The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1933-06-01
THE VAN buren, ELM

There is an historic object the National Highway
just west of Indianapolis Indiana in the form of tree
that once brought discontinue and embarrassment to
President-tobe of the United States. The tree is
called the Van Buren, Elm after the distinguished
statesman whose downfall" it caused In writing of
the little known incident in the current issue Of the
National Republic, Mr.. Ira ]. PomerOy says, in part
America has many historic trees, gorified in his
tory and legend by momentOus events which have
TRANSFERRED beneath their bOughs-treaties councils OF
war, even hangings-but tree became famous
through bizarre circumstance than did the
stately old Van Buren, Elm which stands at the curb
side of the National Road in the little Quaker towR
of Plainfeld, Indiana 1t at its rocts nearly
century ago, that dignfed eX-President of the
United States was purposely and unceremoniousy
spilled from his stage coach into the thick clnging
mud of the highway. The upsettng of Martin Van
Buren, at the foot of this famous old tree stands as
the only incident in American history of former
chief executive being the butt of practical joke
"The episode at Planfeld reflects the seriousness
with which the Hooser pioneer took his politics and
is interesting sdeight upon the grim, stod hu-
NOR of the Quakers. The plot which resulted in the
spelling of Mr.. Van Buren's clothing and the ruff
fling of his temper had its inception in strong pot-
ical dislike for him throughout the settlements along
the National Road west of Indiapos. Rancor began
to develop when Mr.. Van Buren, vetoed bill passed
by Congress to improve the highway which had been
laid cut in 1880 by the Federal Government. How
ever, lacking funds for maintenance, the government
had let it become vertable bog, marked in places
by almost impossible mudholes, the right of way
choked with roots of encroaehng forest trees and the
road generally of little service to the people, except
in dry weather.
"The settlers in central Indiana saw in the
great highway golden opportunity for developing
the country of enhancing the value of their holdings
and what important, the of rapid
comfortable transportation to and from the growing
capital city of Indianapolis.
when it became assured that Congress would ap-
propriate the money to improve the highway the PEG
pie jubilant. But President Van Buren, vetoed
the and bitter speedily developer
and grew, eliminating five years later when the
trary old Democrat, the President dubbed, was
taught lesson at Planfeld. Local antagonsm
reflection in the election in 1910, William Henry Har
rison carrying the township by a three-to-one ma
jority.
Defeated for reelection to the Presidency in 1S46s
Van Buren, began to look to the 1874 campaign ana
upon advice of his political advisers decided upon
mdwestern swing to get his political fences in order
Indianapolis key-stop his itinerary and upon
such mission the former President arrived in the
Hoosier capital, Saturday, June II, 1912. His visit
made the occasion Of of the most elaborate
and colorful demonstrations the city had ever wit
messed. In the afternoon the eXPresdent the first
to visit Indiana, reviewed the military of the
State and many civic organizations in a gigantic pa
rade. That night the elegant ola OccluenIal uoIeis
the city's leading hostelry, the scene of gor
geous reception and ball, attended by Governor Big
gers and his staff of notables from all the State.
mr. Van Buren, well pleased with his reception
in the Indiana capital and Democratic published efu-
sive accounts of his growing popularity and CLOSED
over the humorous incident at Plainfied two days
later as an unfortunate accident Wing and other
opposition publications failed to any political gain
for Van Buren, and made much of the plight he later
found himself in at Plainfeld