The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-11-22
TILDEN AND HENDRICKS.
John f. Lamb Gives an Account of the Ia.
Meeting Between Them.
indianapolis Letter in Cincinnati Inquirer.

Inc evening following his landing At Ma.
York Mr.. Hendricks called upon Mr. Tjlaa"s
Gramercy Park. Eastern newspapers. hseass
ing aware of this fact, published Columns recs.S
ing the meeting, devoted considerable spana -
the interview between the two men, and no srS
OF matter flashed over the wires DETAILING ~
plans laid at that meeting. Mr.. Tilden w.
daily pictured in the best OF health, and long a.
counts of mis- athletic exercises and incrnasirw
strength were given to the public When =.
quested to tell Of that meeting Mr. Lamb at Ara.
hesitated, but throwing himself backward in an
easy chair, musingly replied:
"Yes, was at that meeting. and am tho opIv
person living who saw what took place or WIN
heard the conversation. There were buk wa
three-Governor Hendricks Mr.. Tilden and NV.
self They are both dead. have never smoker
of the meeting before. because Mr. Hendr;cks
requested me then not to do So 1t was durins
the early part OF May, 1884 when one morning
happening in New York city. saw in the papers
that Governor and Mrs. Hendricks had returned
from Europe the previous day. I was then
member of Congress and had run down to New
York on business As soon as read of their ar
rival determined upon calling and paying NV
respects. They weres stopping at the Fifth.
avenue Hotel and an hour or so later found ma
standing in the presence of Gov. Hendricks His
trip abroad had, l readily saw, improved him
wonderfully, and | was particularly pleased to
compliment him upon his apparent good health.
We chatted pleasantly for some time. or course
the Governor desired to learn everything in re-.
gard TO affairs political and otherwise, in our
State We spoke of politics in general, too, and
then he told me of having called upon Mr. Til
den at Greystone on the day before his depart
ure for Europe. He described Mr. Tilden hav-
ing taken him around to see his fine stock and
of having driven him over his beautiful grounds
and laid particular stress upon Mr. Tiden being
in good sound health at that time and Mr.
Hendricks said that he was led to believe Mr.
Tiden was then in the same condition soon
that Mr.. Hendricks was contemplating
again trying issues for the vicepresidency with
Mr. Tilden at the head of the ticket l sug-
gested that probably he would call upon Mr.
Tilden. and requested the privilege Of bearing
him company.
would you like to see Mr. Tildenf he
asked.
az most certainly would replied; and 80
we made an engagement to meet the next day
and call at Gramsrcy Park, where Mr. Tilden
| was then living.
'It was about IL o'clock the following morn
| ing when we were ushered into the magnificent
| library at Gramercy Park We had been met
| at the door by Mr.. Green, former Comptroller Of
New York, who extended US a most cordia! greet
| ing AS we entered the library noticed little
| old man standing in the center OF the room. He
! attracted my attention more by his presence
| there than from any other reason. | saw de-
crept old man, bent with age and shriveed by
| pains and apparent years of illness. To add 10
| this he was terribly palsied; one hand trem-
blingly huttered over his heart. while the other
as tremblingly extended by his side. There was
/ peculiar fascination in this mite of humanity
| to me- and wondered who he could be. l was
called from my wonderment by Governor
| Hendricks saying:
| ".Governor Tilden, I wish to present Mr.
Lamb, young Congressman from our State
| 1.-THE gentleman turned slowly about, and
| partly bowed to me. It was Mr.. Tilden. WE'LL"
| and here Mr. Lamb buried his hands down deep
| in his trousers pockets, II will never forgetik
| He motioued US to chairs, and in a voice scarcely
above the faintest whisper, said to Governor
| Hendricks:
"How is Mrs Hendricksr
| livery well, thank you, Governor; very WE'LL
warmly answered Governor Hendricks in his
CHEEKY manner
"tI hope she had pleasant tripF came again
| in so low tone that we both had to bend ovef
| to catch what was said.
eyes, indeed Governor Hendricks replied,
| she enjoyed the trip very much
"Mr. Tilden had dropped heavily into bis
chair, aud then had nothing more to say. There
was that vacant stare and that moving and twist
klng of the head which characterizes the person
| terribly palsed and with the futtering and
working of the hands, hope never to see again
| We sat there probably, five minutes. Not an.
| other word was spoken, and it became quite EN-.
| barrassing / then reminded Governor Hen
| bricks of another engagement and excusng
ourselves, we left Mr. Tilden attempted to rise
! as we were leaving, but fell back in his chair.
| could see that Governor hendricks was partie'
| ularly disappointed at Mr. Tlden's condition.
and we walked several squares before either
| spoke a word, when Governor Hendricks said
! g We'll, what do you think, JohnF
al am sorry that l went with you,' an
swered.
1--we must not be interviewed, though. JOhh
| We must not be interviewed, was the cool re-
/ THAT was the last meeting between Governor
Hendricks and Mr.. Tilden. A couple of months
| later Cleveland and Hendricks were named for
| President and Vice-president"
The party dropped into meditation for few
moments, which was broken by your reporter
/ asking:
! WAS there ever any ill-feeline on Governor
/ Hendricks part against Senator McDonaldr
II called upon Governor Hendricks at Wash
| ington,' replied Mr.. Lamb. 'the next day after
! President Cleveland'S Cabinet was made known.
| 1t had been expected that Senator Mcdonald
would be one of that Cabinet, and when It was
| learned that he was not there was considerable
| feeling, and Governor Hendricks was blamed.
/ This had reached his ears, and ne asked a;I ms
| about it. l told him the truth. He remained
! in brown study for few moments, and then
placing his hand on his heart. said
~ am all right here and am not 20 blame
not to blame. Why, at that meeting at Albany
when President CleYeland and consulted about
| the Cabinet Senator McDonald's name was NOS
even mentioned
"Governor Hendricks / replied, never re-
| peat that to another person. That's just what
they accuse you of doing-that you never men-
toned his name for Cabinet position
'That was the first time | ever saw Governor
| Hendricks set back. But IL was only for mo-
ment Turning to me with all his old vigor, and
with the deepest earnestness, he said:
"'It will make but little difference to the PEG.
nile of the great State of Indiana In few short
years what either Senator Mcdonald or myself
think or say. Wea old, and our race is almost
run 1t will depend upon the younger men, ana
l hope they will only do their duty"
|