The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1889-07-11
What Chauncey Depew Knows.

A dispatch from New York, dated the
2Sth ult., to the Cincinnati Commercial
Gazette, relates Chauncey Depew's obser-
walton and conversation at the White
House on a recent special visit. What
he says, is what every impartial person
believed before he said it; but as our
friends, the enemy, are manufacturing
incidents and expressions to indicate the
inharmonious relations which they al
lege exist between the President and
his cabinet, and especially with Mr..
Blaine, it is well enough to publish the
truth as Mr.. Depew states it:
Chauncey NJ. Depew returned from Washing
ton to-day. He found that vast amount of
business had accumulated during his brief alb
sence and when he had transacted it he presd-
ed at meeting of the New York Central'S Direc-
tors, listened to half hundred reports, and dis
posed of as many more callers. He received a
number of newspaper men and chatted with
them about his visit to the Capital.
II went to the White House at the request of
the President he began. Il did not go ill the
interest of any one in particular. Consequently
can say with perfect confidence that my mis-
sion eminently successful The visit was an
exceedingly enjoyable one throughout | found
out one or two things that gave me especial
pleasure. First, that the Presidents health is
much better than some of the Washington cor
respondents would have people believe. He is
stronger than he was during the campaign, and
looks better. in fact, than at any time since his
Inauguration. His appetite is excellent The
talk about his being worried and anxious is pure
fiction.
Another thing discovered was that the al
legged Cabinet dissensions are equally mythical
] doubt if an administration could be more har-
mOnious as regards this than General Harrison's
Why, these reports about Mr.. Blaine in partcu-
lar heing discounted are the sneerest nonsense l
there been the slightest disturbance of the
friendly relations existing between him and the
President Mr.. Harrison himself told me that
instead of being so assertfve and dOmineering as
had been represented, Mr.. Blaine was one of the
most cOnSiderate members of the Cabinet in the
matter of appointments"
What about that free pass story attributed tC
Mr. Blaine y
Mr. Depew laughed heartily. why, that was
one of my stories 1t stolen outright
wouldn't have minded the theft but they didn't
get 1t straight. l got it Oft at one OF the Yale
alumni association meetings. You know WI
chaff one another pretty hard there sometimes
AT one meeting member read paper attack
ing me rather savagely. In reply told him thai
as PRECEDENT of the organization was prevent
ed from answering him, as should like to, bu
instead would tell story. 1t was this: FRIEND
of mine accepted free ticket TO an amateur per
Torrance. The piece was wretched and the act
ing was something awful. The first act wa:
greeted with misses, but my friend sat silent and
undemonstrative. The second act made the all
dience fairly howl My friend, however, main
tanned his composure Finally, an excited audi
tor leaned over and asked him, Stranger, doyol
like this playY' My friend replied No Then,
yelled the other why in thunder don't You
howl with the rest of us" Wen, you see,' re
Joined my friend, L came in here on free pass
1T would not be proper for me to say anything
but If the third act is as bad as the first and sec
ond, I'll go out, buy ticket, and come back ant
just raise hell
Now that is the story the correspondent
mangled and then put into Mr.. BlaineS mouth
need hardly say that the Secretary of Stat,
never heard of it until he read of it coming from
himself He laughed heartily over it, and tn,
President fairly rOared. Mr. Harrison was il
capital spirits when | saw him He and MI
Blaine were particularly pleased that the ap
pointment OF Mr.. Phelps had given such univer
sal satisfaction. The President was glad that h
was able to reward Mr.. Phelps splendid service
SO promptly, and in a manner so agreeable t.
our new Minister to Germany"