Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-07-26
STATESMEN AND INTERvIBwERs
How the Two Combine to Enlighten an
Anxious Public

PhHddetphiG Records Neao York Letter
Ihere is great difference among men
as to this desire for newspaper notOrjetv.
1here are scores of alleged statesmen
lying loose about the city, ready to take
any newspaper man ''under the shedv
ana 10 lmpart their views, mot neces-
sarlly for publication" Others cannot be
reached. No man is more fond of news
paper support than Mr.. Conkling, though
ne processes to despise the press and It's
edltOrs, and holds himself funapprOachable
except to press dignitaries. When he
wishes to appear in print he writes out
questions and answers carefully. and
always wishes to correct the revised
copy. A little over five years ago | had
occasion to publish a sfX-column inter
view with MIR. Conkling in the World of
this city. 1t embodied a bitter attack
upon Mr.. Hayes, his administration and
its supporters. When Mr.. Conkling heard
OF 1t at Washington he said that he did
not know anything about it, and had not an
idea as to its authors identity. 1t was
curious freak of memory. Mr.. Conkling
mad dispatch from me in his pocket,
stating that / intended to publish it,
l. in turn, had a telegram from
hIm asking me not to print. In
reply had sent Il letter giving
my reasons for printing and telling
him what to expect. Yet all this had
been forgotten in fOrty-eight hours appa-
rently, and the Senator told the Washing
ton reporters that the interview was the
result OF some desultOry conversation
with me after dinner at his home i'm Utica.
As matter of fact, the ex-senator had
sent for me on the night of the wedding
OF his nephew, now United States Dis
trict Judge Alfred G. Coke, had sat down
Ill his library at IL O'Clock, saying: II
want you to distinctly understand just
where L stand," and he then slowly and
deliberately, while chewing an unlighted
cigar, and with many gestures. delivered
himself of the three hours interview that
was reported. 1t is a marked illustration
o1 weakness OF memory which some
times assails even such great statesmen
as MacLean and COnkling.
HOratIo Seymour is an easy man to in
terVleW-after he has made up his mind
10 speak-and he is exceedingly cOurte-
GUS and kind to newspaper men, always
paying his ready tribute to the profess
slonal position and influence of the press.
On one OccasiOn-shOrtly after my little
dispute with Roscoe COnkling-I went to
him for an interview for the World, and
he cheerfully gave it. After it was writ
ten out and read to him, he did not like it,
and said he would write one out and send
to me by mSil. He did so, and | have the
manuscript yet. Meeting him on the
street the next day, he asked me how it
suited. With some hesitation, told him
that it was not what the paper wanted.
"Ah right" he said, cheerfullv: sscOme
down to my brother Johns house with
me and will try and give you what you
want" This was in Utica, and we went
III through the garden, Gov. Seymour re-
marking: ''The back way is the best for
politicians" He sat me down at a desk,
and then, buttOning up his coat, walked
speech that would have carried anv con-
VentiOn before it. This was out of his
usual practice, however, for in nearly
every other interview he cOntented him
self with answering questions, though his
answers We're often of the length of a
political dlsquisitiOn. Out of a dozen re-
quests to secure and publish important
interviews never remember but one re-
fusal, and that was mere postponement.
When granted-for the request was re-
cent one-it will be one of the most strik-
ing and important contributions to the
political history Of the war.
A very hard man to get at was the late
George Law, the millionaire railway king,
Naturally taciturn he made himself prac-
tlcally 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
poItlcal views, but was puzzled to find
the means. Very OppOrtunely former
intimate friend of his died-a man who
had been United States Senator from
Florida before the war, and had afterward
removed to Canada, leaving instructions
III his will that his body should never be |
carried to the United States for burial.
Armed with this fact l went to MIR. |
Laws house on Fifth avenue early one
morning, and found him seated at long |
table covered with papers, in the front |
basement, clad in shabby red dressing |
gown, and busily debating to two secre- |
taries. At the mention of his friends |
name, he wheeled around in his chair and |
pald his memory an earnest tribute. |
This was only the bait, and the reporter |
then rose and, hat in hand, put in few |
suggestions as to finances and politics, |
The ice having been thawed, and the Visi- |
tor having apparently finished his news
paper business, Mr.. Law spoke very de- |
cldedly upon the political and financial |
situation, and at half an hours length. 1t |
is SAID that when he read the interview |
his profanity shook the entire block.
The hardest man to interview in nv ex-
perience, was Simon Cameron. The only |
time 1t 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. ''NO matter," said a
political friend of his, "pll fix it so you
can corner him." An hour afterWard we |
sat in one of the offices facing each other. !
and | without revealing my identity as
the bearer of the card recalled to
his memory a time when l had been
sent for as an officer of the army to
meet President Lincoln, Gen. Mcclellan
and himself at his private office in the
War Department. The old man grew in
terested and talked, and before he real
Sif hoI
dozen political questions. Then suddenly
he grasped both arms of his chair, rose up
and said emphatically: 81 will not be in
teryiewed, sir. Good day." He marched |
out Indignantly, while his political friend
chuckled. The interview was published,
and was not denied. But the writer does
not care to encounter the veteran again
fhaf fnll Icr1rnrrnr. L. l. i. Z