The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-11-04
HI AR RIsB RG
THE GEARY.BREwsTER MBROGLIO.
The Governors Private Seoretary-His
Statement-Attorney- General f.
G. Brewster's Statement
Opinion of General
Hartranft.
n,m Our olsn Corresponding

is conceded on all sides that further discussion
OF the Geary y-Brewser affair can result in no pos
sble benefit to any concerned, and yet there has
been much lett unsaid that should be said. As we
look upon it, Governor Geary owes t 20 himself and
the public TO answer the charges made against him
by the ex-Att0rney-General and which have been
scattered far and by the press and the tongue
OF gossip the advice OF those about him to the con-
trary Notwithstanding With this view OF the matter,
and actuated by determination TO present to the
readers of THE TELEGRAPH such facts n regard to
the matter came into our possession, we waited
upon his Excellency this morning, aud had the mis-
fortune to find him confined to his bedroom by
severe attack of swelling OF the tonsls. When we an
nounoed oursef as OF THE TELEGR Apis stan, we
naturally expected to receive gentle admonton
to get up and dust, but our expectations were not
realized, for despite the strong and not
commendable language OF the gentleman who did us
the kindness to present our names, the Governor
actually consented to us, and In all probability
would have done so had his expressed wish not
been frustrated by the commands Of his physician
and the earnest advice of his wife. lie excused him
SELF very properly, on the ground that it was pain
full for him to converse and we left the Executive
Mansion, and did the next best thing possible, by
the seeing and hearing the Governors Man Friday,
who is also his Private Secretary. Seeing the Private
Secretary of Governor Geary is no great thing to
brag Of but hearing him is really tremendous when
we recollect the fact that the Private Secretary is
and has been for we can't say how many years, the
shadow OF the Governor. Certainly no man should
know another-no two mer/ should be better ac-
qu ainted-than the Governor and his faithful friend
an follower We state t1is, not because the Private
Secretary desires it, for he beps to be kept the
newspapers, but because, without it, the statement
which the Secretary makes would probably be
stripped of the weight that should cling to it, and
our labor OF love thus completely lost.
The Private Secretary is not what might be called
a handsome man, that is, he can't be classed
tl,a Ann hff fhnn hn hac oh
winning way about him, that really is drawn to-
ward him without any other reason than that which
has been known to bid man put his fist under pom
derous trip hammer and have it smashed, or to fall
Off of every place where there may be great likeli-
hood OF his being dashed pieces 1t is certain
beyond the peradventure of a doubt, but 1t is re-
ported that the Private Secretary has, and frequently
does, take the helm and run the gallant old ship of
state entirely alone and unaided even by the
Governor himself and the most enjoyable part of it is
that the passengers have never been the wiser of it,
Now 1t is not to be presumed that the Governor is
not capable of doing all this himself
for everybody who knows anything knows
that he has and can run the ship completely to his
satisfaction, If not to the satisfaction Of every
body else; and there leave the subject to turn to
that which the reader, by this time, has commenced
to look for-we mean the interview. A word more,
a sort OF Introductory. The Private Secretary Is
as modest as he is important, and it will surprise
nobody more than himself when he comes to learn
that during one two, or three hours conversation
with him, we were doing nothing more or less than
subjecting him to the now most fashionable fashion
of interviewing him. We are compelled to admit
that 1t not intention TO subject the gentle
man to this interesting process, but our conversa-
tion was of such q nature that we feel in justice
bound to print the most important parts OF it. 1t
was as follows:-
The Private Secretary's Statement.
He commenced by stating that The EVENING
tuIln
Governor Geary was a liar was miserable, cowardly,
etc. etc. liar himself. He, the Secretary, had been
with him twenty years. and never knew him to tell
lie! The interview as we have before mentioned,
lasted hours, but the reader has an advantage
over us, for what we received in that time he has in
q few words
Our next step was to find the new Attorney-Gene-
raj Having been directed to the apartment set
aside for the law business OF the Commonwealth we
entered and found the ever amable Mr.. Brewster
at his desk, deep in the business of his office. Al.
though stranger to him, he greeted us cordially,
and invited us to be seated. We opened the
sation by an inquiry as to how the gentleman liked
the atmosphere Of Harrisburg. We received for an
answer that where mans duty called him. it was
his place to make 1t as agreeable as possible.
We next inquired concerning some matters
that were to have come before the Governor
to-day and were assured that the Executive would
be unable to attend to any business whatever, and
therefore the case would have to be postponed. We
now introduced ourselves as one of the grand army
of intervewers, and asked the Attorney General
how he would like to submit himself to a couple OF
hours of that interesting process He smilingy
piled that il his desires were ever so great, it would
be impossible for him TO crafty us, it
sary that he should visit the Governor Immediately
The following conversation then ensued:-
Attorney-CeneraI II. g. Brewster's Statement.
Correspondent-Mr Brewster, the etter of the ex-
Attorney-Ge General to the Governor is making great
deal of noise. What do you think of it?
Attorney GeaeraI-Wel, sir, / do not know that
could enlighten you much on the subject.
C0rrespOadent-But don't you think that the Gov
ernor owes it to himself to reply to the charges made
by Mr. Brewster?
Attor1,ey- Geaeral-I have advised him to pay no
attention to the natter although, as you say, there
are some things to be explained.
CorTespondent-Of course, there are two sides to
almost all questions and thus far the statements OF
Mr. Brewster remain unanswered and uncontra-
dicted.
At,orne,- e,-Ceneral-Wel believe that the gentle
men who made the statements were mistaken.
Correspo,,dent-Wh do you think of Mr.. Coyode's
letter?
Auorae,,- Ceaeral-Weli, presume that Mr.. Co
vode was aware of the strong influences being
brought to bear on the Governor and acting on the
knowledge that the Governor felt that the Attorney
General was weakening him, wrote the letter.
Coyre.poadent-Dont you think that the Governor
authorized the use of his name?
AttOynes,- General-I certainly cannot tell how 1t
came about but scarcely think that the Governor,
in the face OF an exciting campaign, would resort to
such mode OF procedure, no matter what he might
have felt in regard to the matter
Coyrespondent-The worst feature about the mat
ter is that, as the people now understand 1t, the
Governor professed the warmest friendship for Mr..
Brewster, at the very time he was desiring his re-