The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-11-23
Senatorial True Inwardness,

"Mack" in Globe Democrat.
While on the subject of Senators l
am tempted to give few recollectioDs
Of the reporters gallery during several
sessions when l was employed as repor-
ter of the Senatorial debates for the New
York Associated Press. ii 1t be true
tnat no man is hero to his valet, 1t is
more true that, with few exceptions, no
Senator is statesman TO his reporter.
The man who sits IN the gallery to make
Totes tor printing soon learns the large
per cent, of human weakness that is IN
the composition of the great men assem-
bled below. Before l had Oeen very
eng in my position l r. ;elved sum-
mons from Mr.. Stewart, OF Nevada, then
. newborn Senator. He wanted fame,
and mis- grievance was that | cut him
short in the report of big debate.
There had been u warm time on the re-
construction policy. Ben Wade had
launched out ieartully against Andy
Johnston, and Reverdy Johnston, OF
Mary land, had come grandiy 10 the de-
tense. TIE New York papers arrived
with full reports of these two speeches,
and only mention Of the other orstOrs,
among whom was Mr.. Stewart, who had
been cut Of with paragraph
was ushered into the presence Of the
great man from Nevada. "Why didn't
YOU report my speech?". SAID he. l re-
piled that | had selected the two repre-
sentative men OF the debate-W ade and
JOhnson-and cut all the others down.
But said l, very modestly, "you are
no. AS we'll known, as Mr. Wade or
Mr.. johnson; they speak for their par
ties, ,and what they say Is OF national sig
nifcance; you only speak for yourself
"lhe hell you say!' said Mr.. Stewart.
Il speak for the republicans of Nevada
and my speech is as important as any
body else's." The result of the interview
was that, Mr.. Stewart insisting that |
had wronged him, | agreed to send his
speech by mail to the New York Herald
In response there came a note saying it
would cost 81, $50 10 print 1t as An sd.
vertisement, and that they did not care
about printing 1t as news. Mr. Stewart
never bothered me after that. TAere
were constant complaints to the effect
tnst l was always emitting important
debate, which me Senate desired 10 have
printed and that | was always making
room tor personal spats, which the
Senate desired to suppress To remedy
mat, 1t WAS proposed that the Senate
should furnish It's own Associated Press
report, prepared by man OF its own
choice, to be paid blythe Senate. ] appeal
ed TO Mr. Hudson, then managing editor
of the Herald, and to John Russell
Young, then managing editor Of the
YribVHe, explained the matter, AMI tell.
ing them that if they would so order
would omit all the personalities OF de-
bate, and contne reports 10 the more
dIgnifed points. Their reply fully in
dursed my selection the people, they
said, were more interested in the person
aliueS than in the points. As to the
oenate's proposal to furnish It's own ex-
purgated report, there was not paper
in New York which would agree TO
p int it, except at the usual advertising
rate. One day there WAS very unseen
ingly personal spat between FeSsenden
ard Sumner at the close of q long debate.
l omitted the debate and put in the spat.
Next day two OF the New York papers
had editorials on "piantstion manners
in the Senate The position of Senate
for the New York paperr be-
came very unpleasant from mat time
and ] soon gave it up.