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In a letter President Harding has this to say in reference to the occasion： 〃Just about a year ago （1916） it was my privilege as chairman of the Republican convention at Chicago to call upon you for an address。 There was a hiatus which called for a speech； and you so wonderfully met the difficult requirements that I sat in fascinated admiration and have been ready ever since to pay you unstinted tribute。 You were ever eloquent in your more active years； but I count you the old man eloquent and incomparable in your eighties。 May many more helpful and happy years be yours。〃
I was again a delegate to the convention in June； 1920。 The Republicans had been for eight years out of office during Mr。 Wilson's two terms。 The delegates were exceedingly anxious to make no mistake and have no friction in the campaign。
The two leading candidates； General Wood and Governor Lowden； had nearly equal strength and were supported by most enthusiastic admirers and advocates。 As the balloting continued the rivalry and feeling grew between their friends。 It became necessary to harmonize the situation and it was generally believed that this could be best done by selecting Senator Warren G。 Harding。
Very few conventions have a dramatic surprise； but the nomination of Governor Coolidge； of Massachusetts； for vice…president came about in a very picturesque way。 He had been named for president among the others； and the speech in his behalf by Speaker Frederick H。 Gillett was an excellent one。 Somehow the convention did not seem to grasp all that the governor stood for and how strong he was with each delegate。 When the nominations for vice…president were called for； Senator Medill McCormick presented Senator Lenroot； of Wisconsin； in an excellent speech。 There were also very good addresses on behalf of the Governor of Kansas and others。
When the balloting was about to start； a delegate from Oregon who was in the rear of the hall arose and said： 〃Mr。 Chairman。〃 The chairman said： 〃The gentleman from Oregon。〃 The Oregon delegate； in a far…reaching voice； shouted： 〃Mr。 Chairman； I nominate for vice…president Calvin Coolidge； a one…hundred…per…cent American。〃 The convention went off its feet with a whoop and Coolidge was nominated hands down。
I again had a personal experience。 The committee on resolutions； not being prepared to report； there was that interval of no business which is the despair of presiding officers of conventions。 The crowd suddenly began calling for me。 While； of course； I had thought much on the subject； I had not expected to be called upon and had no prepared speech。 Happily； fifteen thousand faces and fifteen thousand voices giving uproarious welcome both steadied and inspired me。 Though I was past eighty…six years of age； my voice was in as good condition as at forty； and was practically the only one which did fill that vast auditorium。 The press of the country featured the effort next day in a way which was most gratifying。
Among the thousands who greeted me on the streets and in the hotel lobbies with congratulations and efforts to say something agreeable and complimentary； I selected one compliment as unique。 He was an enthusiast。 〃Chauncey Depew；〃 he said； 〃I have for over twenty years wanted to shake hands with you。 Your speech was a wonder。 I was half a mile off； way up under the roof； and heard every word of it； and it was the only one I was able to hear。 That you should do this in your eighty…seventh year is a miracle。 But then my father was a miracle。 On his eighty…fifth birthday he was in just as good shape as you are to…day； and a week afterwards he was dead。〃
XXII。 JOURNALISTS AND FINANCIERS
In reminiscences of my journalistic friends I do not include many of the most valued who are still living。 Of those who have passed away one of the most faithful and devoted was Edward H。 Butler； editor and proprietor of the Buffalo Evening News。
Mr。 Butler began at the bottom as a newspaper man and very early and rapidly climbed to the top。 He secured control of the Evening News and soon made one of the most； if not the most； widely circulated； influential； and prosperous papers of western New York。 Personally and through his paper he was for many years my devoted friend。 To those he loved he had an unbounded fidelity and generosity。 He possessed keen insight and kept thoroughly abreast of public affairs was a journalist of high order。
It was my privilege to know Charles A。 Dana very well。 I first met him when he was on the New York Tribune and closely allied with Horace Greeley。 He made the New York Sun one of the brightest； most original； and most quoted newspapers in the United States。 His high culture； wonderful command of English； and refined taste gave to the Sun a high literary position； and at the same time his audacity and criticism made him a terror to those with whom he differed； and his editorials the delight of a reader。
Personally Mr。 Dana was one of the most attractive and charming of men。 As assistant secretary of war during Lincoln's administration he came in intimate contact with all the public men of that period； and as a journalist his study was invaded and he received most graciously men and women famous in every department of intellectual activity。 His reminiscences were wonderful and his characterizations remarkable。 He might have published an autobiography of rare value and interest。
When the elder James Gordon Bennett died the newspaper world recognized the loss of one of the most remarkable and successful of journalists and publishers。 His son had won reputation in the field of sport； but his contemporaries doubted his ability to maintain； much less increase； the sphere of the New York Herald。 But young Bennett soon displayed rare originality and enterprise。 He made his newspaper one of national and international importance。 By bringing out an edition in Paris he conferred a boon upon Americans abroad。 For many years there was little news from the United States in foreign newspapers； but Americans crazy for news from home found it in the Paris edition of the New York Herald。
Mr。 Bennett was a good friend of mine for half a century。 He was delightful company； with his grasp of world affairs and picturesque presentation of them。 A President of the United States who wished to change the hostile attitude of the Herald towards his administration and himself asked me to interview Mr。 Bennett。 The editor was courteous； frank； but implacable。 But some time afterwards the Herald became a cordial supporter of the president。 The interview and its subsequent result displayed a characteristic of Bennett。 He would not recognize that his judgment or action could be influenced； but his mind was so open and fair that when convinced that he was wrong he would in his own way and at his own time do the right thing。
Mr。 Bennett did me once an essential service。 It was at the time when I was a candidate for re…election to the United States Senate。 I cabled him in Paris and asked that he would look into the situation through his confidential friends； reporters； and employees； and if he found the situation warranted his taking a position to do so。