. Instead Of
Judge Davis. Judge Bradley, Of New Jer-
sey. became a member Of the electoral
commission. and IL was his deciding vote
which by a majority OF one gave the
Presidential election to Gov. Hayes.
Nobody has ever known whether or
not Judge Davis. had he been a member
Of the commission, would have decided
in favor of Tilden. He never permitted
any one to talk to him upon the subject.
No one was ever able after he entered
the Senate to get the slightest hint from
him OF his opinion respecting the findings
OF the electoral commission. ! do know
that he read the report Of the proceedings
before the commission carefully. but he
locked the secret of his own view abso-
lutely within himself. and I presume he
will keep that secret unrevealed through
out his life and. Furthermore. that after
his death nothing will be found among
his papers that will indicate whether had
he been one OF the electoral commission
he would have decided in favor of Tilden
or In favor OF Hayes. II will remain q
perfectly kept secret"
tCopyright. 1914. By Z. J. EdWards All rights -
.. serTed.l