New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-02-24
A QUESTION OF VERACITY
BETWEEN MR.. CONKLlNG AND MR.. SNYDER.
THE PREACHER INSISTING THAT HE CORRECTLY RE-
PORTED THE EX-SENATOR.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE

by TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE
ST. LOUIS, Mo-, Feb. 23.-In response to a crlti-
cism published yesterday afternoon. the Rev. John
Snyder, whose interview with Roscoe COnkling has
caused sensation, published in The Globe Democrat
this morning the following card:
II was utterly astounded at the attack which The
Po't-Di'patch makes upon me in its issue of to-day.
What published in your paper respecting my chat
with Mr.. Conbling was what the ex- Senator of New
York, beyond question, would have proclaimed from
the hOusetOps. did not make one statement con-
cerning Mr.. Conkling's political views which has
not been the common property of tho public for
months. / was very much interested person
ally in Mr.. Conkng's strong and picturesque
manner Of presenting his views (which have very
imperfectly reprOduced), and had the, perhaps,
pardonable vanity of thinking that some of my
friends III st. Louis might share my interest in the
matter. Besides, had entertained. confess,
strong personal and political prejudice against
Mr.. Conkling and my talk with him did 50
Of much of that prejudice, and tended to reveal a
massive power about the man, the existence of
make public acknowledgment of my change of
conviction. If any of my friends shall Imagine for
one moment that | have oqtgrown my horror of
that miserable system of personal espionage
that reckless habit of personal representation
which marks the trade Of the modern interviewer
| shall be very sorry that l entrusted to yonr
columns my impressions Of q conyersation, the
spirit of which ] stroye faithfully reproduce. am
quite sure that Mr.. COnking would not take ex-
ceptiOn to q single statement | make, nor to my
publication of the impressions which those state
ments made upon one who had mono of the Gus
tomary repOrtOrial motives for incorporating his
viewsD
An evening paper communicated with the ex-
Senator this morning and received the following re-
py:, =,
never did give any such permission, is the
private conversation referred to truly reported.
'lROsCOE CONKLING.D
A Chronicle reporter caught Mr. Snyder just after
he had come ont of Pope's Theatre this afternoon.
He showed a copy of the telegram 10 tho reverend
gen leman, who looked decidedly uncomfortable.
The reporter asked, What do yOn think of itf"
"Ohi It's simply question of veTacity between
Senator Conklng and myself. am satisfied that
my report of the conversation was correct.
"What kind Of notes did y0n take during the
cOnversatiOn-short- hand, or long-handP
"Oh, took no notes at all"
"When did the conversation take placer
Last Sunday" y
"When did you write your report Of itW
"After got home here"
"Wbat would you like TO say regarding the
Senator's charge that yOu reported private con-
versaton with him without permissiOnP
"Ohl don't think anything OF that. don't see
that any harm has been done. lie talked freely to
me and said nothing TO the effect that the cOnversa
ton was not to be repeated. The report was cor
rect whatever Senator COnkling may say to the
contrary There was nothing in his conversation
which would lead me to believe that he would OBJ
ject to ITS being published"
A TRIBUNE reporter who called upon Roscoe
Conkng at his office wal-st, yesterday, TO inquire
If there was anything he cared say concerning the
lnarlcahle language attributed to him by the Rev. Dr.
Snyder Of ST. Louis was met With the polite but positive