Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-28
GROVER IN PRIVATE.
EX.President Cleveland's Unostenta-
tious Life in New York.
THE DEVOTION OF THE WHITNEYS.
Democracy's Leader Takes No Part in Purely
Local Politics.
HILLS FRIENDS IN THE METROPOLIS

\ land In New YORK is not ulmculG 10 Oeune'
Yet SO many absurd things are said and
written about him that a careful and accur-
ate statement of the ex-President's social
and political position here may have GER
tain amount of value. I do not claim to
have any special source of knowledge con-
cerning Mr.. Cleveland beyond continual OBJ
servation extending over many months. MY
personal acquaintance with him is slight,
but I see him frequently and am acquainted
with his professional associates.
Last Sunday 1 happened to be at church
on Fifty-seventh street when the e1-Presi-
dent entered All heads were turned toward
him and it was interesting to observe how
closely the congregation watched every
movement he made. He bowed gravely to
one or two friends, then assumed a beetle
browed expression and stared steadfastly at
the clergyman during the whole service.
After church he walked down Fifty
seventh street, with his coat hanging loosely
open and his head held slightly to one side,
listening to the animated chatter of Mrs.
| Cleveland. She was beautifully dressed
and a picture of youth, grace and loveliness.
| Occasionally men whom Mr.. Cleveland
evidently did not Immediately recognize
bowed to him with pointed politeness. He
accepted such salutations by barely raising
his hat. Occasionally when he met friends
smile illuminated his face. But he seemed
inherently sad. He is in appearance a big,
substantial citizen who displays to the casual
observer no suggestion of genius or great
| ness.
| THE LION OF THE wHITNEYS
Socially, it cannot be said that Mr.. Cleve-
land exists in New York, except when the
Whitneys call him into life. Mrs. William
| c. Whitney is at present one of the social
leaders in New York. Her superb house is
accordingly besieged almost as much as
| that of Mrs. Astor and the people of what
are known as the smart set, which means
the hunting, coaching, polo, yachting and
dancing people-are practically well in
line behind the clever wife of the ex-Secre-
tary of the Navy. Mr.. Whitney himself
has been devoting good deal of time to
social duties, and the position the Whitneys
hold in New York society is an important
and influential one.
The loyalty Of the ex-Secretarv Of the
Navy to Mr.. Cleveland is absolute. The
Whitneys have made him an honored guest
| at their dinner parties, concerts and teas,
and they have pushed Mrs. Cleveland for
ward even more successfully than they have
her husband. Occasionally some other of
the Whitney coterie has Mr. Cleveland out
to dinner, but such Instances are rare. 1t
cannot be said that the ex-President is in
any sense popular with society people,
though there is no question about the gen.
eral and cordial liking which everybody
feels for Mrs. Cleveland.
NOT IN LOCAL POLITICS.
AS far as local politics are concerned, Mr..
Cleveland is thousands OF miles away from
New York. The apparently ihsurmounta-
BILE antagonism which he managed to inspire
among the local politicians here during his
tenure of Office in Washington has been in
tensifed since he took up his residence in
this city. It is, of course, exceedingly dan
gerous for men whose ambition is directed
toward success in national politics to be
identified in any way with the schemers who
from time to time get such an iron grip upon
New York affairs.
Doubtless Mr.. Cleveland's present attitude
toward New York's rulers is the result of
choice; but there is a good deal of fate in it
also. Perhaps it is true that he wouldn't
manage things here if he could, but it is
none the less true that he couldn't if be
would. Mr.. Arthur always kept in cordial
relations with the local politicians in New
York whether be happened to be actively or
only passively engaged politically at WASH
ington. But Mr.. Cleveland is absolutely
and thoroughly out of it as far as local in
fuence is concerned. His name is never
even mentioned and his wishes are not con-
suited in the management of the party in
terests here.
DIGNIFIED AND THOUGHTFUL.
In manner Mr.. Cleveland is quiet, digni-
fed, thoughtful and trife pompous. When
he attends public dinner in New York, as
he did that of the pianomakers the other
night, it is with distinct and we'll defined
purpose. This purpose is to make speech
He arrives.ve late, takes his dinner quiet
ly and, after he has delivered his speech, he
shakes hands heartily with the Chairman
and hurries out. In every way he shows,
even to the most casual observer that he
takes life seriously, though this does not
mean that he denies himself any of the
pleasures of prosperous existence in New
York. He attends the opera and the thea
tiers regularly, and his invariable compan-
ion is Mrs. Cleveland.
The men of the Cleveland administration
who are in New York at the present time
are constantly appearing in the small talk
of the day. They are all moving about. I,
Ambition may be seething in their souls, but |
they manage to pluck certain amount of
enjoyment from life as the days roll 5y. |
Some OF them may allow their thoughts to |
dwell upon the Presidential chair, but they |
are exceedingly shy about having it known.
1t is said that the knowing ones are the only |
men who are utterly ignorant about politics. |!
1 do not know whether that is the case or |
not, but it is fact that Mr.. Whitney is very
often spoken OF by more or less renowned |
students of affairs as dark horse of great |
promise.
wHITNEY'S OCCUPATION.
His large wealth, wide popularity and |
thorough mastery of himself have given |
politicians great confidence in him. but his
candidacy is only possible if Cleveland is |
out of the way. Meanwhile Mr.. Whitney |
whiles away the hours by attending the |
opera. putting railroad deals through, dab
bling in banks and attending to the man
agement of two colossal fortunes. It is now
generally understood that he has practically
the direction of Colonel Oliver Payne's mil
lions besides his own. He looks broad
shouldered and handsome athlete, and |
though he processes not to care at all for
local politics, he manages to have things
pretty much his own way when he cares to
take the trouble.
Perhaps the most interesting figure of the
Cleveland administration is the ex-Presi-
dents former private secretary. The mys-
terry of Lamont is profound. He is efacing
himself thoroughly and pushing the inter-
ests of his friends. These friends are three
of the richest men in New York. Lamont has
impressive offices in the Mills building, and
the sole desire of his life seems to be to sink
into apparent oblivion. He is forever try
ing to get out Of sight. When he enters
cab he pulls down the shade, and his
iavorite seat on an elevated train is at the
tail end of the last car with his back to his
fellow-passengers.
A VERY HARD WORKER.