The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-07
MR.. PRESIDENT CLEVELAND.
The Talk of a Buffalo Man Who Has
Long Known the New Celebrity.
The President Elect Described as Being Sim
ply and Plainly an Average Man, and
aTypical DOn't-Care Bachelor.
GROVER CLEVELAND.
The Description Given by Man Who Has
Known Him All His Life.


The Description Given by a Man Who Has
Known Him All His Life.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Dec 6.-"People at Buffalo
and Albany are greatly amused at some of the
stories they see in print about Presidentelect
Cleveland" said Buffaloan who has known this
celebrity all his life, speaking to the Journal
correspondent, this afternoon. MANY of the
statements are ridiculous he continued, 'and,
presume, were written by persons who never saw
Cleveland, and who have no reliable information
concerning him. / was raised at Lockport near
Buffalo, and have done business in the latter
place since l was boy. / was delegate in the
conventions that nominated him for mayor, and
Governor. Cleveland has the briefest record of
any man that ever even aspired to the presi-
dency, and is less known than any man who will
ever be President in all probability"
rs he really so plain as the papers
say9" 1 inquired
HE is as plain as the bowlder you find in the
streets, replied the gentleman He is plain in
person, plain in dress, and plain in manners"
did he ever go into societyP
mo, sir, at no place. 1 never saw him at
society event He never frequented clubs, never
attended banquets, dinners, balls-no public
event He often went to the theaters, and
would go to the circus with crowd of the boys.
He has no regard whatever for his personal repu-
tation. If he should start to church and con-
clude, on Sunday morning, that he wanted
drink of something strong he would stop at the
first bar and get it. He wouldn't care who saw
him, or what any one thought of his action. ]
guess he doesn't think of that"
docs he drink to excessT
"Oh, no. He is not considered temperance
man at home, nor a regular dram -drinker. He
just drops into bar-room at any time or at any
place he meets friend who proposes drink, or
he concludes he wants one from his own feel
ings. 1 venture that when he becomes Presi-
dent he will drop into places down town and
drink if he feels like it, and will fail to recognize
all formallties"
"a gentleman told me the other day" said 1,
that Cleveland will likely refuse to take part in
the displays on Inauguration day. What do you
think of thatl"
II don't believe it. If he should do SO it will
not be on account of any nodesty, 1t will rather
be at the suggestion of friends and for policys
sake"
But it is said he cannot be controlled by
friendsY'
"Not true, literally" replied the gentleman.
ut is a fact that he s obstinate But he is not
going bv tho kind OF a President purely
selfcontrolled man would be. Dan Manning
will have much to say about that"
"Will Manning be in the Cabnet?"
mo, think not But to Dan and John Man
ming Cleveland owes his position. Dan Manning
SC he of 4bo Joh
his brother, is a Buffalo lawyer. When the
question of the governorship of New York came
up, three years ago, John went over to Albany,
with three or four other men, and they had a
talk with Dan about who they could put into the
place and control They mutually agreed to
boom Cleveland, and they did it so quickly and
we'll that he was nominated"
ibid Cleveland remember his friends as Gov
ernorl"
HE remembered those felows-that was the
extent of his memory. He served them SO we'll
that they formed the nucleus for him in the Chi
cago convention. For the general people Cleve-
land doesn't care a farthing He will stick to
his chums, though"
"In personal appearance what kind of man
is he?"
De. He is what is termed pot bellied' man
that IS, he is thick at tie grth and has a heavy
neck. His face is well formed, though, and
there is a kind generous CLEAN in his eyes. He
is cordial, and never snubs one He is what is
termed fat and good-natnred fellow There is
nothing prepossessing about him. He is far
from being stylish You would not ask who his
tailor is. Were he of ordinary build, I venture
he would buy his clothes ready made. His law
Office was neither attractive nor tidy"
Before becoming mayor of Buffalo was Mr..
Cleveland well knownf"
"His acquaintance was confined to a small cir
Gle, comparatively. He had been sheriff but
was SO quiet in his living that he soon dropped
out of sight of the general townspeople. His
duties are performed willingly and promptly
He is not a laggard. and l would not mean to be
understood as saying he is without good ability
for he always equal to the emergencies
which overlook him. There should be no sur
prise by those who see him that he never mar
ried There is nothing about his nature that
would invite matrimony to him. He is the
typical don't-care batchelor, and the stuff you
hear about his going to get married. and attend
ing the Inauguration ball and so forth is bun
combe. When Mr. Cleveland reUires from the
White House he will be the same careless, lucky
fellow he is to-day, and you can't make any
thing else out of him"