Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-07-08
nalists manuscript submitted TO him be
fore ii is published.

Il
stances he talks much and says really
very little. He is extremely sensitive to
newspaper criticism.
Coils p. Huntington always turns the
tables on the reporter il possible and in
terviews him about all sorts Of questions.
He has an appearance Of engaging frank
ness but is as willy rs Belial.
George William Curtis always writes
out his interviews. So does General
Butler.
Roscoe Conkling would get up at IL
or o'clock ut night aud talk while sit
ting in his night-shirt 10 a reporter whom
he knew in his interesting and inimitable
manner.
James q. Blaine must know the re-
porter we'll before be Will talk. and then
the writer must be very careful In bis
statements or the statesman will deny
them.
Mayor Hewitt goes of like a pack OF
fre-crackers in barrel. lie is one Of
the most impulsive OF men but generous
in his instincts and high-minded. he
talks readily to reporter unless he is q
stranger. This, indeed, is true OF most
public men. They become acquainted
with. certain newspaper-men and prefer
10 talk to them, knowing that they will
be correctly and discreetly reported.
Public men arc often not a little in
| debted to the discretion Of reporters.
A SENSIBLE MAN.
The late Algernon S. Sullivan, one of
the most courtly and agreeable Of New
York lawyers, OF the highest standing IN
his profession, once said to me
81 have often bad reporters come to
me and ask certain questions. l an
swered them if could consistently, and
il couldn't l explained to them why /
could not do SO for publication. In not
one instance was my confidence in re-
porter ever betrayed. / was once a
newspaper-man myself, and l knew that
if the facts were properly put to the re-
porter / would be properly treated"
But speaking OF Mayor Hewitt recalls
the fact that on one occasion new re-
porter visited him in his Office at the
City Hall and frankly stated that he hap
pened to know very little about the sub
ject on which he wished to interview
him.
"Well, why didn't you prepare your
self before you came here?" snapped
his Honor.
"Great heavens Mr.. Mayor" re-
torted the rather fiery newspaper-man.
"You were young once yourself, weren't
you? You once had to learn these things
yourself, didn't you?"
The answer 50 pleased the Mayor that
he climbed up his library ladder in an
immediate quest for books Of reference
and gave the young reporter all the 10
formation that he desired.
PRESIDENT CLEVELAND.
Grover Cleveland talks in a spendidly
modulated voice and slowly with just
touch OF sadness. A favorite expression
is % am trying to do what IL right, " and
he is earnest in seeking to impress this
idea on his interlocutor He will talk
readily to newspaper-men whom he finds
report HIM correctly. All the Presidents
have been very friendly to reporters whom
they knew aud have found trustworthy.
There are Of course black sheepin every
fold. There sre lawyers who disgrace
their profession, ministers who bring re-
proach on their calling, tiuanciers who
are sent to prison, merchants who are
known to be dishonest, and, similarly,
there are newspaper men whom reputable
journalists condemn. Statesmen know
the difference. and to men Of high charac
ter on the press q President OF the
United States talks with freedom that
would surprise the petty ward politician
or the pompous trader who pretends to
dislike being interviewed. President
Cleveland talks in perfectly friendly
way with the correspondents Of newspa-
pers that are unfriendly TO him, knowing
that the correspondent Is not to blame
for the editorial tone of the paper. All
public men learn to make this distinction.
The editor is the journalistic general IN
command. A soldier of his army can
not take him to task for his editorial
policy. He cannot rightfully be heldre-
sponsible for any mistake IN that policy.
GENERAL HANCOCK
once illustrated this point very striking
". The day after the Democratic ban
quet given some years ago to Samuel j.
Iilden, General Mcclellan, and General
Hancock, all unsuccessful presidential
candidates, New York paper made
some sneeling comments on the alleged
funereal aspect of the feast and the So
called gathering of mourners. 1t was
bitter jibe, all the more so because 1t
had tho sting of q certain degree of
truth The next day reporter
of the Republican paper that
published this attack went down
TO General Hancock at Governors
Island to get some information on
very important matter. The General
had sense enough not to blame the re-
porter who, perhaps, had, not had time
to even read the attack written by some
one else. He not only at great iEcon-
venience to himself gave the reporter
all the desired information, but, it being
cold, rainy day, he made him one
of the celebrated whiskey- punches
which only General Hancock knew how
to make.
THE OLD BANDANA.
Senator Thurman is an easy man to
interview. He talks readily and frankly,
seasoning his views occasionally with
vigorous explosives. He sits back in his
leather chair in his cosy library smoking
as he talks, and keeping the red ban
dana in his lap. He entertains the re-
porters sometimes with interesting remi-
niscences OF the old swallow-tail and
brass-button days in politics.
Levi p. Morton talks readily and is
very courteous in his manners. He
used to be bald, but since he came back
from Paris, where he served some years
as Minister TO France, he has worn
wig, which is considered by connoisseurs
the finest in this country. 1t took four
hundred Partisan wig-makers six months
to make it, and each hair seems TO have
been carefully selected and counted.
Governor Foraker is locomotive IN
trousers, quick, always ready, aiable TO
newspaper men, good talker, with
melodious voice.
Major Mckinley, the Lochinvar of
Ohio politics, who might have eloped
with the presidential election but was
too chiyalric to even attempt to do SO, is
very sensible in his attitude towards re-
no haan