Evening star., 1943-03-28
Capital SideIights
By Will P. Kennedy.

A former Washington pastor missed
being President by single vote. This
fact has never before been mentioned
in any history. He was Representative
Green Clay Smith, son of Representative
John Speed Smith of Kentucky. During
the Civil War he was promoted from
colonel to brigadier general of Volunteers
and was breveted major general for
meritorious services He served three
years IN Congress and then was ap-
pointed by President johnson as Gov
ernor of Montana Territory. After he
returned to Washington he was ordained
to the Baptist ministery. He was candi-
date Tor President on the National Pro-
hlbltion party ticket in l876-but it was
IN the Lincoln administrat ton that he
missed the presidency by single vote.
In the Republican National Convention
OF 1864, when Lincoln was nominated for
his second term, Gen. Smith lacked one
vote OF being nominated for Vice Presi-
dent. Andrew Johnson won that nomi-
nation and when Lincoln was assas-
slnated, johnson stepped into the presi-
pastor of the Metropolitan Baptist
Church in Washington from 1890 until
his death, June 29 1895 He is buried in
Arlington National Cemetery.
Tribute was paid in the House the
other day to IAN Iowa hero'-Norman
Bredersen-bE Representative Henry O.
Tale OF Iowa. This hero is a nephew
OF Representative Harold Knutson, now
serving his 26th year in the House. Mr..
1alle emphasized the inherited Viking
spirit of Quartermaster Bredersen. son
OF the Rev. MI. and Mrs Alfred BREEDER
sen. His exploits rank as a modern saga
OF patriotic service in the merchant
marine. Mr.. Tale also explained that
Quartermaster Bredersen had expert
ences In his youth which fitted him to
take care of himself. AS a boy of l6 he
hltch-hlked from Iowa to New York and
worked his way to South America. Two
years later he again hitch linked to New
York and worked his way to India.
What is the date of Washington's
birthday?
Although the biographical directory of
the American Congress. monumental
work published in 1927 under a House
concurrent resolution, records that
Washington was born at Wakefield
February %, 1882" the family Bible says
he was born on February IL; he himself
in his diary contended that he was born
on February IL, and that date was OBJ
served as his birthday anniversary for
many years.
The entry in the family Bible SAYS:
George Washington, son of Augustine
and Mary, his wife, was born on We 11th
day OF February, 1731- 80 about 10 in the
morning, and was baptized on ye 3Oth
OF April following
During the Revolutionary War the
French allies celebrated his birthday on
February H.
President Ezra Stiles of Yale Univer-
slty in 1779 speaks of it as February II.
10 his dying day Washington thought
OF himself was born on February IL.
Under the date February IL, 1898. he
wrote in his diary: Went with the
family to ball in Alex given by the
citizens OF it and it's vicinity in COM
memoration Of the anniversary of nv
birthday" John c. Fitzpatrick in 1925
pointed out that February IL, 1893, fell
on Sunday, so the celebration was post
poned for one day.
On February II. 1893, Washington's
diary records: Went to Alexandria to
the celebration of my birthday. Many
manoeuvers were performed by the Uni
form Corps, and an elegant ball and
supper at night"
This discrepancy of II days regarding
the date of Washingtons birth harks
back nearly 400 years-long before his
actual birth. Pope Gregory in 1882 had
lent his authority to a revision of the
old calendar. But England Gid not &C
cept the Gregorian correction until 1852,
when Washington was already 20 years
OF age. BY that date it was necessary to
add II days to all "old style" dates to
bring them up to the sun.
New Year Day simultaneously was
changed from March Is (the day Of the
annunciation) to January /. Hence We
and the date Of Washington's birth put