Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1884-10-01
POLITICAL MATTERS.
An Interview in Which Hon. s. S.
Cox Is the Interviewee.
Tarnmany Hall, the Prohibitionista
and Other People from His Stand
point-Blainc at Cleveland
Campaign Notes.

| WASHINGTON CITY, Sept. 29.-Iion. S. s.
! Cox having returned from a pleasure trip
was seen by a reporter and the following
conversation ensued:
Politics! How does the situation strike
| me? You are about the one hundredth news
paper man." he continued merrily, III reply
to the correspondents question, "who has
asked me the Same question. The political
outlook does not strike me at all. Is is posi-,
BILE it may strike some one very hard about
| November, but it is not now lunging out
from the shoulder"
"But can you not afford me some idea of
| the condition of affairs in New York:"
Il am like George Washington" replied
genial Sunset. Il can not tell lie and
won't, and therefore don't press ME on that
! point"
But you belong to the Tammany organ
iZation and ought to know what Tammany
proposes to do i'll the coming election!'
"Tammany hail." replied Mr. Cox, with a
merry twinkle in his eye, "is a virtuous Or
ganization and always does its duty. 1t is
true some of cur fellows grow fractions and
give trouble, but we generally wheel them
into line at the proper moment. Some peo-
pie are jealous of Tammany hall because it
contains the larger proportion of the virtue,
cratic party. We are just the incest set of
fellows in the world to get along with, and
never take more than we can carry away.
Perhaps few of the boys are not desper.
ately in love with Cleveland, but they don't
think any more Of Blaine ON that account"
How are you situated regarding renom-
ination:"
MY denomination never causes me any
trouble; l leave that wholly to my constitu-
ents. l am all right and will be renominated
and reelected as usual. The XLIXth con
gress will chronicle for me a quarter-century
of service in the house, of which eight years
were from the state of Ohio and the rest
from New York. Pig-Iron Kelley, the father
of the house, is the only member who ranks
me in continuous service and Sam Randall
comes next after me. The only difficulty
under which labor in my district is that
cannot get anybody worth mentioning to run
against me-
"IVill the Prohibitionists cut much of q
figure in New York?'
''St. John will get a very heavy vote, much
larger than is generally anticipated; but you
must not think that all the temperance peo-
pie are Republicans. Lots of them are Dem
ocrats, although it is generally accepted that
whisky and Democracy go hand-in-hand. A
heap of Democrats is on the stool of repent
ance, and some will vote for st. John"
What about Ben Butler9"
"Now, there you strike me where livel
Old Ben! Cunning Ben. Bully Ben! have
had many forensic encounters with him. ]
have damned him on the floor of the house,
and decent respect for truth compels me to
admit that he has damned me back with
compound interest. Any fellow who collides
with old Ben Butler had, better be iron clad,
and no mistake. Butler has much larger
following in New York and elsewhere than
he receives credit for, and he takes great de.
light in stirring up the people, and the people
like to be stirred up by him."
what brings you to Washington at this
timer
'None of your business" replied Sunset,
shaking his head good-humoredly. "Can't l
come to Washington without everybody pry
ing into my businessW ...
"But you are chairman of the navalaffairs
committee, and it is whispered that you and
Secretary Chandler arriving here at the
same time is significant"
"Bah." calculated Mr.. Cox; "insignifcant
you mean. Mr.. Chandler and I are both in.
significant; we don't weigh over 100 pounds
apiece. l am devilish glad, however, that
was not on the Tallapoosa when she sank.
Mr. Chandler, with all his persuasiveness,
could not induce me to risk my precious lit
tie body on any ship in the Ameri.
can navy. A part Of my business
here was to look after Congressman
Post, the secretary of the Democratic con-
glessicnal committee. Brother Post is an
impest upon me, and as I have not dined as
yet, you will understand this is not post
prandial suggestion. 1t is only Eheu fugaces
post ;une, post-ume,' as Horace would OBJ
serve:
"Good-by! 1 go to catch the post" con-
clr,ded the merry Sunset"