The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-04-10
Mr.. Tilden Again.


Mr.. Tilden Again.
Mr.. Samuel j. Tilden has again been in
terviewed. The reporters haunt him with
persistence that would embarrass almost
any man but Mr.. Tilden. Money is
used freely to obtain admittance to his
house, and the servants at Gramercy Park
are bribed to allow the scribes to at least see
the venerable head of the Democratic party.
Again and again has Mr.. Tilden rang for
hot water, and waited in childlike conf
dence for the girl to bring it up, only to see
the silver waiter laid down and the note
book whisked out and the waiting reporter
ready and eager to- take down every word
that might fall from his lips. The guileless, un-
suspecting nature of the old man makes him
peculiarly liable to be taken in by these art
fol men, but it is due to him to say that all
they have yet been able to find out they can
place in their eye without any danger of
damaging that organ. 81 don't read the
papers and don't know the first thing about
what is going on anywhere" the aged one
hoarsely whispers and the interview is
over. Then having been shaved (which
operation is now performed by COL Pelton,
the great man having been nearly murdered
on several occasions by reporters who have
sought his room disguised as barbers), the
Ex-Governor proceeds to take breakfast;
and here he is exposed to new danger, as
in nine cases out of ten the apparently hum
BILE waiter behind his chair is a report
er of some one of the great dailies
Breakfast over Mr.. Tilden admits a few of
the greener reporters, who have not learned
his ways, and sends them off by whispering,
81 don't know, don't read any letters, can't
write, haven't the least idea in regard to
anything" and then he rides down town on
horseback-but not alone, not by a large
majority. A special corps of reporters has
been imported from the plains, and by the
boldest riding the statesman is kept in sight
every instant. Special reporters are also
stationed at all the street corners, and no
sooner does he draw up his horse than he
sees polite, well-dressed man ready to take
the bride, and content to hold it for half an
hour if but the venerable Tilden is willing.
And Mr.. Tilden is willing, as he has already
saved almost ahundred dollars which, under
other circumstances, he would have paid
out to boys. And yet, what is the reporters
reward? The old man appears, and is as
sisted to mount and then the reporter, note
book in hand, begins, "Mr. Tilden, OBJ
serve that your name has been mentioned
in connection with the Presidency, and"
''Don't, beg,' the Great Defrauded will
whisper. ''Pm an innocent old man, and
liable to be imposed on. See you later"
And off he goes.
All the reporters unite in saying that Mr.
Tilden is a wreck. His sight is affected,
his hands are useless, his whole form trem-
bles and bis voice is gone. This is sad, but
the old politician hangs on to life-and the
Democratic party-Tith the persistency
with which death is represented to cling to
defunct African. More than that his mind
is as clear as ever, and he still goes down
town, and looks after his business with all
his olden attention, and beside that admits
that he gets at the least about 500 letters
day, beside Seeing any number of politi-
clans.
The last representative Of the press that
tackled this obstinate invalid, was the re-
porter of the Boston Herald. We are pleased
to learn that Mr.. Tilden, despite the fact
that his legs no longer carry him about ex-
cept with extreme difficulty, his hands COM
pletely powerless, his eye "obliquitous" and
his general health somewhat impaired, is
cheerful, and the Democratic party will be
glad to know that the old man is looking
sharply after his business which now in
wolves "millions and millions of dollars''.
But we are deeply panied to learn that this
abject and, to certain extent, as above in
dicated, used up man is get ing any amount
of matrimonial letters, or il other words let
ters from ladies proposing marriage. This
is too bad we insist that the ladies shall let
Mr. Tilden alone. His time and his 'bar'T
should be devoted to the Democratic party
Mr.. Tilden said to the Herald reporter
that he should have an important communi-
cation to make in few weeks, and that he
wasn't interested in the candidate to be.
about the time that he got ready to speak,
but he omitted to state when that would be-
The reporter here ventured to suggest to
Mr.. Tilden that if he did not care to say
who his favorite candidate was, he supposed
himself at liberty to assume that Mr.. Tilden
would not allow his name to be used in the
convention. And the old gentleman replied:
"Ah, that is an interview directly, and
must answer you somewhat indirectly, and
yet directly too, when say distinctly that 1
don't now care for politics or politicians
This interview shows exactly what Mr.
Tilden's position is. First, he doesn't feel
any interest in politics and is probably en-
gaging rooms at the hotels in Cincinnati
simply as business speculation-in fact, is
getting up a corner in rooms. Second, he
is not interested in politicians any longer,
probably because he has them all fixed.
Third, he will make up his mind about the
Presidency when he gets ready and will
| then take the public into his confidence un-
less he happens to change his mind
BUSINESS must be uncommonly brisk in
| New York just now. Mechanics and work
ing men in all departments of industry only
have to ask and straightway they receive.
The bricklayers and cabinet-makers COM
PEELED the payment of higher wages some
weeks ago. The last of the piano nanufac-
turers who began the lockout has given
way without conditions, and when carpen-
tiers suggested that their labor had increased
in value, their employers took the hint al
once, and SO there was no strike. Under
these circumstances every one must be hsppy
all round. The employers would moi
pay more for the labor they need if they
could not afford it, but trade being active
/ ard nrQfitahle. thew are Willing to shara Its