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Show Sherman's Simulated Anger Craftiness of Great Statesman Illustrated Illus-trated by His Pretense of Rage for Edification of Groups of Constituents. John Sherman, great statesman though he was, could be at times as crafty a politician as the next one; and I know of no better anecdote illustrating il-lustrating this point than the hitherto unpublished one of the manner in which Sherman simulated anger for the edification of a protssting group of constituents. During the entire period that he had a seat in the lower house of congress, which stretched from 1S79 to 1887, Benjamin LeFevre of Sidney, Ohio, was one of the most popular men in that body. He had as many friends on the Republican side as he had among the Democrats, and by reason of his personal popularity he was one of the conspicuous members of the house. On a very hot day in April, 1881, Ben LeFevre went to President Garfield Gar-field with the request that the latter appoint a new postmaster in a certain town in LeFevre's district. "Why, Ben," said the president, "you know I cannot appoint a Democrat Demo-crat postmaster, even to oblige you." "I don't want you to appoint a Democrat, Dem-ocrat, General," replied LeFevre, also a veteran of the civil war. "I ask you to appoint a good Republican, a man who left a leg on the battlefield, and a staunch supporter of you." "What is the matter with the present pres-ent postmaster, Ben?" the president asked. "It's a personal matter; the man has gone out of his way to insult me, and I don't propose to stand it. The man I ask you to appoint is as good a Republican, and he was a brave soldier, sol-dier, besides." The president hesitated a moment. "Ben," he went on, "if you'll do what I teil you, I think you can get your postmaster post-master appointed and confirmed. John Sherman is out of town today. You go right to the capitol, call out Senator Pendleton, tell him I am going to send the name of the man you want appointed ap-pointed postmaster to the senate immediately, im-mediately, and ask him to get the confirmation con-firmation through at once. Then, if that is done, hurry back here with the commission, and I'll sign it." As soon as a driver could urge a sweating horse up to the capitol, Ben LeFevre was at the senate chamber and in consultation with Senator George H. Pendleton, Democrat. The senator agreed to expedite confirmation. confirma-tion. A few moments later the appointment ap-pointment was received by the senate and Senator Pendleton moved that the senate go into executive session. In that session he made a personal plea, saying that the appointee was a good Republican none better in the district dis-trict and he would take it as a personal per-sonal favor if there was immediate confirmation. His appeal was heeded, and an hour later the commission of the new postmaster was signed. On the following morning, Senator Sherman, having returned to Washington, Washing-ton, saw in his newspaper the announcement an-nouncement of the new postmaster in LeFevre's district. The senator made haste to visit the postofflce department. depart-ment. When he was closeted with the postmaster general he asked: "What is this I see about the appointment of a postmaster in Ben LeFevre's district? dis-trict? It was done over my head; I wasn't consulted." The postmaster general thought the better way was to tell Senator Sherman Sher-man the whole story. When he finished fin-ished Sherman exclaimed: "I want to express my indignation at this unusual un-usual discourtesy to me." Then, in a lower tone of voice, he asked: "Have you observed my indignation? If you have" his voice rose again "then I strike this table with my hand while denouncing this action." Sotto voice: "Did you observe me strike the table with my hand? Now" his voice pitched high again "In my anger I pace up and down the room while I protest vehemently against this deliberate discourtesy to me." Aside: "Do you hear me protest indignantly? Do you behold my angry stride? "Very well" and Sherman's voice sank to a whisper "and yet I want to tell you, confidentially, that I'm glad the one-legged soldier's got the job. But there will be a rumpus among the Republicans of LeFevre's district, and they will come to see you, and when they do I want you to say to them that Senator Sherman was so vehement vehe-ment in denouncing the discourtesy shown to him in the matter of this appointment ap-pointment that he actually struck this table with his hand and paced up and down this room in his anger." The postmaster general promised to report the scene faithfully. A few days later, when a group of protesting Republicans from Ben LeFevre's district dis-trict called on him he fulfilled his promise to the best of his ability. And with his description of Senator Sherman's Sher-man's conduct in that very room In regard to the objectionable appointment appoint-ment the protestants were obliged to be content. (Copyright, 1310, by E. J. Edwards. All Rights Reserved.) |
