The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-06-14
IN THE POLITICAL FIELD.
New Version of the Last Meeting of
Tilden and Hendricks.
Painfully Polite Conduct of tho Sage to His
Lieutenant-An Echo from Indiana
The Ohio Canvass.
THAT HENDRICKS INTERVIEW.

Letter IN fhlsadelphla Times
Without consulting Mr.. Hendricks and
without his knowledge, few of his particu-
lar friends and ardent admirers thought to
inaugurate revival of the old ticketin 1884
That little band of boomers dreamed dreams,
scribed screeds and were the least bit crest
fallen when he did not commit himself to
the movement
At this critical point along came Jap Tur
pen, better known as the "Tipton Slasher," a
versatile sort of genius, quite gifted in an
eplstolary way and gossipy and captivating
in conversation He is something to the
Wabash Courier, and in his brief sojourn
here bore down on Mr.. Hendricks with that
ingenious, trIsty air that distinguishes him
among men. The Ex-Governor was hard at
work in the to him fascinating task of pre-
pairing an argument but he is fond of his
friends. He gave Mr. Turpen a cordial
welcome, and shortly the chat became socia!
and lively. Mr., Hendricks was glad of
course, to learn from Mr.. Turpen that he
was In profitable employment on the journal
before mentioned, and bethought him
of an article he had seen in
1884. He straightway asked Mr. Turpen
how he came to be SO strong tor Mr. Tilden,
whereupon the journalist waxed eloquent
and capped his encomiums of that eminent
statesman by saying, Mr.. Tilden is an iron
man." That struck Mr.. Hendricks forciby,
and he does not pretend to remember the
varied and animated talk which followed.
This does not prevent him from knowing
perfectly well what he did not say. That is
admissible on the witness-stand in court of
justice. He is positive in his recollection of
what was not said, and he asserts, moreover.
that his own possible relation to the old
ticket was not subject of that conversation.
Nor could anything he then said be truth
fully construed into acquiescence or favoring
a denomination of the old ticket.
Mr.. Hendricks does not believe. either, that
a conversation of such length and as varied
as thatwith Mr., Turpen could be accurately
repeated after a lapse of twenty-four hours.
There was not the fantest suspicion in his
mind that it would be reported, and soon
as he learned that such was the intention he
telegraphed his wishes to the contrary 1t is
needless to say that the injunction was dis
regarded.
In explanation Mr.. Turpen writes as fol-
lows About twenty-four hours after my
talk with Governor Hendricks | realized that
IL was good material with which to pad an
Indianapolis letter. TO be sure. he furnished
me with no manuscript. What l wrote
would not have been written for met-opol-
itan paper. But in hiding it in the columns
of a weekly out here on the Wabash it never
occurred to me that was violating any con-
fidence Anyhow, you see in the interview
that Mr.. Hendricks was only an ordinary
sort OF person. All of the big talk was
done by the gifted author of the article. If
there is anything to embarrass anybody l arm
sorry and will hang up out here on the Wa
bash until the blow-over occurs" So the re-
sponsibility rests on Mr.. Turpen.
TILDEN AND HENDRICKS HAVE MET
In the comment which his so-called inter
view has ELECTED a statement has been re-
peatedly made that since the conference be-
Saratoga these gentlemen have never met
This is not true. On the contrary while in
New York, on his way to Europe in 1877,
Mr. Hendricks was visited and entertained
by Mr.. Tilden. 1t was my GOOD fortune to
be included in the invitation given to Mr..
and Mrs. Hendricks and 1 was present when
a conference took place, which l now have
permission to refer to. The obligation as
the guest, by courtesy to Mr.. Tilden, was
abrogated when Mr.. Manton Marble gave his
Secret Chapter of Political History to the
world in letter to the editor of the New
York Sun, Aug. 8. 1878. Every event and
circumstance of that conference between Mr..
Tilden and Mr.. Hendricks is fresh in NV
mind although notes taken at the time con-
spire to give a report thereof the merit Of
accuracy.
After pleasing coup d'uil of the beauti-
ful home, Mr.. Tilden naturally came in for
large share of study. l was especially i'm
pressed with his air of abstraction A ghost
could hardly have appeared further re-
moved from the common life OF little things
around us. While fully aware of his power,
no one could easily fathom the direction 1T
would take. Upon this occasion he had
purpose, which did not appear until the Par
THAN close. After cOurteously receiving his
guests he may be said to have wandered for
a season. He walked up and down the
drawing room and across the library, halt
iEg at intervals few seconds. When supper
was announced he offered his arm to Mrs
Hendricks, while Mr.. Hendricks gave his to
Mrs. Pelton. There were not many guests;
the table was long and wide, and the two
couples may be said to have moved in diffe r
ent orbits
Mr.. Tilden was laxative in the manner of
one accustomed to deferential silence Mrs.
Pelton and Mr.. Hendricks cJnversed pleas
antly and the table talk between was kept
up by Mr. Tilden's nephew, Mr.. Pelton and
his charming young wife and the other
guests. After supper Mr. Tilden resumed his
desultory walk and conversation, while Mr..
Hendricks was engaged with visitors. That Mr..
Tilden was interested in the surroundings
was manifested by the pains he took to have
your correspondent examine some exquisite
missals he had purchased at the recent expo
sition and collection of very fine foreign
views. He made known his wishes through
a gentleman present, Mr.. George NJ. Mac
Lean, his private secretary and confidential
agent. 1t must have been an hour that no
Others were present, and then Judge Jerre
Back,came in. With that Mrs Pelton and
Mr.. Tlden proceeded to the drawing. room,
followed at a respectful distance by
Mr.. MacLean. Mr.. Hendricks and
Judge Black were already seated in
that room and rose to their feet
as the trio approached. Mr.. Tilden held in
his right hand a collection of manuscript,
perceptbly letters and kilograms, which, as
he stood by the side of Mr. Hendricks
Judge Black directly en- face), he proceeded