Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-03-01

CAUTIOUS CARPENTER.
How He Snbmitted to an Interview when Can
didate for the Senate

Senator Matt Carpenter was very
much disappointed when Angus Cam
eron was elected says Gossipef in the
Washington Sunday Herald. 1T was
the great ambition of his life to be a
United States senator He said very
little after his defeat and settled down
in Washington, where be devoted
himself to his law practice. When the
time came around to elect succc ssor
to Timothy 0. Howe, Mr.. Carpenter
resolved to enter himself as a candi-
date, tie had scarcly been in the State
since his defeat. He did not like the
idea of going out there TO take an active
part in the campaign going on during
the fall preceding the senatorial cleo
ton. He was not strong enough to
endure outdoor speaking and he could
i'll afford the time. Finally his law
partner suggested to him that he APP
pear as candidate through the me-
dunn OF q newspaper interview. He
could express his opinion upon pending
topics in this interview, and make q
much more direct appeal to the people
OF the State OF Wisconsin than by max
ing hundred speeches. Soon after
L.
ter sent word that he would like to see
me at his Office. | called on him that
evening. 1t was late in August. Car
penter was in his office, smoking with
short, nervous puffs, huge cigar, He
was in high good humor, and appeared
to be extravagantly pleased at the idea
OF sitting down to an interview. He
said: Il never was interviewed in nv
life. | have had newspaper writers
come to me and then manufacture all
legged conversations with me; but nev-
er sat down in cold blood to an inter-
view. Now, want you to sit down here
and ask me few leading question.
Don't pin me down too close. | want
an opportunity to talk to the people of
Wisconsin in my own way. If you ask
me a question and | don't want to
answer, l don't want that question to
appear. | want you to write down
carefully every word of my answers.
Then | must have an opportunity of
revising the manuscript afterwards.
An assent was made to all these pro-
positions, and then the interview be-
gan. Mr.. Carpenter walked up and
down the room as he talked His man
ner OF answering questions was origi-
nal, to say the least. His partner, Mr..
Coleman, who is very familiar with
Wisconsin politics, was appealed to
every moment 10 say wether Mr.. Car
penters answers were the correct ones
to be1nade. Mr.. Carpenter would start
off in brilliant, sarcastic, happy way
only to be stopped by Mr. Coleman
saying; For Gods sake, sAlatt, don't
say that Then Mr.. Carpenter would
wheel about with great intellectual
ease, and express a directly opposite
opinion. There was hardly an answer
not changed at least half u dozen
times.
''When it came to the financial ques-
ton Mr.. Carpenter threw up his hands |
in despair. He said i don't know
enough to manage my own finances. |
nave not the slightest idea upon the
subject. | know absolutely nothing
about it. Coleman, do you know what |
the people up in Wisconsin would have |
me say on that question? If you do,
wish you would tell me instead of sit
ting there with that absurd grin on YOU |
face Finally, after smoking up half |
a cigar, Mr.. Carpenter began with
great rapidity and clearness. He talked |
for at least ten minutes, and when he |
had finished, he sald Read it over
1t was read He then turned to Coleman
and said How is thatp' Coleman said:
1t will not do. You cannot 90 through |
on that statement Burn it them |
said Mr. Carpenter He tried again,
but an hour had passed before he could |
-
then told me to hold the interview for
two or three days. The next day he
called on me and said he had brought
up another financial chapter to be used |
in the place of what already had. !
He approved the interview finally and |
went away. He went to New York
that night, but before he went to bed |
he telegraphed. Hold the interview
until return He came back to Wash
ington in day or two, and called again
i have decided said he, to omit
everything relating to the financial
question. | don't know damned |
thing about it anyway, and l am not
going to risk any laundering The
financial chapter was dropped out, and |
the much cut and mangled interview
was sent to Chicago, where it was pub
lished 1t was afterward reprinted in
nearly every paper in Wisconsin. The
interview was very diplomatic one as
it finally appeared. 1t put him in the
canvass at a very early stage, and re-
ceived the most favorable comment |
from the Republican papers of the State
Mr.. Carpenter afterward attributed his
cleo ton to the United States senate to
this carefully prepared interview, the
only newspaper interview of his entire
life