The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1917-06-01
PRESIDENT AND GOVERNOR
MR.. HARRISON AND MR.. sHouP
(From the CapitaI Newsl


Washington, May 2A.--Nery soon
after Colonel George l.. ShOup be
came governor of the territory of
Idaho he secured leave OF absence
for three months and went to Wash
ington TO work in behalf of statehood
for the territory. When that leave
expired Governor Shuup atked for
another leave of three months, that
being the limit of leave allowed in
such cases, The secretary of the in
terror. General John w. Noble, sent
for Governor Shoup, however, and
personally told him that President
Harrison would not grant another
leave of absence; he also informed
Governor Shoup that the president
desired him to call at the White
House.
Now there was at the interior de
partment young newspaper man
who was "a friend of Governor Shoup.
also friend from childhood of Sec
retry Noble, and he had access to the
White House, so by invitation he ac-
companied the governor to the White
House, and on the way Governor
Shoup told of his purpose TO make an
argument for another leave, but that
argument was never delivered. As
soon as they entered the cabinet
room President Harrison abruptly
and unkindly said:
Governor Shoup | want you to
go back to Idaho and attend the du-
ties of your office. You are remain
ing in Washington and acting the
part of a lobbyist before congress.
and you must stop it. Your appli-
cation for further leave of absence
is finally and absolutely denied"
ed his voice admirably as he replied
Mr.. President no man living can
address me in that manner, except
the president of the United States.
Good day. sir"
The newspaper man, still living.
went to his hotel with Govenor
Shoup and watched him write his
resignation as governor of Idaho The
young man addressed the envelope
for the governor whose hand trem-
bled with suppressed and controlled
resentment. Instead of ringing for
a messenger boy, Governor Shoup re-
quested his young friend to deliver
the message and he did So President
Harrison read the resignation and
said to the newspaper man: | don't
want this resignation. Please take
L back to Governor SrOup and tell
him that ! viii not appoint ms sue,
ceSSor"
You do not know Governor Shoup
Mr.. President" said the young news
paper man; there is no appointment
in your gift which that man would
accept"
That evening Governor Shoup re
ceived a special letter from his friend
General Noble. secretary of che in
terioC, requesting him to call the
neXt day, and the ex-governor did SO
because General Noble and he We're
warm friends for many years, com
rades in the Union army during the
civil war. General Noble urged
Shoup to reconsider his resignation
and when the Grand Old Man of
Idaho" positively refused. General
Noble told him that he would go 10
the White House, would personally
request the withdrawal of his resig
nation and that the president grant
him additional leave of absence and
Shoup replied: the president knows
that | have been an army officer, as
he has and as you have been, and he
should have, known better than to
address me in that manner. He can
never speak TO me again"
Later, however, the matter was ad
justed, but without any personal in
terview with the president.
Because of his birth in Pennsyl-
vania, his faithful support from Sen
ator Quay and many other congress
sional leaders, Colonel Shoup was in
fiuential in securing statehood logis-
lation. Within year after the af
front at the White House he was
United States Senator George /.
Shoup of the sovereign state Of Ida
no.