The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1878-08-22
ROBERTS AND HAYES.
A Detailed Report of that Intervie

A Detailed Report of that Interview.
REPORT of Testimony of Col. Roberts before the
Potter Committed
Q.-Glve me detailed account. as
nearly as you can, of what took place be-
tween you and Gov. Hayes? A.-Iwas
presented to Gov. Hayes, and, after
some general conversation, gave him
the letters he read them, and said:
What do you want to know, Mr.. Rob
erts p | said: "Of course [ know
perfectly well the Importance and deli
cacy OF the question I am going to ask,
but, In case you become President, what
do you propose to do about the State
Governments" He said: L don't know
exactly what you mean" L said: "You
know there will be a row down there.
because in thirty days we have got to
know what we are going to do there, be-
cause on the 9th of January somebody is
going in as Governor" He said: "Of
what Importance can it be to you to
know what my views area' I said:
"There will be row there, and we
can't help you much, but If we know
that you are friendly to us we shall not
make that desperate fight to keep you
out that we should otherwise" He said:
How do you and your people feel
about this ?" said, 81 don't know
how individuals feel, but I know
how the masses of the people feel we
feel that If we are going to throw over
board anything, we are going to throw
over that that is Of least value; we must
save the State Government at all haz-
ards" He didn't talk great deal, but
he asked me to explain the State ques-
ton, and said: "We think we have
carried the State by $4,000, and the in
dications are that you will be counted
out. - He said he didn't want the
Presidency unless ne got it fairly, but,
if he got it fairly, he would like to have
it. l said: "There's been so much
trickery there that Northern men don't
understand it, and, while we don't hold
them responsible, we are merely waiting
our opportunity" He said: Why is
it you have never gone into tine Repub-
llcan party-you Southern men-and en- .
deavored to purify ito" I said it would
be very much like a girl going into a
bagnlo to reform it's occupants and
habitues not only couldn't do them
any good, but would lose whatever repu-
tation she had. He said: 'My letter
OF acceptance was not an empty form
OF words-I mean it to the letter, and
[ believe, and I always have be-
lieved, that the intelligence of any coun-
try or any State ought to govern it," I
said: 81 understand YOU" That was
about what occurred; he had some COM
plimentary things to say of Southern
white men; said they were brave and
generous, but overbearing; he said he
had always admired the Southern char
acter, but thought the administration of
the South had not been good, and all
that sort OF thing.
Q.-D1d you say anything to him
about any act Of his that would bring
about fight between white men and
black men? A.-Yes, sir; had seen a
reported interview with him in the New
York Herald, in which he was reported
as saying, on the 9Th of November, that
he didn't care for himself if he was de-
feated, but that he did care for the poor
colored men at the South; I mentioned
that article to him, and he said, with
some emphasis: ''There's not the slight
est shadow Of truth in it; have not said
such thing to anybody; I have not
seen anybody to say such thing to-" I
said it was telegraphed with some par
ticularity, and he said: ct simply never
said it.; that is all there is about it.