The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-03-14
BENJAMIN F. BUTLER.
HE is a GOOD MAN TO INTERVIEW,
SAYS THIS WRITER.
He Knows just What the Journalist
Wants of Him, and Is Ready to Give
1t, but BE Insists, for Accuracy's Sake,
on Shorthand Reporting.

| Wants of Him, and Is Ready to Civ
/ 1t, but BE Insists, for Accuracy's Sake
| on Shorthand Reporting.
| Especial Correspondence
| BOSTON, March Il would rather inter
view Gen. Benjamin T. Butler than an,
| public man have ever met. This because h'
| understands so thoroughly what is wanted
| Of him by newspaper man. He has hac
| vast experience in that line; so have
| other public men; but Gen. Butler, unlik,
most of the people worth interviewing g
| has learned something by contact with
| journalists. He knows exactly how to ia
cilitate your work. Like all great men
however, Gen. Butler has certain prefer
ences, and one Of these is to have short
hand writer take down his utterances
This is not at all strange, when you con
slider the stormy experiences which he has
had in his interesting career. He naturally
feels that if he is to be put on record he
wants it to be in the words used by him
self, and not in the words some other man
however bright or conscientious, may sup
ply him.
"Can you write shorthand?" is apt to be
one of his first questions to a stranger who
ative you are fortunate, for the general
rarely refuses to freely give his views on
any and all subjects to anybody who seeks
them. One of Gen. Buffers peculiarities
is that it seems immaterial whether he
likes your paper or not He is uniformly
courteous to newspaper men, though be
has been known to use strong expressions
when referring TO certain journals.
But if you fail to write shorthand or to
bring stenographer along the chances
are that the general will have practically
mo use' for you. I have known him to
say many times to would-be interviewers,
go and bring a shorthand writer with
you, and III give my views on that subject
If you want me to-"
This, to be sure, is not an infieXible rule
of his. 1t is rather a preference, not a
whim. He feels, no doubt, that if be is to
be interviewed at all he wishes the matter
published to be exactly in his own words,
and not in the fowery language of the
brilliant and imaginative visitor who, de-
string to be complimentary to the inter
viewee, may, in grandly descriptive periods,
possibly forget or miss entirely the points
OF the lnterviewee, even though he does
not absolutely misrepresent.
But if you call at the generals beautiful
Offices in Ashburton place, in Boston, dur
ing the busy hours of the day you will prob
ably ind him in, if not away in New York,
Washington or some other great center at
tending to his extensive law business. Re-
member, however, that he is busy man,
and do not seek to talk with him unless on
something Of Importance. If not too busy
to receive you he will greet you with that
pleasant and sunny humor of his in his
large private office, where, seated at his
large, fat desk. amid his law books and
his choice assortment of standard poets, he
the greatest law business Of any
lawyer in the United States
Then he will most likely help you out.
though possibly at the expense of the time
and labor Of his efficient secretary, Col.
Thomas j. Major. Col Major is perhaps
the ablest private secretary in the country,
and it has been my good fortune to meet
many Of the great nen and their private
in years gone by. Col. Major
S himself quite well enough versed in the
of the generals mind and nature
20 write out any or all letters, interviews,
speeches or arguments that the general
viii be likely to make during the rest of
1is life. Indeed, his friends suspect that
n many of these cases such things have
)een done by him. | have heard it said
hat at least three-fourths of the genuine
of ''B. +. Butler" that have
been scattered throughout the length and !
breadth of the land in the last ten years
lave been the product and manufacture
lot of the doughty general himself, but of
lis tidus Achates, Col. Major. There is no !
deception about the matter; it is simply
necessary expedient which has been adopt
d, presumably with the knowledge and /
onsent of all interested parties, except the |
innocent receiver of the autographs.
But to return to the interview That is |
that Gen. Butler will not know |
ngly trust anybody to do for him. If he |
ives you an interview at all you must take |
from his own lips just as he gives it,
uesti0ns, answers, descriptions and all |
hat. For Gen. Butler has in his long pub
&c and private career Gf he ever had any
rivate career, for everything about him
as been of so conspicuous a nature that he |
as seemed almost never to have had any
rivate life) has grown to be in many
espects splendid newspaper man himself
lot only in the way Of Interviewing him
elf is he Grst rate newspaper man, but
e has the sense TO not be offended if his
stuff" is not printed. While he is one Of
he very few public men who are really |
7orth interviewing, he also possesses the
ood sense and good nature to know that
he printing of matter turned in by report
r or correspondent is entirely in ether
ands. Most Butler interviews, however,
CO." for they say something.
Il like reporters" is one of his favorite
IMPRESSIONS, both in private, and public.
The reporters have always been my
'iends," he says; and this is pretty nearly
rae, for somehow or other he has made
'iends Of nearly every newspaper man
-ho ever Travelled about with him or was
! any way thrown much in his company.
1t Is the editors that misrepresept and lie
bout me; but / suppose they have to, be-
ause the politicians that are afraid of me
ct them to do So"
l have known Gen. Butler to spend an
our in the best of humor debating to his
ecretary an important interview for re-
orter, who sat reading book from the
ell filed library, when the general might
ave been earning goodIy fees attending to
le business Of some wealthy client who
as waiting to consult him. Perhaps but
Ac" AHes "ouIu appear ia Tue press next
ay. But when Gen. Butler met that re-
nrter next he would be just as pleasant,
taking slight, If any reference &c the blue
eucil" ana the waste basket"
The only time / ever knew Gen. Butler
} refuse an interview in any brusque or
Gscourteous way was while
overnor, or, as he used to delight 70 style
lmseh quoting from the state constitu-
on the words, "cnief executive magis-
ate OF the commonwealth OF Massacau-