The Wilmington morning star., 1940-07-06

WASHINGTON |
DAYBOOK
WASHINGTON, July 5.-Being appointed to
high office by executives of the Democratic
party is nothing new to Republican Henry
Lewis Stimson.
He has been honored by every President
from Roosevelt to Roosevelt. Only in Presi-
dent Harding's administration did he not hold
high office and even then he was mentioned for
cabinet and legal posts.
The appointment of Stinson as Secretary of
War isn't even the first time that F. D. R.
has recognized the talents of the man who had
nothing to do with politics until he was 40
years old. In 1888, Roosevelt named him to
the Hague Court and, on another occasion, ask
ed him to be one of two men on an important
treaty mission to South America.
So certain must Stimson have been that he
would come back to Washington some day, that
he never relinquished ownership OF historic
Woodley, a lovely old house on a 16-acre estate
at 300 Cathedral Avenue. The rambling old
mansion of pre-Civil war construction was
bought by Sti1nson when he was Secretary of
State under President Hoover. It used to be
the summer White House of President Cleve-
land.
He Rode Into Politics
It's only a stones throw from the spot in
Rock Creek park where Stirnson actually gal
loped into politics. Elihu Root and President
Teddy Roosevelt were out for an early morn
ing horseback ride. Root saw Stimson riding
across the creek and remarked to the Presi-
dent that he probably would be a good man for
the post of district attorney in New York.
The President said, Call him over" Root
hailed Stimson and the latter, disregarding
the steep bank, dashed into the creek at
breakneck pace, caught up his horse as he
stumbled in midstream and brought him. lath-
ering and rearing up the near bank.
T. R. cried, Magnificent h~orsemanship!
Magnificent!'' and without further ceremony
asked him to take the New York federal pro-
scouting job.
Stimson probably is the only Secretary of
War Che also held the post under Taft grad
uated from the Army War College.
Before that, however, in the World War, as
a colonel, he was appointed to the judge ad-
vocates' division. Then, although over so, he
was assigned to command in the 31st field ar
tillery where he served for the duration and
got decorations from both Britain and
France.
After he returned he checked in at the war
college and completed the super-super army
courses that are the last word in military tao.
tics.
His Parrot And Goat
When things calm down, I'm going to take
a run out to Woodley and find out whatever
became of "Old Soak and William Hamil-
ton Bones" Probably no man ever had two
pets who were better known than old Soak"
the parrot who spoke Chinese, English and an
Irish brougue and could swear like a marine
in all three languages; and Billy Bones"
the goat who would butt a mile for a package
Of any kind of cigarettes.
Stimson brought them back with him from
the Philippines in 1929. "Old Soak" came
through with feathers unruffled, but BILLY
thorities and it took practically an act of Con-
gress to get him through the customs.
"Old Soak got along all right in the United
States, too, picking up his Irish brogue from
a caretaker on the Stimson's Long Island es-
tate. It was only in the presence of ladies
that "Old Soak cut up in a fashion to embar-
rass his master, interspersing his Chinese and
Irish with oaths that he never could have
learned at Woodley.
BILLY Bones didn't fare so well. His inor-
dinate fondness for cigarettes got him down.
He fell into the habit of chasing everyone
who carried a package and if he caught them,
he ate right through the pocket. At lest re-
port, he had been exiled to a Maryland farm.
That was nearly ten years ago and nothing
has been heard here Of parrot or goat since.
Pm going to find out about them. Folks like
odd Soak and BILLY Bones shouldn't be
o11oyyo1 m 1rov, orf If tho voov1,c Jiko that