Evening star., 1935-12-01
Fifty Years Ago
in The Star

In view OF the part that mas Deen
played by Lady AStor, an American by
birth, in the
American-British political affairs
Peeresses in Politics. OF Great Brit
ing in The Star of November "a, 1885,
relative to another American-born peer
eSs. is of interest:
Lady Churchill-a New York girl, by
the way-had such a triumph few
months ago in electing her husband to
Parliament as a member of the reorgan-
lied government that she has adopted
the tactics which won the victory at
Woodstock in contest now coming to
head in Birmingham. In that strong
hold of liberal and radical feeling Lord
Randolph Churchill has opposed himself
to the veteran representative from Bir-
mingham, John Bright. The step was an
audaciouS one to take, but the result may
approve it. Lady Churchill, with the
Duchess of Marlborough, is engaged in
systematic personal canvass of the
town and the ladies are warmly welcomed
everywhere. Lady Churchill has even
taken the stump as on several occasions
she has addressed the Workmen in their
factories. Mr.. Bright, in a polite way,
makes fun of the ladies, but when the
votes are counted he may not be able
to see where the laugh comes in.''
The Patent Office has long been a
rendezvous for eccentric inventors in
search of certificates of
discouraged priority for their queer
Inventor. devices. 1t was so fifty
years ago, as attested by
the following in The Star of November
81, 1885:
AN intelligent looking man today at
tempted to have an interview with the
commissioner of patents in regard to
an invention which he claimed to have
just perfected and for which he wanted
a patent. Not being able to get hearing
with the commissioner, he told in strict
confidence the messenger and anybody
else who had the time to listen to him
that he had discovered that the Cradle
of Liberty was broken and his invention
was designed to remedy the injury that
it had sustained and to insure an easy
and regular movement for the remaining
years that it might be needed by the
American people. On this latter point
he entertained grave doubts, which in
creased as he found his chances for a
personal interview with the commissioner
growing less as the day wore away. How
ever, he did not allow himself to become
SO discouraged as to abandon his efforts
to see the commissioner, and when The
Star went to press he was still waiting
at the door entertaining those who passed
along the corridor with his views on
matters and things in general and his
proposed patent in particular"
Vice President Thomas A. Hendricks
died suddenly at Indianapolis November
9,., 23 1885. His death left
1lesluehtlal that Office vacant and
suoosss;on the question of presi-
Dental succession be-
came one of Importance. Senator
Hoar of Massachusetts, presented a
bill to provide for a temporary ex-
ecutive in case of the death of
both the President and Vice Presi-
dent during their term of office. The
Star of November %, 1885, noting the
fact that the Republicans control the
Upper House of Congress and should
therefore elect one of their number as a
President pro tempore, who might, there
fore, be in line of succession in case Of
the Presidents death, said:
"As the case now stands, the Repub-
licars control the successian, and it will
be a patriotic step on their part to ignore
this accidental advantage by passing an
act investing the succession in the cabi-
net instead of in the President pro tenn
pore of the Senate. 1t is very desirable
that the Vice President of the same
political party as the President, though
in the early days of the Republic this
theory did not prevail Senator Hoar's
bill secures the succession of men in
thorough sympathy with the ticket as
originally elected, and on that account
it will be approved by the country"
Such bill was enacted, vesting the
SUGGESTIONS successfully in the members
of the cabinet in the order OF the estab-
lishment of the various departments.