The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-04-05

- ~ 49, - :
fvl period q reconetxuction follow
Inc the Word war.
Mr.. Dspew was Frequently crit
clzed for taking an active Part h
politics while he retained bis POW
0rful railroad connections, but thos
who knew his work intimately wer
quick - point ont that he nevey neg
lected the details Of either bis busI
ness o. his public career.
Ones he made 4 tour Of the New
York Central lines to Inspect tn
various rsetapyants operated by til,
COMPANY. He was prompted b
make the trip by lettsr reeeivel
from . patron Of the road.
"You are the finest after-dinne,
speaker in the world" it said. "ans
! have listeHed 10 yov many times
but ! would give anything ] poseesl
to hear your speech after you ha<
dined in your restaurant ct Utica.
Mr.. Depew had known intimatel,
every president from Lipcoln K
Coolidge. His first meeting Will
Lincoln occurred during the Civil
war, while Depew was SECRETARY Of
New York state. He had gone e
Washington on Z mission connected
with the New York Nstienal Guard
reception room and seeing the kind.
hearted president surrounded BY
scores Of officeseeksrs and other
favor-hunters, Depew turned 70 90.
Just moment young man." said
the president. "Whst did you
Nothing" replied the New York.
"Well, this is = luxury" Lincoln
replied. mo one has ever been
here before that didn't want some.
thing. ! wish you would remain
until have attended T. the wants
Oft these :. ,, people, tor would like to
Was Presidential Aspirant
More than 70 years after this In
terview, Mr.. Depew had become
such . power In the Republican par
ty that he was prominently men,
toned for the proficiency, and in
1883, when the Rspubliesn national
convention appeared 70 be hopeless
" deadloeked, Depew received 80
votes for the nomination. It being
apparent that Q nomination was not
possible under the existing condi-
tions, % Mr.. Depew concentrated
the full strength of his state, he
withdrew his name and threw hiD
support to Benjamin Harrison, who
was subsequently nominated and
elected.
Mr.. Dspsw dsclined several flat
tering appointments at the hands
Of President Harrison, including
that Of secretary Of stats, and was
not active in politics again until
1899, when he wss elected United
States senator from New York,
serving until 1911.
these IL years were the happiest
Of my life" he said upon his re-
tirement.
Mr.. Depew married twice. His
first wife was Ellie Hegeman,
whom he married in 1871, and BY
whom he had one son, Chauncey M.
Depew, Jr. She died in 1893. His
second wife was May Palmer, whom
he married in 1901.
His recipe FOR longevity was: |
Work, Temperance and 1an."
Although Mr.. Depew was active
in both business and his ''recrea--
tion" -speech-making-his ninetieth |
birthday anniversary found him
too Ill with . cold to participate IN |
the final festivities and his speech
for the occasion had to be read by . |
son-in-law.
Missed Convention In 1924
In 1924 he missed his first Re-
publican national convention since |
1880. although the same year he east
his vote In his eighteenth presiden- |
tisl election.
Although he had attended the |
first Gridiron club dinner in Wash.
ington at its organisation 40 years
before, the 1925 annual celebration |
found him restrained by his wife
from making the trip 70 the capitol, |
= thing he said he greatly regretted. |
On his ninety-first birthday a.. |
niveEsaSy Oapew was the recipient |
Of 500 messages Of good wishes and |
IN June, 1925, he made his first
talk over The radio.
He once said that HE best work
had been done between rs and 90, |
and bis semi.withdrawal from bust. |
ness which he refused 10 OBSTINATE
~ "retiring," coupled with IN In |
creased tendency toward colds made
his years after 90 less active than
the preceding ones.
When be was 90, he said he ex.
pected to live to b 100, and then
perhaps. take up golf"
In his annual talk to the members
Of the Montauk club, he customar-
ily commented shrewdly and with
penetration on world affairs. II
1926, he touched but briefly on
world masters. He lsuded the Lo-
eaTno agreement and declared Amer
ica s'bIessed politically" because Of
the two party system.
He dwelt with particular stress on
the beauty Of tranquility, and said
s IT, nest . beautiful word was
Several Lives Lost