THE PRESIDENT SIGNED THIS RESOLUTION at 11:24 A.M. on the 20th of April, 1898.  The Spanish Minister, Senor Luis Polo y Bernarbe, was served with a copy, upon which he asked for his passports, and “immediately left Washington.”

“This is a picture of Edward Savoy, who accomplished one of the most signal diplomatic triumphs in connection with recent relations with Spain.  It was he who outwitted the whole Spanish Legation and delivered the ultimatum to Minister Polo.”

“Edward Savoy has been a messenger in the Department of State for nearly thirty years.  He was appointed by Hamilton Fish in 1869, and held in high esteem by James G. Blaine.”

“He was a short, squat, colored man, with a highly intelligent face, hair slightly tinged with gray and an air of alertness which makes him stand out in sharp contrast with the other messengers whom one meets in the halls of the big building.”

[Illustration:  EDDIE SAVOY.]

“Of all the men under whom ‘Eddie,’ as he is universally called, has served he has become most attached to Judge Day, whom he says is the finest man he ever saw.”

“Minister Polo was determined not to receive the ultimatum.  He was confident he would receive a private tip from the White House, which would enable him to demand his passports before the ultimatum was served upon him.  Then he could refuse to receive it, saying that he was no longer Minister.  It will be remembered that Spain handed Minister Woodford his passports before the American representative could present the ultimatum to the Spanish Government.”

“Judge Day’s training as a country lawyer stood him in good stead.  He had learned the value of being the first to get in an attachment.”

“The ultimatum was placed in a large, square envelope, that might have contained an invitation to dinner.  It was natural that it should be given to ‘Eddie’ Savoy.  He had gained the sobriquet of the nation’s ‘bouncer,’ from the fact that he had handed Lord Sackville-West and Minister De Lome their passports.”

“It was 11:30 o’clock on Wednesday morning when ‘Eddie’ Savoy pushed the electric button at the front door of the Spanish Legation, in Massachusetts avenue.  The old Spanish soldier who acted as doorkeeper responded.”

“‘Have something here for the Minister,’ said Eddie.”

“The porter looked at him suspiciously, but he permitted the messenger to pass into the vestibule, which is perhaps six feet square.  Beyond the vestibule is a passage that leads to the large central hall.  The Minister stood in the hall.  In one hand he held an envelope.  It was addressed to the Secretary of State.  It contained a request for the passports of the Minister and his suite.  Senor Polo had personally brought the document from the chancellory above.”

“When the porter presented the letter just brought by the Department of State’s messenger, Senor Polo grasped it in his quick, nervous way.  He opened the envelope and realized instantly that he had been outwitted.  A cynical smile passed over the Minister’s face as he handed his request for passports to ‘Eddie,’ who bowed and smiled on the Minister.”