Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-24
The Navy's New Skipper

in Quincy Charlie Adams probably
made speeches in that Quincy common
council, although the records do not
say so.
He made good, anyway, for In two
years, when he had just turned 80
his native city elected him mayor and
then reelected him. He was a Demo-
crat then, his family having gone over
to that party in 1872, when his grand
father was the intellectual leader of that
group Of Liberal Republicans who re-
volted at the crudities of the first Grant
administration. In fact. the leaders of
tnat movement intended to nominate
ms grandfather for President. but the
delegates were hypnotized by q man in
an olo white hat" They nominated
horace Greeley and succeeded only in
sending that distinguished figure in
American Journalism to an ignominis,,s
defeat and an untimely death.
Massachusetts Democrats. at the turn
OF the century, had their eye on the
young mayor of Quincy They fell un-
DER the magic spell Of the name Adams.
BUT ne suddenly dropped out. He re-
Iuseo third term as mayor, buckled
down TO his law business and began to
collect his directories. He had become
treasurer of Harvard in the meantime
with property worth $4,000, 900 to look
out Tor and for over 80 years he has
nuiit up a reputation as the shrewdest
investment trustee in Boston. Harvard
as mas been noted, is a $1,000 600 At
Ia1r now. and it can thank its treasurer
for most Of it.
Backed by Conservatives.
Many years were TO elapse before be
came back into politics. Then in 1917
massachusetts, held constitutional con.
Eentlon and the conservatives asked
Cnarles Francis Adams to head their
ticket. "" 'iieH
Inere are number of fat Volumes
wnlcn record the activities of that con-
sututional convention, and from a casu-
az stuoy OF them one might get the idea
mat Charles Francis Adams was an nm
important figure and that the family
Maultlon nad been better upheld by his
uncle, Brooks Adams of Quincy. who
also served in the convention "o
In fact, Charles Francis was literal,y
dragged into his maiden speech in the
convention: The delegates were dis
cusslng historic sites, whether they
Snouio De the property of the State or
private owners, something of that ma
ture. An alert young Democrat han
pened TO remember that the "gentleman
from Concord"-for Charles Francis
nag established his home in that his
Ioric town-was president of the Bunker
f an Monument Association and asked
silent Adams. 0'' VIC
Maiden Speech Of rs Words.
t Is true that I am president of the
Bunker Hill Monument ASsocia tion "
Saio the gentleman from Concord "b,It
nave no particular views to offer on
the subject under discussion"
1nen ne sat down. His maiden speech
was over. Calvin Coolidge, who once
oeIVered maiden speech in that same
nan, might seem almost garrulous by
comparison ~
The next time that he spoke IL was
not necessary to invite him. A dele
gate from Lynn was railing against the
corporations" charging them with
every crime on the calendar He started
naming them and accusing them of COR
ruptlng the Legislatures, buying lepisla-
ton and things like that.
Inc gentleman from Concord asked
the gentleman from Lynn would Weld
Inc gentleman from Lynn would.
Strikes Directly.
Does the gentleman mean"-and he
named three OF the leading public utili-
ties Of the State.
from Lynn. e'"i'
Then, Mr.. President" said Adams.
addressing the chair In his quiet voice
the gentleman from Lynn doesn't know
"nat ne is talking about. / am an off,
Ger and director of those three corpora-
lions. 1 know what they spend and why
tney spend it. And 1 defy the gentle
man from Lynn to offer one shred of
! proof that any one of those companies
ever bought or tried to buy a vote in
either branch of the Massachusetts,
legislature"
The gentleman from Lynn did not &C.
cept the challenge. He turned his at
Jack on other corporations"
Looked Upon as Democrat
All these years Charles Francis
ADAMS was looked upon as a Democrat,
the ruling Republicans of Boston and
Massac husetts. AS a good citizen. he
voted at every election, but he never
talked about 1t and he cared little which
party claimed him. Then in 1920, the
Democrats, with the Harding landslide
already set in against them, combed the
State for distinguished names to head
their presidential ballot. They jumped
on Charles Francis Adams and. without
asking his permission, slapped his name
on the slate.
The lists were printed in the news
papers, but apparently Mr.. Adams didn't
read all the political news, or perhaps
he was tinkering with a new boat that
Sunday morning. Days later he sud
denly learned that he was q candidate