The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-03-15
wATTsRs5Ns COMPLIMENTS.
Tie Kentucky Editor Swears at 81
Critics and Interviewers

TIE Kentucky Editor Swears at Sis
Critics and interviewers
LOUISVILLE. March 12-EvidentIy Mr..
Watterson is much annoyed by the excite
ment which has been caused by his letters
to Cleveland and Hill The following in
terview appeared in the Erening Times, the
afternoon paper owned by the Courier
Journal company:
A representative Of the Ereninq Times
found Mr.. Watterson confined TO his house
with an attack of grip and opened his attack
by saying:
"Mr. Watterson, the New York papers
have broken loose again about the Hill let>
tern
"TheyI' said Mr.. watterson; they must
have very little to do"
Have you anything to sayn
Nothing"
Would you like to hear what they are
ssyingm
II don't care anything about it,n Mr..
WattersOn replied, with some irritation.
Il said nearly a month ago ell l have to
say, and although / spoke fully and frankly
the newspapers have been making a mares
nest # it ever since"
But, Mr.. Watterson," persisted the
Times scribe, "have you not been inter
viewed about itr
interviewed be -" exclaimed the old
journalist. savagely. "What do YOU call an
| interviews Is i5 a chance couversation
written out at second hand without notes
4 and from memory by another man and her
aided as your OWL. have authorized no
body to speak for me. have seen no inter
vlew,' as you call it, in advance of publica-
ton TO revise it and make it my own, yet it
Is sought 60 make it me responsible for half
dozen conflicting statements, for the pub
LEGATION of which / am as innocent as the
man in the moon. Here is the EUeninq Post
Of this city greedily gobbling up every line
| that has appeared on this subject, vet de-
claring that ought to be charged advertis-
ing rates, and the st. Louis Republic
| yawplng about my explanations, when, as
matter of fact, l have been pursuing the
| tenor of my way, minding my own bust
ness, seeking to get well of this internal
| grip, SO that | may fill out a series of pre-
| arranged lecture engagents. and In no way
troubling myself about politics. and, least
| OF all. with New York politics, which stink
in the noses of good people everywhere"
But did you not write a letter to Mr.
Cleveland!n
II have written many letters to Mr.
| Cleveland"
but did you not write a special letter to
Mr. Cleveland and get special answerp
Whatever | have at any time written TO
Mr. Cleveland is my affair, and whatever he
mas written TO me at any time Is his affair
The Hill matter got into the New York
papers in a garbled shape without my
knowledge or consent. | merely consented
that the truth should be printed. BY that,
and that alone, stand. In the meantime |
| am engaged in no conspiracies 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 a candidate for offics-and have
committed no fault, unless it be fault for
man to exercise his right of free speech as
citizen and democrat in the interest of
his constituency and party"
"Rut, Mr.. Watterson." insisted the re-
porter, "what shall be said to those who are
bombarding the telegraph Office for some
explicit expression from youa"
Tell them to 60 to -r' exclaimed the
victim OF the grippe, as he took a handful
Of quinine.
But as the scribe was about to retreat
from very sick and a very angry man, he
called him back, saying in gentle tones:
mo, don't do that; don't do that. They
will get there soon enough without any
maledictions or instructions from me.n