The Washington herald., 1915-09-18
HISTORY BUILDERS.
Why Secretary Window Left the

Senate.
written Expressly for The Washington HeraldD
BY DIR. f. J. EDWARDS.
William Window. at one time governor
of Minnesota. afterward United States
Senator from that State and twice. at least.
earnestly supported by Minnesota and
some other States as candidate for the
Republican Presidential nomination. ac-
cepted. under pressure. the appointment
of Secretary of the Treasury by Presi-
who was Postmaster General under Gar
field and for some months under Gar
fields successor. President Arthur. told
me some years ago of the peculiar po-
l;tical exigencies which practically COM
PEELED Senator Window to accept Gar
fields ofYer Of the Treasury Department.
although it was a secondhand offer.
Garfield YVES very anxious that Sem
ator Allison, of Iowa. should accept the
portfolio of Secretary of the Treasury"
said Gen. James. Il knew there were
several reasons why Garfield wanted Sem
ator Allison In his cabinet. In the first
place. Garfield's relations with Allison
had been for years very intimate. Their
tcmperaments and experiences were such
as to make them peculiarly congenial
each to the other Besides this. Senator
Allison was unsurpassed by any Senator
In his knowledge of financial and fiscal
conditions in the United States. But
there was a third reason. Blaine was to
be Secretary OF State. Allison was a very
intimate friend Of Blaine. and he main
tained that friendship, although he was
at the same time a warm personal
friend Of Roscoe Conkllng. When it be-
came necessary IN the Senate for Blaine
and Conkling to exchange communica-
tions-they did not speak or in any way
recognize one another when they were
Senators-Allison was the common friend
who carried the communications that
were exchanged. Garfield was sure that
if Allison were IN the cabinet his great
tact as well as his commanding influence
would be sure to maintain most cordial
relations between the President and all
the members OF his family.
Il saw something of the pressure that
was brought to bear upon Allison up to
the day before the Inauguration of Gar
field but II was of no avail. Allison could
not be persuaded to quit the Senate. An
eleventh-hour choice was necessary and
that resulted in the selection Of Senator
Window but Window would have greatly
preferred to remain in the Senate. Never
theless, the situation was explained to
him and great pressure was brought to
bear on him to accept the offer in the
Treasury Department. and almost at the
last moment he Yielded.
Il know that Window. although he ac
complished a masterpiece Of financial
strategy shortly after he became Secre-
tary Of the Treasury. always down deep
in his heart yearned for his seat In the
Senate chamber. l would not have been
surprised IL after a short service as Sec
retary Of the Treasury Window had re-
signed in order to be reelected as Sem
ator from Minnesota. He was a very able
Secretary of the Treasury. and am In
clined to think that. brilliant a. was his
Of the Treasury Depart
ment in the administration OF President
Harrison, which he entered six yean
after he resigned a. Secretary OF the
Treasury under. President Arthur. never
theless the achievement by which he will
be traditionally known. was his refunds
ing at 3 1-2 per cent a large biock OF gov.
ernment bonds in Garfield's adPinistra-
ton. This he did within two months
after he became Garaeld's Secretary OF
the Treasury.
Il know how greatly rejoicsd he was
when the Minnesota legislature reelected
him United States Senator. 10 that he
sras able 10 resign his once as Secretary
Of the Treasury one day and take his old
Mace In the Senate upon the next.
U31lirSt nlk n z ]. o1vas1A Al dGn1o
OuU0u3 49,