Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-06-16
FIRST MEETING CLEVELAND.
His Appearancein Syracuse Looking
forthe Nomination for Governor.

From tho NeD York Sun.
MAMARoNECK, June live first met
Grover Cleveland on the night of Sep. 20,
1882. We we're conversing with friend
in the barroom of the Vanderbilt House,
in Syracuse. The city was crowded, the
weather was warm, and the air was
filed with the music Of brass bands and
the eloquence of overheated political
nartisans. 1t was the eve of a Democratic
State convention. The most notable can.
didates for Governor at the time were
Roswell z. Flower and Gen. Henry w.
Slocum. A noisy squad of Albany poll
ticians were booming Erastus Corning,
and a smaller but equally noisy set from
along the hudson river were bowling for
Homer A. Nelson. At times an intOXi-
Gated County Democrat from New York
city would cheer for Edward Cooper.
Rammany's cohorts were there, under
the leadership of John Kelly, fighting for
representation in the convention, and the
turmoil was something terrible. While
we were stewing in the brilliantly lighted
and oVercrowded barroom, and almost
deafened by the noise, tall, handsome,
and well-dressed man, with black ewes,
white teeth, and small inky moustache,
sauntered in and slapped US on the
shoulder. He was Jack Wiley, a shrewd
Buffalo politician and a successful lobby
ist. In seductive tones he greeted us and
induced US to light a fragrant cigar.
'sThere,' he said, in an otfhand way, as
he threw away the half-burned match,
'1your cigar is lighted. Now, l want you
to 20 and drink with the next Governor
of the State. He's a hummer. We've
brought him on here from Buffalo to put
him on exhibition. Come and look him
over. l tell you he's going TO be win-
uer."
.'Who is hep my friend asked.
"Grove Cleveland" Jack replied. "He's
Mayor of Buffalo, and he's one of us. Wait
till you size MIN up"
Old Sol Scheu turned up just then. He
seconded Jacks appeal so strongly and
was 80 ardent in his praise of the new
candidate that we concluded to go over
and see what they had. They talked
about 1t all the way, and reminded us of
a couple of drummers descanting OF the
merits of their wares. The streets, the
hotels, and three-quarters of the polItl-
clans were full. Scheu and Wiley pIloted
us over to the Globe, stUffy hotel near
the depot. Up two flights OF stairs We
went to the third story, where we were
usbered into a small bedroom above the
dining room 1t contained bed, an easy
chair, and a washtub filled with Ice and
whisky bottles. A stout man with a fat
neck and projecting gray eyes stood in
front0f the washtub with his hands be-
hind his back. He wore black frOck
coat, a loV-cut black waistcoat, and
black trousers. An old-fashiOned stapd-
up collar WAS held in place by black
cravat, tiedso low that you could see the
button of hi shirt. Pie sweat stood in
beads on hisbTow. His corporation was
by no means 20 Protu berant as it has since
become. 1t evident that he was await
ing the arriVa of any visitors that might
be broughtup. The door of an adjoining
apartment was wide open, and several
men with their hats on sat upon a bed
smoking.
Jack Wiley made the presentation with
easy grace. "Mr. Mayor he said, ''these
are my friends. Richard Roe and John
Doe, Of New York They're good men,
AID they've come W to look over the next
Governor"
81 Mayor Cleveland bowed, shook hands,
and smiled, ''Gemlemen," he replied,
''yOu know my friend Wiley. ''He's a
good fellow, but he's liable tObe carried
away BY enthusiasm. Pm happy to meet
you. Won't you have drinkP'
Old Sol Scheu sDod near by, tanning
his red and perspfing face with chip
hat. He,was aboU to make break for
the washtub when we asked the Mayor
whether he really Thought that he stood
any show for denomination. Old Sol
held his mouth olen to aid his ears In
trying to catch theanswer.
ssWell, don't how as much about 1t
as my friends do9 Mr.. Cleveland said.
"YOu see, Pm in ter hands," indicating
Wiley and Scheu " a motion OF his hand.
81 take their advie. They thought that
it was policy for ne to come on and let
people look at me, Ind you see am here.
Pye been here sine O'Clock this after
noon. Two OF thre car loads of friends
came along with u"
'sYes, and They're all out on the war
path" broke in Jak Wiley triumphantly.
The Mayor smild. Il believe they're
all at work." he Continued. "Wiley tells
me that things are blossoming. aud that
the prospect is veE encouraging. Gentle
men, won't you hare drinkP
Old Sol Scheu WIS again about to make
break for the wahtub, when his inten-
tiOn was diverted y another question put
to the Mayor. ''Btt if you get the nOmi-
nation tor Governor we said, 1.-THE people
will want 60 knowsomething about you.
They have never hard of you, and they
will be put 10 it to ind out who you are"
Here old Sol Scha exploded. dot vas
de reason he vas -lDing to win," he said,
in his hearty Dutc dialect; '"cause no
pody knows him, nd dose vat don't know
him likesehim. DC vas de troubles mid
YOU Ny York boidicians. Eferypody
knows lem, und demore they knows 'em
de more they dOn'tike 'em."
Old Sol stopped here to mop his face.
Mayor Cleveland bughed, and then ran
his hand iBto his coat pocket and drew
out some small pIntad circulars. my
friends are spreading my fame" he said.
"They are wide awake. These circulars
have been printed and they are going 10
distribute them oHr the State. They will
give the people fui information"
He gave us two)f the circulars. They
had beenprinted 1.-THE Office OF the Buffalo
Courier. They tod the story of Cleve-
lands parentage, birthplace, and religious
training, and wound up with a glowing
account OF his caeer IN Buffalo. The
Mayor also handed us a wood engraving
of himself, which he took from package
on the bedspread. II gave front view
of his face and but, and It was about 6
inches by 4. A vat number Of these en-
cravings and circulars we're put in circu-
lation in Syracuse Nthin the next twenty
tour hours.
After further onersation on the politi-
cal prospect, the Aayor was congratu-
lated on his fine peronal appearance.
"Hour head, sir, Tminds me strongly OF
The head OF Gen. dan Buttertield," said
one ofthe yisitprs.l
But the Mayo Is bodied more like
stephen A. DoHgla,v observed the other.
"rla1k Won forihe compliment" Mr.
Cleveland respondd, with dllatlng eyes
aud an unafiecied mile. "And now what
will YOU have 10 dIBk, gentlemenP
He al i.ffed and ant over the Waantub.