Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-07-26
STATESMEN AND INTERVIEW
ERS.
How the Two Continue to En-
tighten IAN Anxious Public.
New York Letter.

statesmen lying loose about the city,
ready to take any newspaper man
under the shed" and to impart their
views, mot necessarily for publiea-
tion." Others cannot be reached. No
man is more fond Of newspaper sup
port than Mr.. Conkling, though be
processes to despise the press and its
editors, and holds himself unapproach-
able except to press dignitaries. When
he wishes to appear in print he writes
out questions and answers carefully,
and always wants to correct the re-
vised copy. A little over Eve years
ago | had occasion 10 publish six
column interview with Mr.. Conkling
in the World Of this city. 1t en-
bodied a bitter attack upon Mr..
Hayes, his administration and its sup
pOrters. When Mr.. Conkling heard
Of it at Washington he said that be
did not know anything about it, and
had not an idea as 10 its authors iden>
tity. 1t was a curious freak of mem
DRY. Mr.. Conkling had a dispatch
from me in his pocket stating that l
intended to publish it. [, in turn,
had telegram from him asking me
not to print. In reply I had sent a
letter giving my reasons Ior printing
and telling him what to expect. Yet
all this had been forgotten in AZ hours
apparently, and the Senator told the
Washington reporters that the inter-
view was the result of some desultory
conversation with me after dinner at
his home in Utica. AS a matter of
fact, the ex-senator had sent for me
on the night of the wedding of his
nephew, now United States District
Judge Alfred Q. Coke, had sat down
in his library at ii o'clock, saying: IL
want you to distinctly understand Just
where | stand" and he then slowly
and deliberately, while chewing an
unlighted cigar, and with many ges-
lures, delivered himself of the three
hours interview that was reported. 1t
is marked illustration Of weakness
of memory which sometimes assails
such great men as Mclean and Conk-
ling.
Horatio Seymour is an easy man to
interview-aiter he has made up his
mind to speAk-and he is exceedingly
courteous and kind to newspaper men,
always paying his ready tribute to the
professional position and influence Of
the press. On one occasion-shortly
after my little dispute with Roscoe
Uonkling-I went to him for an inter
view for the World, and he cheerfully
gave it. After it was written out and
read to him, he did not like it, and said
he would write one out and send it to
me by mail. He did so, and have
the manuscript yet. Meeting him on
the street next day, he asked me how
it suited. With some hesitation,
told him that it was not what the
paper wanted. "All right" he said
cheerfully, come down to my brother
Johns house with me ard | will try
and give you what you want" Thit
was in Utica, and we went in through
the garden, Governor Seymour re.
marking: The back way is the best
way for politicians" He sat me doWr
at desk, and then, buttOning up his
coat, walked up and down the room
delivering a speech that would have
carried any conviction before it. This
was out of his usual practice, how
ever, for in nearly every interview hC
conteuted himself with answering
questions, though his answers were
Oftep Of the length Of a political dis,
QUESTION. Gut of a dozen requests e
secure and publish important inter,
views | never remember but one re.
fusal, and that was a mere postpone.
meDt. When granted-for the request
was recent one-it will be one Of the
most striking and important contri.
buttons to the political history Of the
war.
A very hard man to get was the late
George Law, the millionaire railway
king. Naturally taciturn he made
himself practically inaccessible except
to those who had pecuniary dealings
| with him. About three years ago the
| World desired TO obtain an expression
of his financial and political views, but
was puzzled to find the means. Very
OPPORTUNITY former intimate friend
Of his died-a man who had been
| United States Senator from Florida,
before the war, aud had afterwards re-
moved TO Canada, leaving Instructions
in his will that his body should never
be carried to the United States for
burial. Armed with this fact, l
went to Mr.. Laws house, on
Fifth avenue, early one morning, and
found him seated at q long table COW
cred with papers, in the front base.
ment, clad in a shabby dressing gown,
and busily debating to two secreta-
ries. At the mention of his friend
name he wheeled around in his chair
and paid his memory an earnest tri
butte. This was only the bait, and
the reporter then rose, aud hat in
hand, put in few suggestions as to
finances and politics. The ice having
been thawed, aud the visitor having
apparently finished his newspaper
business, Mr.. Law spoke very decid-
eddy upon the political and financial
situation, and at halfan hours length
| 1t is said that when he read the in
terview his profanity shook the entire
block.
Tie hardest man to interview. in
my experience, was Simon Cameron
The only time it was my fortune to
tackle him was about three years
since, and the place was the Girard
House, in Philadelphia. In response
to card he sent word he could not
be seen. mo matter" said politi,
cal friend of his, III fix it SO you
can corner him." An hour afterwarC
we sat in one of the Offices faCinl
each other, and without revealing
: i Al