Evening star., 1946-08-04
Mcclellan Recalls First Visit
Here to Try Case in House
Represented Futher
Of Primary Opponent
In Fight for Scot
By Gould Lincoln

| In Fight for Seot
By Gould Lincoln
Senator McKellar of Tennessee
dean of the Senate in point of serv-
ice and easy victor in his race for
denomination for sixth term. was
in reminiscent mood yesterday as
he prepared for a vacation after
seven months continuous work as
presiding officer of the Senate and
chairman of the Appropriation
Committee.
My first vote was cast in 1886
when William Jennings BRYAN was
running against William Mckinley
and the issue was sound money"
Senator McKellar recalled.
1T was that year Edward w.
Carmack, ST., was a candidate for
the House as Bryan Democrat. He
was the father of my opponent in
the primary last Thursday. Mr..
Carmack was editor of the
Memphis Commercial Appeal when
he announced for Mr.. Bryan. A
majority of the board. which owned
and controlled the Commercial Ap-
peal, were gold Democrats and
against Bryan. Among them was
Gen. Luke E. Wright. They took
exception to Mr.. Carmack's support
of Bryan and free silver.
Ran for House.
Mr.. Carmack resigned as editor
and entered the campaign for the
House against Representative Josiah
Patterson who was supporting sound
money and Mckinley. Carmack was
elected by 1868 votes. But Col. Pat
terson who had many friends in
Congress, filed contest of the
election. The House which was to
decide the case was overwhelmingly
anti Bryan.
AT that time / was a young law
yer associated with the firm of which
Col. William H. Carroll was head
he was one of the five big lawyers in
Memphis at that time Mr.. Carmack
called on Col. Carroll and asked
him 10 represent him in the con-
| test.
Carroll said. No. Carmack. You
ought to know that a lawyer with
a reputation is not going TO take
case he knows he is going to lose
and you know you are going to lose
this contest
Mr.. Carmack was greatly disap-
pointed. He had reached the hall
on his way out when Col. Carroll
called him back and said. I've
changed my mind. Our firm will
take the, case and young McKellar,
who has no reputation to lose, will
go to Washington to argue it be-
fore the House Elections Commit
tee
House Upheld Carmack.
That was the way l got into the
Carmack case, which We won and
which took me to Washington first.
The House decided in favor Of seat
ing Carmack by vote of 1856 to
l18."
It was when Senator Mcclellan
came to Washington to defend Car
mack's election that ne first met
President Of the United States
William Mckinley.
1T was a delightful visit to the
White House" he said. 7 found
the President a well-dressed, dig
nified, kindly and apparently
level-headed man. put UP at the
old Riggs House, opposite the Treas
ury Department, and that same day,
after an early dinner, I walked in
front Of the White House. President
Mckinley and his wife, who was an
invalid, had been out driving in an
open carriage and turned into the
White House grounds as I was walk
ing in front Of the entrance. The
President saw me. and raised his
hat slightly. To me. young man,
it was great honor which I have
always remembered.
President Carried Wife.
when the carriage reached the
White House door, a dozen attend
ants, one with a rolling chair, ran
up. But the President got out his
side OF the carriage, went around
and put his arms under Mrs. Nc
Kinley and carried her into the
White House. The incident made a
great impression on mean impress
sion which has lasted all this time "
/ Senator Mcclellan did not seek
an elective political Office himself
until 1911, when he was nominated
and elected member OF the House.
He had become one Of the busiest
lawyers in Memphis by that time.
Il was on a vacation in POLAND
Springs, Me. and out playing golf
when telegram from my brother
told me that Representative Gordon
had died and my name was being
mentioned as a candidate TO succeed
him. l wired back not interested.
IT moved on down IN PnStpu apd