The Admiral replied: “Mr. Secretary, as you put it in this way, I will say ‘No.’ Had you ordered me to take charge of it, I would do so.” The Secretary then asked: “Why do you object?” “Well!” was the reply, “when I should arrive at my destination, I should be entertained by the Admirals of the various foreign fleets, and would be obliged to return the compliment. All of these gentlemen have an entertainment allowance, more than my salary, and it would bankrupt me and my family.” The Secretary replied: “Then who would you suggest?” To which question the reply was: “What about Dewey, he is a good man.” The Secretary said: “The President does not like Dewey for trying to influences his appointment through Senator Proctor, and others, who are asking for it. At the same time, he requested me to suggest a fit man, who had not used influence, for the appointment. I suggested your name, and he told me to send for you, and ask if you would accept it.” The Admiral replied: “Well, Dewey is a good man,” and in due time he received the appointment.

Some time after this in 1903 I met Dewey at Palm Beach and in the course of conversation, he asked me what my brother thought of his action in the Philippines. I happened to have a letter in my pocket from him on that very subject, which was very complimentary of Dewey’s course, which I handed to him to read.

On once occasion, Admiral Dewey amusingly told me of the difficulty he had in getting his wife to ride about in the little wheeled chairs so commonly in use at Palm Beach, as she objected to paying so much for a passing pleasure. He engaged a vehicle by the month, and said to Mrs. Dewey: “Now you can ride whenever you choose, and if you do not use it, we will lose its cost.” After this she rode frequently every day.