On July 7, 1923, Honorable James E. Campbell, by general consent was hailed as the first citizen of Columbus on the occasion of the celebration of the eightieth anniversary of his birth. Throughout the day he was the recipient in his office of many congratulatory greetings and messages from other states and nations. In the evening a banquet was given in his honor at the Scioto Country Club by about 250 of his friends. Honorable Claude Meeker of Columbus, formerly private secretary to Governor Campbell and for many years his intimate associate and friend, presided as toastmaster. Those who paid tribute to the guest of honor were Governor A. V. Donahey, former Governor James M. Cox, former Secretary of the Navy Newton D. Baker, Joseph Schonthal, Dr. W. O. Thompson, Robert F. Wolfe, Henry A. Williams, Colonel Edward Orton, Jr., and Mayor James J. Thomas. From a great mass of telegrams Mr. Meeker read a few from distinguished Americans, friends of the guest of the evening. Among these were greetings from President Warren G. Harding, who wired from Seattle, Washington; former President Woodrow Wilson, Senator F. B. Willis, Joseph P. Tumulty, Congressman John McSweeney, Chief Justice William Howard Taft, former Governor Judson Harmon, former Governor Harry L. Davis, Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis, Ambassador Myron T. Herrick, who cabled his congratulations from Paris; Charles G. Dawes, Clarence R. Edwards, Webb C. Hayes, D. Meade Massie, and Dr. T. C. Mendenhall.

In a well-timed and most interesting address Governor James M. Cox recalled the troublous times in Cincinnati in the latter part of Governor Campbell's administration. He declared that Governor Campbell "threw aside almost certain opportunity for elevation to the presidency in 1890 by refusing to bend to expediency."

"He recognized," declared Governor Cox, "the need of a house cleaning in a certain Ohio city and he never faltered in performing the unpleasant task." By this "house cleaning" within his own party organization in Cincinnati, Governor Campbell sacrificed the opportunities for re-election. "Had he been re-elected governor in 1891," continued Governor Cox, "he certainly would have been elected President in 1892, when all conditions favored a Democratic landslide. By acting as he did he alienated many members of his own party but he pursued his course confident of its righteousness." The other addresses were of a high order of excellence. They will perhaps be printed in separate form in full. We include here only the address of the Toastmaster, who was peculiarly fitted because of long years of intimate friendship to characterize Governor Campbell:

Back in the days ranging from 1882 to 1886, when Governor Campbell was regularly elected to Congress from a district that normally belonged to the opposition party, I was a very young newspaper reporter, writing mostly about politics and always looking for a new story. It seemed to me that a man that could win against such odds would make a good candidate for Governor, so I wrote Congressman Campbell at Washington and told him so, adding that I would like to meet him at the first convenient opportunity and talk it over. Now, Governor Campbell is noted for never overlooking a bet. Murat Halstead, the great editor of the Cincinnati Commercial Gazette, said he would drive across three counties at midnight in the rain to make a single vote, and when you consider that he was once elected by a plurality of two votes, you can understand

how important the single vote was. At any rate he answered the letter with a telegram saying, "I will be in Columbus Thursday afternoon meet me at Frank Maxwell's office." Now, the Governor may have thought anything was worth trying once, or it may have occurred to him that a youth with a basic foundation of such sound, common sense, was worth looking over. But we met at Frank Maxwell's office.

I do not claim to be the first "Campbell for Governor" man in Ohio, but a devoted band of adherents narrowly missed nominating him at Cleveland in 1887, and two years later made him the Standard Bearer at Dayton, in which year he made the memorable campaign against the gallant and attractive Foraker. I wish to say of Governor Campbell that I knew him for six years in Congress, for two years as Governor, and for several years in other places of trust, and in all that time his devotion to public duty was marked, and his integrity was as a flaming jewel. Ohio has had many great Governors, but in the qualities of human sympathy, courtesy, kindness and great personal charm, combined with a charity and toleration for the faults of his fellow men, I do not think he has had an equal.

Were I asked to state what has been the outstanding feature of Governor Campbell's character in the forty years that I have known him, what has been his greatest asset as a statesman and a citizen, I would unhesitatingly reply "Courage" a courage that has never quailed in defeat nor ebbed in adversity. His record in this respect should be a constant inspiration to both the young and the old.

And that reminds me that it was not necessarily all moral bravery. A good many of you here perhaps are not aware that he used to fancy himself physically. I remember on one occasion when he had flayed an adversary in a speech, he met him later on the street and thought he might as well finish the job. Our good friend and neighbor, Henry Bohl, and myself pinioned the Governor while his victim made his escape.

Now I am going to tell you a secret. In the fulness of time, and may the time be long delayed, when our honored guest makes his appearance on the Golden Streets, St. Peter standing at the gate will not be compelled to ask any questions as to whom approaches. Far away he will hear the pipes as the besieged British heard the glorious strain at Lucknow bringing them succor and relief Peter will throw the portals wide open as the people of Ohio did thirty-four years ago and join in the refrain

"The Campbells are coming-ha! ha! ha! ha!"

The program of the evening was concluded by the presentation to Governor James E. Campbell of a book most artistically wrought by Professor William Davis Trumbull of the Ohio State University. The design of the book was the joint inspiration of Professor Trumbull and Colonel Edward Orton, Jr., "who laid the groundwork on which rests the other glories of the masterpiece." The dedicatory opening of the book contains this salutation and greeting:

We do this not only that he may know how dear we hold him but also that others, whose lives are yet to come, may learn from our words what it is that makes a man's life a joy to himself, a delight to those about him and at last an enduring memory.

A fine pen and ink portrait of Governor Campbell graces the first page after the dedicatory opening.

The frontispiece of the program for the evening was a pen drawing of Governor Campbell. On the inside cover was this tribute from his friends:

A patriot of the war of 1861-65, a statesman of long service, a former governor of Ohio, an outstanding man of affairs, a courteous and unassuming gentleman, whom we delight at all times to honor for what he is even more than for what he has done.

We deem it an especially propitious time on this, his eightieth birthday, to greet him and to express as best we may in some enduring form, the warmth of our feelings and the sincerity of our admiration and respect for him, our neighbor and our friend.

In a few well chosen words and a voice tremulous with emotion Governor Campbell accepted the beautiful book containing the names of the guests of the evening. And thus closed this happy function in commemoration. of the life and character of a distinguished citizen of Ohio whom everyone delights to honor.