St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-03-16
The Distinguished Kentucky
Editor Says Little About
the Hill Letter.
He Asserts That He Desires to
Wash His Hands of the
Whole Matter.
It Is Evident That It Was
First Sent to Ex-President
Cleveland,
Then Carelessly Consigned
to the Courier-Journal
Waste Basket.
Srenial To the Globe

Srecial to the Globe.
KOKoMo, Ind. March 15.-The Dis
patch of last evening printed an inter-
view with Henry Watterson, had at the
conclusion of that gentleman's lecture.
in which he evades answering two very
pointed questions concerning the mueh-
discussed WattersOn-IIil letter, and de-
clares his purpose to wash his hands
of the whole affair." and to refuse to
discuss the matter in the future. Tho
two questions were those raised by a re-
cent telegram from Keokuk. To-, printed
in the New York World. did Mr..
Watterson. having written the letter,
ever mail it to Gov. Hill? Did he first
submit it to ex-President Clevelahd?''
Mr.. Watterson is reported as saying: /
''To add anything to what | have said
will be but protitless reiteratiOn. The
letter was written as | conceived in the
best interests of the Democratic party
and after mature consideration. More
than this do not care to say, nor have
| amy care to know what Interpretation
has been put upon it by others"
But, colonel" insisted the reporter,
''here Is telegram from Keokuk, To-. :
in which some new questions in the
controversy are considered"
Mr.. WatterSOn was shown telegram
printed III the New York " orld under
date of March IL. i'll which it was set
forth that he had, early in January, in
conversation with certain prominent
Democrats of keOkuk, said that he had
written letter to Gov. Hill, which by
the description of its language and
import corrpsponded exactly with the
one which appeared soon after that time
III the Eastern press, and which Gov.
Hill denies ever having received. Ac-
c0rding to the keOkuk correspondent of
the World, Mr.. WalteTSon further said
that, ait,r writing the letter. doubts
arose in his mind as t0whether it would
must help or hurt matters, and. not
not being able to satisfy himself on that
point. lie lnailed the letter TO Mr.. Cleve-
land. and asked his advice in the mat
ter. Mr.. Cleveland kept the letter two
weeks, and then returned it with the re-
mark that he doubted the adVisabIiity
of sending it. Mr.. Watterson there
upon threw it in the waste basket, from
which he no doubt supposed it would
never be reSurrected. How the letter
finally got Tito print he probably does
not know, but that it was either fishel
out of the waste basket receptacle Of
the C0urer-JOurnal Office or that a copy
Of it was Surreptitiously made while it
WAS Ill MT. CieNeldnu'S is pOSSeSSlOll, Lnef6
can he no doubt. 1t will be remembered
that in his reply to Gov. Hill's denial of
the receipt of the letter Mr.. Watterson
nowhere says he sent it. He declares
that he wrote it, and beyond that his
denial was evasive.
I'm fact. the matter was telegraphed
to he from the World Office said Mr..
WattPrson, "but appeared in that paper.
You know how such things come about.
In all likelihood, this telegram had it's
origin in New York, rather than in
Keokuk. and at no great distance from
the office of the New York World"
But, colonel, is it true that the letter
never was mailed to Gov. Hill? Is it
true that it was first submitted to Mr..
Cievtland?" .
Il must insist upon adhering strictly
to my resolution, and refuse to discuss
the matter further. | positively wash
nv hands OF the whole affair. | have
said all | care to say-al that consid-
er necessary or proper to say" MIR.
Watterson'S manner was positive,
though he showed no irritation, and it
was evident that, so far as he Is con-
rerned. one Of the political sensations
OF the hour will be buried at the earliest
possible moment.