Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-01-17

Manila bay, I often asked myself this
question, and / confess I was thinking
OF him the night we enter, | the bay
and with the conviction that was do
ing precisely what he would have DONE"
NATIVE OF vERMONT.
George Dewey was born in the shad-
ow of Vermont's state capitol at Mont
pelier, on the day following Christmas,
in 1887. At the age of II, he reached
the cross roads of his career: one road
led to West Point, the other to Annap-
oils. Young Dewey favored the former
but
There was no vacancy for West
Point from Vermont" explained the adj
miral in reviewing his life. otherwise
] might have gone into Manila bay on
an army transport instead Of on the
Olympia. But it happened that there
was a vacancy at Annapolis, SO l enter
ed the nav"
At the outbreak OF the civil war,
Dewey was % years old. He was COM
missioned lieutenant, and guided the
Mississippi as it's executive officer In
Farragut's historic dash past New Or
leans and it's forts. He was not so sue
cessful at Port Hudson. Farragut won
through. but Dewey and the MISSISSIPPI
pi ran aground under the guns of the
forts. The ship wa sset afire and dur
ing the transfer of the crew under fire.
the young officer lived five years in an
hour"
HAD VARIED CAREER.
From the close of the civil war until
the opening of the Spanish American,
90 pffirar
was made up of routine duty at sea
and ashore. During this period the
future admiral cruised, taught class
at Annapolis, surveyed lower California
and part Of the west coast of Mexico.
carried supplies to the survivors of the
siege of Paris, performed service at the
Boston navy yard and the naval tor
pedo station at,Newport, inspected light
houses and served as naval secretary on
the lighthouse board, spent two years
travelling on q sick leave in search OF
health, four years as chief of the bu-
rcau of equipment, and at the age of 80
was serving as president IF the board
of inspection and survey with the rank
of commodore. 1t was in this impor-
tant naval office that he presided at the
trials of all the battleships, except the
oregon, which were to demollSh the
Spanish squadron at Santiago.
GIFT HOUSE INCIDENT.
Shortly after his return from Manila
bay Admiral Dewey found himself in
fire of popular criticism over the gift
house incident" American citizens had
raised 1000 by popular subscription as
"A testimonial to the hero of Manila and
~ n, faI rt,if a in
Washington. Dewey, who had been a
widower since 1872 had juat married
Mrs Mildred Mclean Hazen of Wash
ngton, and he turned over the gift
house to her Shortly afterward the
admiral and Mrs. Dewey left the gift
house and lived in the wife's former
home.
In 1900 Admiral Dewey was seriously
talked of as a candidate for the Repub-
lican nomination as president, but the
admiral preferred to remain in the
naval ranks rather than to seek such a
venture in craftsmanship. His admir-
ers have since often spoken of him as
the man who could have been a presi-
dent If he had wished.
One Of the finest estimates Of Admiral
Dewey's character is contained in 4
tribute rendered to him by his old time
shipmate, Admiral Sampson, who WAS
fighting the Spaniards in the Caribbean
while Dewey was lying in Manila baN
resting on the laurels he had won n
the famous battle of the first of MAY.
Sampson said:
THE service knows Dewey as an
ideal head of a fleet. Perfectly cour-
ageous, of thoroughly balanced 1uds-
judgment and quick decision, he has
the qualities which carries one to fame
if opportunity be given. The man and
the hour fortunately came together and
the country is richer in another bril-
liant page of history and another hero
ic figure. His career has given "A lofty
| impetus to the young which will bear
fruit in nobler aspirations. He has
become one of the most valued pos
sessions which nation can have--a
national hero"
The United States yearly spends
$l00, 100000 in building public schools