The Coolidge examiner., 1934-08-17

adler general. In 1898 he was given the chief
command In Florida and two years later he was
put In charge Of the southern division OF the
western department OF the regular army and
transferred his family home from Louisville to
Baton Rouge. Ia.
Then came the Mexican war and with IL Tay-
lor's chance for winning the glory that was to
make him President OF the United States.
His victories AT Palo Alto. Resaca de la Palma,
Monterey and Bnena Vista made him a national
hero even though most OF the credit for those
victories belong 10 some OF his subordlnates-
West Pointers mostly, who were destined for
future fame generals In the Union and Con-
federate armies during the War Between the
States So the nation which had sent Jackson
and Harrison 10 the white House because OF
their nghtng records began talking OF another
military hero President At first Taylor would
have none OF IT, When a visitor to his camp ven
tured 10 toast him as the next President the
blur old general exclaimed "Stop your nonsense
and drink your whiskey."
More than that when friend General Young
OF Newcastle. Del, wrote TO him urging him 10
accept the honor II II were offered him. Taylor
replied in part:
''Your remarks in relation TO my being a can.
didate for the President are very fattering, but
| think you viii know without the necessity OF
saying so 10 you. that am not and shall never
| always been against the elevation OF "A military
chief 10 that position. We must choose states
man able to control the people at home and ele-
yate the credit OF the country abroad The III
advised manner In which my name has been
used In New York In reference TO this matter /
| fear will do me injury and embarrass me In my
military capacity. My best energies | shall
| however, devote to the prosecution OF this cam
paign and which | sincerely hope viii tend TO
peace"
But despite this attitude, the talk persisted
| and Taylor seems 10 have become receptive to-
ward the idea. The Wings anxious to regain
power from the Democrats by using the prestige
OF Taylors military record, nominated him with
out knowing where he stood on any political
questions and to cap that formulated no plat
| form for him. In fact for some time after the
nomination they did not know whether or not
4 he would accept. BY a curious mistake he had
not received his letter of notification They had
forgotten 10 prepay the postage on the letter and
| al that time the post Office carried letters and
| collected from the receiver Taylor, on his plan
| tation In Louisiana. TO which he had retired
after the Mexican war, not knowing the contents
OF the letter which came TO him, refused to ac-
| cept the letter and pay the postage on H.
/ But eventually he learned that he was the
nominee and somewhat to the amusement OF the
| country stated that "he was a Whg but not an
| Ultra Whg." Whether he was or not didn't seem
10 make much difference and in the election of
/ 1s49 he was the victor over Lewis Cass of Mchi-
| gan, the Democratic candidate He was inaugu-
rated In March, 1850 but he did not live long to
| enjoy the highest honor that had been conferred
upon him. On the Fourth OF July he took part
in the ceremonies connected with laying the cor
1 nerstone OF the Washington monument In the Ma
tional Capital. 1t was a hot day and In an effort
/ TO cool of the President drank a great deal of
cold water and iced milk follo Ged by substan-
tial dinner. An hour later he fell violently III
and five days later. July 8, 1850, he died.
i G by Western Newspaper Union.