St. Paul daily globe., 1891-03-13
WATTERsON IS SAVAGE.
He Denies Responsibility FOR In
terviews on the Hill Letter.

tervieWs on the Hill Letter.
LOUISVILLE, KY. March 12.-An As
sOciated Press representative found Mir.
Watterson confined to his house tonight
win an attack of grippe. "a
"Mr. Watterson, the New York papers
are again upon the Hill letter."
''Then," said Mr.. Watterson, 'they
must nave very little to do"
Have you anything to Say?'
'Nothing."
''Would you like to hear what they
are saying?'
II don't care anything about it." Mr..
Watters0n replied, with irritation. II
said nearly month ago all have to
say; although spoke fully and frankly
the newspapers have been making
mares nest of it ever since"
But, Mr.. WattersOn," persisted the
reporter. "have you not been inter
viewed about it?'
"Interviewed!' exclaimed the old
Journalist Savagely. What do you call
an interview? Is it a chance conversa-
ton written out at secondhand, with
out notes and from memory 10y another
man, and heralded as your own? l
have authorized nobody to speak for
me. have seen no interview, as you
call 1t, in advance, to revise it
and make it my own. Yet it is sought
to make me responsible for half a dozen
conflicting statements, tor the publica-
ton and phraseol0gy of which | am as
innocent as the man III the moon, Here
is the Evening Post of this city greed
: lily gobbllng up every line that has ap-
ptared on this subject, yet declaring
that | ought to be charged advertising
rates. and the st. Louis Republic yawp
ling about my explanations, when as a
matter OF fact | have been pursuing the
ieven tenor of my way. mindIng my own
business, seeking to get well of this in
lfernal grippe, SO that l may fill out
tseries OF rrearranged literary engage
zments, and in no way troubling myself
fabOut politics, and least of all, with
New York politics, which stink in the
jnostrilS Of good people everywhere"
\ But did you not write letter to Mr..
/ Cleveland?"
Il have written many letters to Mr..
Cleveland"
+ But did you not write a special let
ter to Mr. Cleveland and get special
anSwer?'
Whatever | have at any time written
to MIR. Cleveland is my affair, and what
ever he has written TO me at any time,
is his affair. The Hill matter got inIo
the newspapers in a garbled shape.
without my knowledge or consent. [
merely consented that the truth should
be printed. By that, and that alone, L
stand. In the meantime, L am engaged
III no conspiracy, and refuse to be put
on exhibition for purposes either of
news vending or controversy. The
hounds who are seeking so to use
me shall receive no assistance from me.
am not a criminal-not even candi-
date for Office-and have committed no
fault, unless it be a fault for man 10
exercise his right of free speech as a
citizen and Democrat in the interest
of his country and his party"
but, MIR. Watterson," insisted the
| reporter, "What shall be said to those
who are bOmbarding the telegraph of
fees for some explicit expression from
| you?'
''Tell them to go to the devil" ex-
| claimed the victim OF the grippe, as
| he took q handful of quinine; but as
| the reporter was about to retreat from
a very sick and angry man, he called
him back, saying i'll gentler tones: NO.
don't do that; they will get there soon
enough without any maledlctions or in
! structionS from me-"