New-York tribune., 1878-04-18
WHAT MR.. CONKLING SAYS.

private conversation.
WHAT MR. CONKLING SAYS.
HE HAS MADE no EXPRESSION OF POLITICAL VIEWS
10 FRIENDS FOR Long TIME
uY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.
WASHINGTON, April 1.-THE "COukling inter-
vicwD has been the town talk to-day, end the Sena-
tor from New-York has been besicged by journalists
and others for an explanation of it, To most OF
those who went to him during the early part of the
day, he replied that he had not read the Inter
view" although he had been informed of its char
acter by telegram from New-IOrk. To an Erm'nG
Star reporter he said:
Before nave seen the article cannot, of course,
pass judgment upon it, but | can very frankly say
that from the tenor and spirit OF the interview as
briefly outlined by some of my friends it is impos-
sble for me TO remember when have commit
ted myself to any such utterances. If
have been correctly informed, the article purports
to be the details of conversations held with me re-
Gently by one of my friends, and afterward written
to some party in Utica. Now, have not been at
home for many months, except on a brief visit on
the occasion Of my nephew's marriage. had no
conversation then on political questions and have
not expressed myself politically to any friends for
long time You are therefore at liberty to say that
/ cannot recall any circumstances within the past
few months to warrant any such interview as learn
has been attributed TO me and feel perfectly sure
that If there should turn out to be plausibihy
in portions of it, some one to mo unknown just now
has been guilty Of betraying a private cOnvcrsa-
ton"
The truth about the " interview probably is that
some former friend of Senator COnkling, with whom
he at various times talked with freedom, has gath
cred together the fragments of many Conversations
supplemented them with scraps of information
4bCrad ln nj her
during the present session of Congress; enlarged.
arranged and embellshed the whole and put it
into the form Of an imaginary conversation.
In some respects the interview does not greatly
misreprcscnt the Senator's position, which III these
particulars Is we'll known to ali newspaper readers.
In other respects the interview probably makes SEN
ator Conking say things lie never did say, and does
not believe. For instance, he is reported TO have
denied tonight that the statement Of his position
last Winter in regard to the Electoral Commission
is at all correct The personal references to Sena-
tors contained in the interview" have been read
with great interest, especially by Mr.. Conklng's
colleagues III the Senate; but the almost unanimous
verdict has BEEN and it is cOncurTcd IN by most OF
those 10 whom reference IS made that he never
could have used the language attributed 60 hlm.
Mr. COnkling has not seemed 10 be much disturbed
by this remarkable publication, annoying rs 1t IS 70
public man to have his opinions given to the world
in the language OF Others and that, too with very
questionable accuracy 1t is believed that he will
take some public notice OF this publication in few
days.
PROBABLE SOURCE or THE ARTICLE.
LATER.-Mr. COnklng returned home from
a dinner party after midnight, and in
response to questions from friend who
called to ask about the " interview"
said that he had received a dispatch from
a friend in New-York, saying that
six column interview had been printed
in The World of to-day and questioning him in re-
gard to its genuineness He was busy in his COM
mittce until o'clock this afternoon, and as soon as
he had time to look over the article he
replied that the interview was in substance
without foundation. He said that six months ago
he went to Utica to vote and was there only one
day. On that day, he visited recently
established newspaper Office. and was
shown over it by its owners. In the company
on that occasion was Mr.. Mines, n newspaper man
of some note IN Utica. The company adjourned
to the Senator's house for dinner. While
there ne told them the news in regard TO
political matters in Washington and there was a
general Interchange of views the political situ-
ation He has since learned that Mr.. Mines, while Wis
iting NewYoIk for the paper with which he was con-
nected got trouble account of his habits and
on his return to Utica dismissed from his place.
The Senator has also been informed that MT. Mines
was authorized by the publishers OF some news
pape-, to prepaTf sensational article, based upon
the conversation which occurred at the dinner re-
ferred to.
With reference to the alusions in the article to
Senator Burnside, Mr.. Conklihg says that he never
said anything of the kind, and that the assertion
that he did is absolutely and unquaedly false. As
to the reference to Senator Gordon, he say, there
are special reasons why he would not have spoken
of him III the manner represented.
GROSS MISREPRESENTATION.
There may be, he admits, some truth in some
parts of the interview" but whole he declares
that it is q gross instrumentation. There was
nothing upon which so full and formal n
statement could have been made, except
what was dropped in ordinary conversation
between friends who were talking informally abOnt
the political relation. The Senator severely criti
csed the conduct of the author of the interview"
for forgetting TO observe the common courtesies
between gentlemen under such circumstances.
With reference to the course he Will pursue in
gard to the matter Senator COnkling SAYS he has
concluded, after consultation with friends in the
Senate, and in harmony with their wishes not to
make any personal explanation in the Senate, and
not to notice it i'll any public way. If he were to
reply in tins case, he says, he would be kept busy
cOntradicting what purpOrted to be reports Of pri
vate conversations. He did not care to agitate the
matter at all.