The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-03

| to truth or honor, or not having the mora
courage to right falsehood, the World he's
permitted It's batch OF lies to 90 uncor.
rected."
| Thus Indirectly and irreeponsibly, and with.
out committing Mr.. CLKvBbAND to any
authoritative reputation Of the language
attributed TO him, the Syndicate to Promote
the Stuffed Prophet started the lie OF denial
| on its travels. Meanwhile, they were
actively engaged in the endeavor TO per-
suade the World to sacrifice, disgrace, and
ruin its reporter.
1t happens that in this case the witness rs
to what Mr. CLEVELAND said is not the
characterless World newspaper in the abb
stract, as 1t IL known to the public, TN
scrupulous, treacherous, venal, ready TO mis-
represent the truth or to accept cRstigation
for Misrepresentation with equalimpudence.
but an individual journalist whose word 10
as good az that Of any citizen OF this town.
THE Sun satisfied itself at the start that Mr..
FRED CRAWFORD, the reporter who received
MIR. CnEvEBAND's remarks at his ofloe In
William street, and wrote the interview as
published was O truthful and responsible
man. There has come to us unsolicited and
disintereeted testimony concerning his per-
sonal trustworthinees, his self-respect,
and his sensltiveness to the require
ments OF honor. Much to the Same
effect has been published In other
quarters by those who know him we'll
Within the large circle OF his personal 40
quaintance there is nobody, we believe, how
ever friendly TO Mr.. CLEVELAND, who heei-
tates to accept Mr.. CRAwFoRD's testimony
about what occurred In william street as the
exnot truth. It is proper to add that his
behavior under trying circumstances since
the beginning Of the cruel conspiracy to de-
fame and ruin him for Mr.. CnEvHnAND's
benefit has been such as 10 confirm his title
to confidence and respect.
Our understanding as to what happened
in the World office Is as follows: RESPONSE
bllity for the management OF the New York
World is divided among several OF Mr..
PULITzER's subordinates, and In that es-
adjustment the limits of authority are
not very well defined. When Col. LAMONT
visited the World office to obtain, II
possible, q retraction OF the inter-
view. he encountered this divided and
ill-deflned responsibility The city editor,
the managing editor, the publisher. and Mr..
PULITzER's brother-in-lRw and personal rep
resentative, alike declined to print the de-
sired reputation OF the interview, or any
statement tending to discredit Its accuracy,
unless such statement was accompanied by
Mr.. CRAwFoRD's revised and extended re-
port OF what Mr.. CLEVELAND had actually
said, including some expressions omitted
from the original version, as being
too profane and indecent even for the
Worlds type. All Of these persons had full
confidence in the truth Of Mr. CRAwFoRD's
report; and their indisposition to sacrifice
the reporter for the sake Of the politician
was apparently shared by Mr.. JOHN A.
CooKER1LI, whom the World, in men-
tioning the fact OF his indictment for Grim
inal libel by the Grand Jury. has recently
as its associate editor" Friday
and Saturday passed with the Joint authori-
ties In the World Office united in their deter
not to sacrifice an honest servant
Of the newspaper. On Saturday evening Mr..
CooKERI1h was notified by Col. LAMONT
that Mr. CLEVELAND desired to see
him at his house up town. Mr.. |
CocKERILL accordingly had an interview |
with Mr.. CLEVELAND; and late on Saturday |
night, probably ut the latter's house and |
under his supervising and approving eye, |
the former wrote and sent down town !
the qualified retraction Of the interview |
which appeared in the World OF Sunday |
without the previous knowledge |
Or consent Of Mr.. CoCKRRmL's associates In
The management OF the newspaper. and to |
their establishment. Indignation, and disgust.
Mr.. CRAWFORD promptly sent in his resig-
nation, which his superiors In the office en-
phatically refused to accept, believing. after
as before the appearance OF the qualified re-
traction, that the reporter had written moth
ng but the truth. Mr.. CRAWFORD, however,
persisted in his determination TO leave the
service OF the World, and he is no longer
with that journal. We are in
ormed that In justice to himself. and upon
he advice OF his friends he will soon make
/ personal statement to the public OF all the
attending the now celebrated
Interview in William street.
The pretended retraction printed In the
World seventy-two hours after the appear
Lnce OF the interview, therefore. was made up
IN the individual responsibility OF one Of Mr..
oULITZER's subordinRtes. against the iudg-
nent OF his associates, and under the press
ire OF personal influence and solicitation |
" Mr.. CLEVELAND and some OF his friends.
People outside Of the World ONCE would
AVE no concern with its intestinal opera
ions and disturbances had not this humbug
played an important part In the
conspiracy TO persuade the public that the
World newspaper edItOFially repudlates the
interview and denounces It's own reporter
o . liar and q fraud
What Mr. CocKEBILL said In the editorial
oiumRs Of the World was this:
After Thorough iBVsSIlsaaoh vs are Sasshsa that
u NJ CLEyTLAEB said yVy publication 81 = personal |
hafArtsF contained 10 tbs hnsI fOBTtssh tBsS Of
10 FsnArS AtlTbuiad 60 him aud IhAI hs eie net
10 coarse and iBtsmpsTSts psrsOhaI expressions &c
Isdiise 70 HIN 10 subssgBsBl pOTIiSB q che ihtsT
lsS."
There He two statements here. The first
deprived Of force by the qualifying clause
'hIeh Ne have put Ia itAliss; tlls sseoBd 10
' shaped that II ran b. construed In either
I tNO ways ~ what Il meant h that Mr.
IKyELAsD did moi use The e0Arbs and IN
,snpsTsts IssfponAI sEDfhasioDs SitStDUt@d
, Adam In s,sa,liasffa that A "a faN thai ha