The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-10-20
WHAT BENZ. H. FOLSOM
HAS TO SAY ABOUT HIS AP.
POINTMEET
To the Important Position of Con-
sui 10 She Hi eid-His Relationship
to the Presidents Wife.

BUFFALO, N. Y, October 19.-Benj.
II. Folsom, President Cleveland's APP
pointee as United States Consul to
Sheffield, England, was seen last night
by reporter, with whom he con-
versed freely.
"This Consulship Of Sheffield" said
he, II know little about, except that
it is considered by the government an
important place. have made the
tour of England three times, and il
my recollection serves me right, the
population is something larger than
Buffalo. According to the rules OF the
department, man has thirty days in
which to receive his Instructions.
So l expect shall 90 to England in q
month. l have a number Of i'm
portant matters TO close up. have a
law case over which l have been
working for two years, and must try
and get that out OF the way. Then
have The estates OF my father and my
uncle 10 look after. They are largely
identical, as a large amount of tbs
properly is owned jointly. The great
er part of the property is in Omaha,
Neb.
ITO get aside the questit n of any re-
lationship between the President and
myself will say this: 1 am a cousin
of the father OF the Presidents wife.
l was a cousin Of Oscar Folsom, de-
ceased / believe / have more SYM
pathy with reporters than any fellow
you eau fud, because l served two
years on a New York paper and l
know how it is. / can tell
you what you want to know
about me in a very few words. l
graduated at Rochester University in
1871. Then l went into the news.
paper business and served couple OF
years in the city department OF the
World. / next worked year as asso-
ciate editor of the Rochester Union
and Advertiser. In 1873 l began the
study of law in Buffalo with tns firm
of Bass & Bissell, which subs quenty
became BAGS, Cleveland & Bissel.
/ served two years as clerk in
their attorneys Office under John B.
Green. There were then simply
an attorney deputy and the clerk. 1
had charge of the bank papers, tbs
mortgages and that sort OF thing. |
have, since 1881, been the secretary
and treasurer of the Board of Trustees
OF the City and County Hal. l am
SO years old and unmarried, and have
lived at the Tiffa House for seven or
eight years. was member OF tbs
Buffalo Democratic League with Sem
asor Titus, and stumped this and ad-
Joining tewns in the campaign OF 1884
"The President has been a very
warm TREND of mine ever since l
came to Buffalo. My relations with
his wife never had ANYTHING to do
with my appointment. You can see
that very plainly, for he has plenty Of
his own relations to look after if he
was anxious to provide for the family.
l never expressed any preference for
this place over others. Before the
Sunday papers were established
in Buffalo, and when l was on
the Union and Advertiser, / knew
Joseph Warren very well, and
urged him to start a Sunday paper,
and he was inclined 10 start one en-
tirely separate from the daily issue Of
| the Courier. | was an enthusiast, you
know, and said to him: If you'll
start it, I'll write something right
along for the first year, anyway
When the Sunday paper was started l
wrote for year and half, and had a
screed in something or Ctheruuder the
nom de plume of 'Bencs De Quisoy.' 1
have ofen been sorry l did not go
into Sunday paper myself. IL
needed a buainess head and some
capital. l had little, ard if / knew
what l know now would have been
the pioneer. Warren said to me, Ben,
if this paper is started you must re-
member that the money comes in in
pennies and goes out in dOllare."' II
looks foolish now to look back on it,
but there was an awful prejudice
againss Sunday papers ten years
ago, and against their being sold on
the reefs. The Sunday paper now
ia the cream OF the whole week l
went to Washington Tor weeks vaca-
ton three or four weeks ago and had a
very pleasant time. had some gen.
erai tax about the matter OF this APP
pointment, but nothing was settled.
The first news l had was when re-
porter congratulated me on the street.
When in Washington l drove out to
the Presidents new house. That's
the place where he 10 going to take a
great deal OF comfort after awhile, and
he is entitled to it, for he is
working his life out in Office.
l have a favor to ask you before
| ,-o,, no - ca "A Mr. En aon in TAKING
Iesvs Of the reporter. 81 want you, in
what you say about me, 10 make your
article read Just 90 modesty as you
would if were the reporter and you
the victim. know what the papers
will say about my appointment, and l
want you to do me the favor 10 draw
it modestly. l know how an inter.
view reads in cold type, go do not
make me out badly"