The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-11-28
characteristics of the Venerable Chief
of the Civil-Service Commission.
Recollections of the Panic Among Nashville
Rebels After the Fall of DonelsOn-Rem-
iniscence Of Fighting Phil Kearney.
THE INTERVIEW.
An Experienced Writer Tells why 1t Is Fall
ing Into Innocuous Desuetude.

ing Into InDocuOus Desuetudes
| Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 27-Newspaper inter
viewing has been on the rapid decline in Wash
ington for more than fifteen months. So dis
tasteful has it become that in point Of fact it is
an almost obsolete feature in journalism
here. The abandonment of interviewing was
| due to the fact that correspondents and repre-
sentatives Of the local press have no security
against repudiation of their own statements and
| those accredited to others. It has grown popu-
lar with public men to deny all statements cred
tied to them which elicit criticism or tend in any
way to do their !politcal or other interests in
jury. There is not in the national capita cor
respondent, who has done much interviewing,
who has not had sad experiences of reputation
of actual utterances by those quoted. And the
most lamentable feature Of the fact is that the
managing editors and the public too often be-
lieve the professional repudiators.
Three years ago I had long talk with
Southwestern member of Congress in reference
to the restriction of Chinese and other immigra-
ton. He voted for the present law and was en-
thusiastic in favor of further restriction. He
would not permit the Mongolian to come upon
our shores for any purpose. He went further:
I'VE must turn this restriction In other direc
tions than the Chinese" said he, "for there are
other people equally as Objectionable coming
here every day. We must stop the immigration
of all paupers And furthermore, we will. We
will prevent the paupers from Russia, Italy.
Norway and all other countries from coming
here. Especially the Jewish paupers from north
Russia must be stopped"
These declarations were repeated and reiter-
ated in various phraseoloey and form of
Language. / made an interview of it, and said
that the Congressman predicted restriction of
pauper immigration from the countries named
and that he would vote for it on the same ground
that he supported restriction of Chinese immi-
grafton. Nothing was said against the truthful
ness OF the interview when copy of the paper
reached the Congressman. A fortnight after
ward, however, he rushed into my office, his
eyes protruding and his face aglow with excite.
ment. s
my young friend, said he, ''vou have ruined
me. See the trouble this interview is making
me-" holding up a newspaper published in mis-
district. declaring that the foreign-born voters
should oppose him because he would restrict the
coming of their friends In their native land
''That will defeat me, sure. he continued in ex-
| element unless it is denied. You know the
conversation is correctly reported; but it was
private talk. did not mean to have it pub
lished. What can you do to help me out of it!'
Instantly l saw what was wanted and l an
ticipated the patent request about to be made
by saying:
"Oh. just lie out of it. Say you never talked
to me on the subject. Repudiate the whole
thing"
The eyes of the statesmen were lightened, as
he inquired:
"You will not care if do2"
NO." replied l.
"But what will you tell your papers IL they in
quire of you"
THAT l told the truth in the interview
"Wel will risk it," said the agitated legisla-
tor, and he disappeared.
simultaneously in all of the rural publica-
tions in that district appeared card in dupli-
cate, denying that there was any truth in the in
terview; declaring that he never spoke to the in
terviewer on the subject, and that the sentiment
credited to him never entered his mind. The
comment in the editorial columns was to the
effect that the lie was manufactured by the cor
respondent to injure the Congressman. 1t
would have been waste of words to have at
tempted to maintain the correctness of the in
terview. The statesman was personally known
to those people, and they would have believed
him in spite of fate
Recently was talking with prominent poll
tician of the West about the cause and effect of
the surprises in the elections He dilated with
great vigor and made numerous assertions re-
conversation was deemed worthy of publication
and 80 it appeared, a la interview. It proved
to be an interesting subject, and attracted wide
spread comment One of the interested parties
asked for the name of the person who made the
utterance. as it did not appear in the interview
When on the point of supplying the desired in
formation, presuming that one who would make
such statement with the flourish it was made
in would not care who knew from whom it came,
it occurred to me that it would be better to COM
municate with my informant. To my amaze
ment he begged that his name be kept sacredly
secret. He did not wish to be annoyed about it.
he said. Then he began to pick flaws in the in.
terview and seek pretexts on alleged misouota-
tions for denying the statements in general, at
the same time acknowledging their truth spe-
cifcally.
Then my informant fell back on the "conf |
Dental conversation" plea forgetting or dsre
garding the notorious fact that what is said |
openly in newspaper Offices is considered public |
property unless secrecy is enjoined with the ut |
terance. My informant evineod such trepida- |
tion and fear over the idea that he was about to |
be credited with the assertion he made that it |
became apparent that he would readily repudi- |
ate all be had really said IL called to account and
rather than leave even the slightest ground for :