The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-01-26
POLITICS IN PODUNK.
How a Portland Editor Inter
viewed President Harrison.
ASKED POINTED QUESTIONS.
Neither james G. Blaine Nor President
Harrison VIII BE Candidate In
1S93-How He Found IL Out.

T. C. Crawford thus writes to the New
York Tribune concerning the recent visit
of a well-known Portland editor to Wash
ington City:
This: is the time of the year when the
rural political leader arrives in Washington
City for the purpose of feeling the pulse of
the statesmen there living, to touch his
own elbows against their magnetic Joints,
SO as to receive positive impressions con-
corning the future. These are the mys-
terious gentlemen who, in the summer
season of the year, float about the country
clad in long linen busters, travel-stained
and weary, who make pilgrimage to all
places where political conventions are held.
They are the Sir Oracles of their own COM
munities. They pride themselves on always
knowing what is going on inside the party.
They sneer contemptuously at any politi-
cal declaration in the newspapers as being
wholly unauthorized, or else as being made
by some newspaper that has no correct
sources OF information. These men are
known in Washington City as the states
men from Podunk. They have the habit
of going in to the president or any high
official, and of asking them direct ques-
tions which their most intimate friends
would not dare to ask One of the favor
from Podunk is to ask an official whether
or no he is candidate for this or that
office. The visiting statesman is always
informed in a confidential whisper that he
Is not a candidate, and straightway
the visiting oracle departs to scatter
his informotion throughout the land. You
hear of him for the next four or five
months. He is nearly always interviewed
by the journalist of the opposite party,
and, based upon his positive declarations,
some interesting provincial editorials are
at times written. 1t was only a short
time ago that an Oregon Podunk states
man gave his opinions at length concern
cesses of Mr.. Blaine's mind. Mr.. Blaine
proverbially wears his heart upon his sleeve
and of course is much inclined to contide
In visiting strangers from the rural dis
tricts concerning his hopes and his fears of
the future. The Oregonian visitor asserts
upon his honor as gentleman and a
Polunkian that the Hon. James G. Blaine
presidency of the United States. Said he:
He told me this with his own lips, in
response to my direct question upon the
subject"
1t is not difficult to see the picture of
this Oregonian visitor. [ have heard of
HIM in various houses in Washington.
He penetrated to the library of the presi-
dent, and left his gripsack out in the hall.
He asked Mr.. Harrison in clarion tones
whether he would be candidate again,
and whether he could take away with him
the official announcement of when the
presidents campaign for a denomination
would be opened. The president declined
to give him the official authorization.
but. sir, said he, perhaps you do not
mean to be candidate. If you are think
ing Of Withdrawing in, favor of the honor
able James G. Blaine let me tell you that
l have it from his own lips he will not be
candidate" The president succeeded in
gently shaking his visitor off, but ! have
heard of the Oregonian ever since, and
not over ten days ago I actually saw an
editorial in Portland paper based upon
the correct information gathered by this
most distinguished visitor.
The French Presidents Wife.
London Star.
LII IL IL L. IL