The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-30


tears-and the lady triumphed.
In the gubernatorial campaign of 1868 Mr..
Hendricks, the Democratic candidate. and Col.
Conrad Baker, the Republican candidate. met
each other at number of places over the State
In joint debate. Colonel Baker, who as Cover
nor acquired the nickname of .'Old Honesty"
was at great disadvantage in contest of this
kind, for, though good lawyer he was not an
orator, and had none of the readiness and ease
of his antagonist newspaper friend, one of
the -four or five reporters who followed the two
debaters in their canvas, told me that Mr. Hen
bricks was specially agreeable to the press folks,
and without regard to their politics or
the papers they represented, treated
all with equal politeness. Illustrating
his thoughtfulness and courtesy: When
the local committees of Democrats and of Re-
pubiicans at these speech making places came
np, each to get their orator to take him to a
place where he would have food and lodging.
when Colonel Baker was asked if he had any body
with him, he would respond that he was alone.
and off he would go with the Republican squad.
When the question was asked of Mr III endricks,
he would answer with wave of the hand COM
pretending the reporters, "Ail these gentle
men,
During the past ten years I have interviewed
Mr.. Hendricks many times. Never but once did
he In the least show anger or lack of that
courtesy which was so characteristic of the man.
1t was then but a brief passing cloud, which.
when it rolled away left him as bright, genial
and courteous as re had ever been. 1t was in
1880, and the news had just been received that
General Hancock had been nominated for
the presidency | Immediately ran down to
Mr. Hendricks's law offic in the Bank Building
RI vnfo 11E~ E. L
ing the man who had been chosen. Mr.. Hem
drlcks WAS much agitated, and his face flushed
with anger. In manner that in him was rude
and tempestuous, because so foreign to his calm
demeanor, he exclaimed: ''You ce- .ainly do
not want to interview me, sir; you cannot want
any expression from me on this OCCASION He
walked up and down the room three or
four times. and then, relaxing into gracious
ness asked the reporter what in the
world he expected in the way of
an interview Then appeciating the fact, per-
haps, that his agitation at the reception of the
news might be made to appear ridiculous in an
opposition paper, he stopped short and waited
the onset of the interviewer. Informing Mr..
Hendricks that intended to make note only Of
what he said and that would write at his dicta-
ton only what he did say and without comment,
he was again quite benignant. But the eight or
ten lines of dictation was neither congerial nor
an e,.sy task, even for his ready mind, and the
smooth approbative nothings had to be written
and rewritten nearly half dozen times before
they passed muster and were hurried away to be
marshaled in cold types.
There was no dwelling of Indiana public
man so easy of ingress to reporter as the plain,
house of Governor Hendricks 1t
lost none of it's old-fashioned comfort and COR
diality when the owner became Vice-president
l think have, upon various visits, been in
nearly every room in it, except the kitchen, and
have interviewed Mr.. Hendricks all over the
house. He ever the same, whether above
stairs or below, whether in parlor, library or
bed room. Mrs Hendricks's presence during
these interviews-and she was nearly always
present-made no difference to the interviewer,
she seemed so naturally part of the affair. She
frequently facilitated the reporters work, as
pleasant and apt word here and there helped the
reporter on with his questions, or amplifed what
might have been more terse reply on the part
of Mr. Hendricks.
Sometime after Mr.. Hendricks Inauguration
as Vice president the Democratic Veteran Sol
diers' Association calledon evening at his resi-
dence to pay their respects. was there a
reporter to get Mr.. Hendricks's remarks. The
veterans had fled in and to the number of sew
entv or more arranged themselves about the
parors. The reporter standing in the hall
when he felt an arm slipped under his and heard
the voice of the Vice-president say, Had we
not better go in now?' and in we went and
passed along the line of veterans. Mr.. Hen
bricks did this little act so gracefully and natur
ally that thought it quite matter of course
and it was not until had left the house and the
that the reflection came that such thing may be
somewhat unusual even in this broad and glo-
rious land of equality.
Mr.. Hendricks was on the programme at the
recent banquet of the National Mexican Veter-
ans Association, held at the Grand Hotel, for
response to toast. In the evening, before the
banquet came off, went to Mr.. Hendrickss res
idence to get the speech for the Journal and
that it might bo sent out over the country by the
Associated Press Mr. Hendricks dictated his
speech and had scarcely finished writing when
Judge John Holman came in. Mr.. Hendricks
said he had just been getting up
speech and asked me to read it
that the audience present might see if they could
bricks. Judge Holman, Hughes East and the
porter then sat in judgment upon the Speech
each suggesting something here or there much
to the amusement of the author. 1t had in it
a ripple of merriment. but which Mr.. Hendricks
thought, as did Judge Holman, had better be
stricken out Mrs. Hendricks, however,
thought s;a 49,, it pleasst phrase, in in
words were allowed to stand. That evening Mr..
Hendricks was particularly bright and gracious.
and the reporter remembers, as the Vicep presi-
dent, Judge Holman. Hughes East and himself
left the house, that Mr.. Hendricks was solicitous
of the welfare of the others as we walked in the
dark along the, to him familiar but to US strange
and broken, sidewalk of Tennessee street to
Washington street CHARLES DENNIS.
Recollections of Congressman Holman. J
Washington Special.
This afternoon Congressman Holman, for
over thirty FIVE years his friend and associate,
talked to me about Mr. Hendricks's home life
and personal characteristics and likings.
II first remember Mr.. Hendricks" said he,
"at the constitutional convention of 1850 when
the present Indiana State Constitution was
formed. Three of US roomed together in big.
old fashioned room, with bed in each of
three corners and a washstand in the other. The
table was right in the center of the room and
there we used to sit, Hendricks always the last
one to get through talking law points, and study
ing law and constitutional history. His wife and
little boy used to come down from Shebyvlie to
see him, and the last time he was here, about