They came to Washington to ask me to go with
them to see him. This I did. I told him the history of the
College, giving a list of the famous men who were graduated
from there. I spoke of the great affection that had inspired
the people of Virginia for centuries, and reminded him that
his own ancestor, General Washington's friend, General Benjamin
Harrison of the Revolution, had been a child of the College,
and I pointed out what a measure of reconcilement it would
be. The President listened with a rather disgusted look,
until I got through, and just as I rose to take my leave,
said: "Mr. Hoar, have you got any reasons except sentimental
ones?" I said I had no others, except those I had stated.
The gentlemen went out very down-hearted, and said when they
got out that of course he would veto the bill. I said: "I
think I know the man pretty well, and I think there is more
than an even chance that he will sign it," and he did.
Just before his term of office ended, he was in the President's
Room, at the Capitol, to dispose of bills when there was not
time to take them to the White House before the hour of twelve
o'clock, on the 4th of March.
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