Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-07-03
iron ore, steel rails, pottery and many
other articles.
CONKLING.

Roscoe Conkling makes a good many
flying trips to Washington in connection
with his law business. He avoids the
White House, and is as unbending as ever
toward reporters. An eastern correspond
ent tried to interview him the other day.
Sir said the dignifed senator, you
must excuse me. I cannot converse with
members of the press.'' Roscoe
had some bitter lessons in in
terviewing when he was in the
zenith of his political career. The
representative of one of the leading papers
of the country called upon
against newspaper men. Conkling re-
ceived him like prince, and was at some
pains to give him the desired information.
The scribe assured. Roscoe that his Ian
guage would be given verbatim ct liteIa
tum, but the scribe reckoned without his
chief On repeating the result of his mis-
sion the latter said: "Pshaw, if Conkling
gave you that he meant just the opposite.
I'll twist it into shape" He twisted it into
such shape that it made the proud Roscoe
wild with vexation and threw the scribe in
to epileptic fits. A year or two afterward
the interviewer was made chief of the
bureau, and he determined to..make amends
to Lord Roscoe at the first opportunity.
That opportunity arrived sooner than he
expected, during a time of great political
excitement, when the views of Conkling
we're looked forward to with great interest.
A prominent Republican asked the corre-
spondent if he would print an interview
with the New York senator just as it was
given. Certainly" was the prompt re-
Spouse, 81 will guarantee that not a word
shall be changed" 1t was wired to the
home Office as Conkling dictated it. The
editor evidently suspected this, since ne
prefaced it with a stinging introduction to
the effect that Roscoe had caused himself
to be introduced, and strutted like pea
cock as he talked to himself. That was the
last straw. 1t killed every vestige of Conk-
ling's faith in newspaper men. To-day he
would rather have scorpion daily with
| his favorite curl than spend five seconds in
the company of a reporter on business.
| THE STAR sPANGLED BANNER.
| w W. OOrcOIdu, Luo pHllduGnEOplSI anu
banker, who paid the expenses of bringing
the bones of John Howard Payne from
| Tunis and putting marble shaft overthem
in lakewood cemetery, has received a letter
| from a resident of Frederickston, Nd, ask
| ing the sentimental millionaire to interest
himself in movement to perpetuate the
memory of Francis Scott Key, author of
| the ''Star Spangled Banner" The writer
says the grave of Key occupies an obscure
corner in the graveyard at Frederick sten
and is in sadly neglected condition, being
nearly hidden by noxious weeds and over.
growing bushes. Nothing but a head
stone twenty -four inches high and twenty
broad marks the poets resting place. The
bodies OF his wife and child rest beside his.
GAMBLING HOUSES CLOSED.
This city is no longer the gamblers par
adise. Every house has been closed and
the proprietors have left for Baltimore,
Alexandria or Coney Island. The spy
system which came into active operation
with the changes in police circles, has par
alyzed the business. -Four months ago
there were six faro banks in full blast.
They were run on Republican, or square
principles. The play was high, and the
players were drawn from every class of
society Senators brushed elbows with
department clerks and congressman sat
next to army officers and place hunters.
About dozen brace games were also in
operation. Something like 100000
changed hands weekly. The professionals
lived in clover. Expensive suppers were
spread nightly. More champagne was
drank than whisky. Every thing looked
lovely for a good summers work. Hints
of collapse of the business were numer-
Gus when the old detectives were removed.
The gamblers had paid tribute to
them for years. Complaints were
passed by as the idle wind. The officers
themselves frequently took hand in the
games. Major Dye, the new chief of po-
lice, determined to suppress the evil. He
went to, work quietly. Grand raids were not
in his line. He organized a system of
espionage which resulted in the gradual
closing of the gambling dens. With the
exception of poker rooms, without which
no Washington hotel is complete, there is
now not a game of chance in the city.
The spy system has also been directed
against Sunday drinking, but without much
success. The saloon keepers keep their
front doors locked and only admit well
known customers. Some few have been
caught and fined $50 for infringement of
the Sunday law. The faces of the spies
have become so familiar, however, that
their occupation is about gone, and the
thirsty Washingtonian gets his Sabbath
cocktail as easy ss his week day bitters |
''The closing of the gambling houses said
veteran to the GLOBE correspondent, sis !
grave mistake. The people of Washing !
ton revel in games of chance. There are
more lottery tickets sold here in proportion |
to population than in any other city in the
country. Before the new deal there were