The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-02-06
Telling Slanderous Stories on Public Men for
the Sake of Creating the Impression
that lie Is an Efficient officer.
Why the Appropriation Bills Are Held
Back by the House Committees.
An Ugly Case Made Out Against theyenezuelan
Minister in Connection with the Awards
of the International Commission.
sURvEYoR-GENERAL DEMENT,.
An Awful Illustration of the Man who Tall


Without Facts to Back Him.
Special to the indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, Feb. 5.-Surveyor- general De-
ment, of Utah. has just given an example of how
the modern politician worms out of an interview
which was unwlsely given. Dement, came here
on some kind of business, and, like many YER
dant officers, thought it was necessary to report
large finds of fraud and much progress in his
work; so he opened his mouth and wagged his
tongue, bent on giving himself good sendoff.
In his narratives-which have proven to be
nothing more nor less than unfouuded romances
he inculpated some men in Congress. He
shook hands with himself and chuckled over the
futter his talks with the correspondents created;
but when it dawned upon his becouded vision
that he had slandered some who were to
have much to do with the consideration Of his
nomination. pending in the Senate, and that he
had cast boomerang his blood ran cold with
horror. He could see but one way out of the di
lemma and that was to repudiate the interviews.
In his attempts to do that he has sunk deeper
into the mire.
Washington is the home of the interviewer
and the paradise OF those who seek notoriety.
There ia more interviewing here than in dozen
of cities of equal size throughout the country.
The news field in this respect is most perfectly
covered. There are scores of old, well-traned
correspondents here, and the forte of many of
them is interviewing, and their productions, for
accurateness, are about as near perfection as can
be in the present day. But the average reader
would be astonished if he knew the number of
denials that are made of absolutely correct in
hv 1tah rnnY r. hoe 1opO ciuoa
been the custom of public men, when they are
interviewed and their utterances are not we'll
received, to deny them.
Recently an illustration of this within
the experience of your correspondent / had
written number OF interviews with public men,
which created some attention and a good deal of
comment adverse to the men interviewed. One
interview was with Southerner in regard to the
election outrages. He was quoted correctly; but
he found he had put the facts little too full as
to detail in order to escape abuse After receiv-
ing the fusillade from the newspapers in his
State for few days, he came to my office and
said he couldn't stand it; something must be
done to relieve him from the difficulty. Instantly
saw what the man wanted. He desired to know
whetherI would prove the truth of the interview,
liz i
denied utterances attributed to him.
"Why don't you deny the interview" / in
quired, to test the mans intentions.
Il was thinking" said he, that probably
could best get out of it by denying it. But
said every word of the interview. Would you
care if I denied it2"
No; it made no difference to me-that is if l
didn't see the denial, in which event l should
have to confront him with embarrassing proof
The man left the office, and Learned afterward
wrotea card to the newspapers of his State de-
nying that there was q jot OF truth in the state
ments attributed to him. AS did not see the
card could not reply to it. In an experience
of less than half dozen years in Washington
have had no less than twenty men, ranking with
congressman and above, ask permission to deny
their interviews and at the same time assuring
me that the quotations were correct