The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-04-21
THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE.
A Local Newspaper Mans Views Of
President Cleveland How he
Looks and Talks.

Mr. d. F. Tilinghast, the Davenport
Democrats able and experienced managing
editor, who has been at the national capt.
toll for week. had personal interview
with President Cleveland the other day.
and he thus describes his visit;
The cabinet room was open and empty.
Mr.. Lamont was alone in the private sec
retary's room, but an attendant at his in
stance conducted the pilgrim across the
hall to the library where he was shown a
seat. The point was a happy one for
observation and reflection. There were
ten or twelve persons IN the room in the
middle of which stood the president
lending an attentive ear TO the statement
of an Iowa gentleman against whose ap-
pointment as postmaster protest had
been filed. The president is splendid
listener and he asked for information
bearing on the matter but when three or
| four minutes had elapsed he seemed to
have mentally considered the case, and
showed signs of anxiety to hear the plea
of the next applicant in waiting. The
Others approached him, relieved their
minds, and passed out. He changed his
position. often moving from one side of
the room to another to meet his callers,
all the while standing.
During this twenty or thirty minutes
the pilgrim WAS taking an inventory
The two windows on the south were
open; the sunlight was pouring in and
identifying the scene. To the left, less
than half mile away, stood that naked
shaft of marble and granite, the ioftiest
construction of human hands, 592 feet
high, the Washington ohelisk. To the
right were the spacious grounds and con
servatories, while on The wide distant
stretch between lay the smooth waters of
the Potomac plowed by many steam :
boat. Within the room art had found
expression in tasteful decoration. Ga
the walls were the portraits of the early
presidents, Adams, jefferson, Madison,
Monroe, Harrison, Taylor, johnson, and
the head of Washington in plaster The
library cases We're crowded with books
The presidents desk stood between the
windows of the half circle colonnade, and
there were chairs on either side of it.
The room now being cleared of visitors,
the Democrat pilgrim approached the
president, presenting card, with The as
sursnce that he represented no interest
cared for no official gift, bat simply
called to pay his respects.
After an hours interview with iht
president upon Iowa politics, in whicl
the chief executive appeared to take {
seemed to be interviewed rather than al
interviewer. the newspaper man with
drew, and gives his views of President
Cleveland as T ollows:
The president was surprise. la per.
sonal appearance and in manner he is bet
ter than he has been pictured He is
man of business rather than of policy o.
of chivalry, and he goes to the core o
the subject in hand as directly as skill
full physician or a bank cashier. HI
, knows the value of time, and whether in
tentionally or not, he impresses it upor
his caller. He has the tact of gathering
information from those who come in con
tact with him and putting it away in hi
mental storehouse, where it is ready wher
wanted. He appears to he receptive
rather than diffrsivc, but one who hav
ing gathered ali the testimony, weighs il
carefully and decides promptly, II he ha'
been in public life longer and his natur
were less generous he might be more dip
lomatic. But as his business is to exc
cute rather than to mould public opinion
7 or to legislate he attends to it in a sim
Pile, practical way. rather than by goin,
roundabout and finally arriving at thu
same destination. He is not abrupt. sus
, picious or repulsive in any respect, anl
has an easy grace which tends to max,
one feel at hon e in his pres
ence. He dispatches business rapid
and yet he does not seem to tur
one away, though he knows better whe
he is through with any particular ind
vidual than that person does. Social
he is clever and unreserved, yet the Wis
itor always feels that he is in :he presenc
of strong character and of one VIII
! reads men closely and correctly. His ey
is penetrating and clear and his physiqu
robust The lines of his face are eviden,
IL little more clearly marked than the
were year ago and they show that he
= acquainted with serious thought.
Politicians of all kinds have passe
their opinions One says the presider
is obstinate and another that he is nc
n a rock rooted democrat; third will te
S you that he has made mistakes in b
e appointments. Others will declare tbs
, he is acting upon his own theory, an
t that he will not listen TO advice whe
: given by the leading men OF his ow
: party. All this is to be expected, and a
/ of it is more or less removed from tn
truth. In this land of free speech every
, body is fond of attestlng his citizenshi
) and there is no easier way to do it tina
= by abusing the president or misjudg;n
b him. The large majority of those mem
S bers OF congress who say hard things {
: the president do so because they nav
Y been unable to manage him They vie'
S the country and administration from I'll
: insignificant mole-hill Of prominent
h which they occupy, and avow that be
!, cause their end is not served the nation
/. going to destruction. With them part
n is everything and principle nothin.
# another term or another office is I'll
1t mountain in their eye,
" There is no doubt but President Clev
= land is thoroughly honest and SINGER
II and that his highest motive is 10 ser,
d the country consistently, and with an al
h single to the good of all. That he
a courageous enough with the influenc'
70 which surround him TO act independent
k is his greatest glory. That he remov
d public is only for cause, and r.
fuses to appoint for purely partiss
he purposes, is sufficient reason why
in should have the support of the masse
He has no policy to interpose against u
Is will Of the people, but he has way
r dispensing public patronage witho
u, much reference TO the clamorous cries
l. the Doli ticiane for the srood of q he saryi