Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1914-06-10
New News Of Yesterday
The Man Who WaSThrice
Offered Cabinet Position
By Holland.

Shortly after Chief Justice Charles !.
Folger of the Court Of Appeals of New
York state, became Secretary of the
Treasury, at Washington. in the admin.
istration OF President Arthur was one
OF little company that met by chance
one evening in Washington and we were
occupied for the better part of an hour
in discussing the character and profcs.
'ional achievements OF Judge Folger and
va trying TO guess what the reason was
that led President Arthur to summon
Judge Folger from the exalted position
he held IN New York TO the office OF
Secretary Of the Treasury.
! cannot now recall all who tool, mart
IN this discussion, but I remember that
ex-senator Spencer of Alabama. was
one and 1t Is my impression that eN-
senator Dorsey of Arkansas was an
other member OF that group.
Both of these senators had served in
the Senate with George S. Boutwell, of
Massachusetts, who was elected United
States Senator to fiji the vacancy occa-
stoned by the assumption by Henry viii
son-who had been for many wears
United States Senator-of the office of
Vice President, in March. 1873
Ex-senator Spencer said 81 have been
creditably informed that Boutwell, was
three times offered the position of See
rotary of the Treasury. and was. in fact.
nominated by President Grant for that
Office, although he had previously said to
President Grant that he felt that in JUS
tice to himself he ought to decline the
offer OF the Treasury Department which
President Grant had made to him.
Boutwell, was a distinguished mem-
Der OF the lower house of Congress. He
came TO Congress with peculiar and
highly honorable record. lie was the
youngest man ever elected governor of
Massachusetts, being only 33 years of
age aud he was elected by coalition
which foreshadowod the organization
OF the Republican party.
IL think Boutwell, was the most hon
est man that / ever knew. / mean bv
that that he was honest not merely IN
the money sense, but intellectually. and
] have always thought that il was this
quality that especially attracted Presi-
dent Grant to him.
when Grant first asked Boutwell, 20
accept the Treasury portfolio the latter
peremptorily declined. Grant was great
ly disappointed so much so that he
again offered the Treasury Department
to Boutwell,. who again declined il, Civ
ing as his reason that he thought that
1t was his duty TO remain in the House
OF Representatives. Grant, however,
did not accept that declination. for in
spite of it ne sent Boutwell's name to
the Senate for confirmation as Secretary
of the Treasury, and the Senates action
was SO prompt. and displayed such cor
dial spirit that Boutwell, was com
PEELED to accept
Although he was greatly occupied
with important Treasury Department
matters, still he always yearned secret
ly for legislative life. Therefore. when
Henry Wilson became Vice President
and Massachusetts elected Boutwell, as
senator TO serve out his term he was
only too glad TO accept the honor
have been told that il came to him
without the slightest solicitation on his
part.
after William Windon retired from
Arthur's cabinet TO return to the United
States Senate as his own successor-for
there had been no election by Minnesota
of any one to fill the vacancy caused by
Windows resignation as Senator to en-
ter General Garlield's cabnet-the first
Republican that President Arthur
thought OF was George $. Boutwell, Ar
thur had always been a great admirer of
Boutwell,. Tie therefore caused Mr..
Boutwell, TO be approached informally
with the intimation that if he were
willing TO accept the offer the Presi-
dent would gladly nominate him for
Secretary of the Treasury. Boutwells
instant reply was that under no cir
cumstances could he be induced to re-
turn to administrative life in WASH
ington.'
I am satisfied that there is no other
case in our entire history OF man hav-
ing been three times offered the post OF
Secretary of the Treasury.
Copyright. 1914, by T.. J. Edwards. All
rights reserved.l
Tomorrow Mr. Edwards will tel
How Baltimore Gained and Lost Hcl
Copper Prestige"