The Washington herald., 1914-06-10
HISTORY BUILDERS.
The Man Who Was Thrice Offered
Cabinet Position.
written Expressly for The Herald.)
BY DIR. e. ,. EDWARDS.

~~SsAs~s . Ossss~>Ss
written Expressly for The Herald)
BY DIR. E. ,. EDWARDS.
Shortly after Chief Justice Charles J.
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
In discussing the character and profess
sional achievements of Judge Folger and
in trying to guess what 1.-THE reason was
that led President Arthur to summon
Judge Folger from the exalted position he
held in New York to the Office of secre-
tary ofethe Treasury.
l cannot now recall all who took part
In this discussion. but I remember that
ex-senator Spencer. Of Alabama, was one,
and II Is my impression that ex-senator
Dorsey Of Arkansas was another mem-
Der OF that group.
Both Of these Senators had served in
the Senate with George 8. Boutwell, Of
Massachusetts,, who was elected United
states Senator to I'LL the vacancy occa-
stoned by the assumption by Henry VIII
son-who had been for many years Unit
ed States Senator-of the Office of Vice
President in March. 1873.
Ex-senator Spencer said. II have been
creditably Informed that Boutwell, was
three times offered the position of Sec
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
oner 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 a peculiar and
highly honorable record. He was the
youngest men ever elected governor o,
Massachusetts,. being only thrity-three
years OF age, and he was elected by a
coalition which foreshadowed the or
ganization Of the Republican party.
Il think Boutwell, was the most honest
man that / ever knew. / mean by that
that he was honest not merely In the
money sense. but intellectually. and I
have always thought that IL was this
quality that especially attracted Presi-
dent Grant to him.
When Grant first asked Boutwell, to
accept the Treasury portfolio the latter
peremptorily declined. Grant was greatly
disappointed. so much so that he again
offered the Treasury Department to
Boutwell,. who again declined 1t. giving
as his reason that he thought that II
was his duty to remain in the House of
representatives. Grant. however, did
not accept that declination. for in spite
OF II he sent Boutwell's name to the Sem
ate for confirmation as Secretary Of the
Treasury. and the Senates action was SO
prompt and displayed such cordial spirit
that Boutwell, was compelled TO accept
Although he was greatly occupied with
important Treasury Department matters,
still he always yearned secretly for leg
islative life. Therefore. when Henry Will
son became Vice President and Massa-
chusetts elected Butwell as Senator to
serve out his term. he was only too glad
to accept the honor. I have been told
that IL came 10 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
Windoms resignation as Senator to en-
ter Gen. Garfeld's Cabinet-the first Re-
publican that President Arthur thought
of was George s. Boutwell,. Arthur had
always been a great admirer of Bout
well. He therefore caused NJ. Boutwell,
to he approached informally with the in
timation that II he were willing to ac-
cept the offer the President would glad
ly nominate him for Secretary Of the
Treasury. BoutwelTs instant reply was
that under no circumstances could he be
induced TO return to administrative life
in Washington"
7 am satisfied that there is no other
case in our entire history Of a man hav-
ing been three times offered the post Of
Secretary Of the Treasury
Copyright. 1914. by 2. ]. Edvards All rights
reserved.
Tomorrow Mr.. Edwards will tell How
Baltimore Gained and Lost Her Copper
prestira"