The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-04-24
CLEVELAND ON SILVER.
STSvENs DENIES THE ACCURACY
OF HE REPORTS.

ne blun write a Line OF the MAT er
That Appeared in the New York
Papers-Had He Revised the Articles
Before Publication Ee Would Bave
Eliminated Eelf That Was in Them.
ST. LOUIS, Mo-, April 23.-State Treas
urer Lou Stephens returned from New York
last night. When asked this morning about
the published interview between himself
and ex-President Cleveland in reference to
the position Of Mr. Cleveland on the silver
question and the next presidential cam.
paign, Mr.. Stephens said: ~ regret very
much indeed that so much has been sail
about the matter, and that have beef
placed in so unpleasant a position in regard
to it. had not the slightest idea that Mr..
Cleveland would have any obiec.
ton whatever to use being made of what
he said in the state from which came, Oh
elsewhere"
THE REPORTS INACCURATE.
Mr.. Stephens was asked IL reports that
have appeared were accurate. He replied
mot by any means / did not write line
of the interview that appeared in the New
York papers, nor did SEQ it after it was
written until it appeared in print. II it
had been submitted to me l would have
struck out fully one half OF ii. 1t ontalned
much that Mr.. Cleveland said, but also
what he did not say, and il | had known
just what its tenor was to be | would have
removed many Of the embellishments.
DIDN'T ANNOUNCE HIMSELF CANDIDATE.
Mr.. Cleveland did not announce himself
as q candidate at all, but spoke as a private
citizen. When 1 asked him what he would
do In case he was President aud free COIN
age bill was presented TO him, he laughed
ard turned the question by saying that it
was long time until 1894 / would prefer
not TO particularize mistakes in the account
OF my interview with him, further than to
state that il it had been submitted to me
would have struck out about one-half Of
it.n
DIDN'T Go AS AN AGENT.
In roply to question, Mr. Stephens said;
"The statement that went to New York
as the representative Of any body or to see
Mr.. Cleveland as the representative of any
body or agent Of anybody, is a misrepre,
sentation, and in fact, is manufactured oui
of the whole cloth. l called upon Mr..
Cleveland as his friend and rs an active
worker in the democratic ranks interested
in the party success.
"There seems to be Misunderstanding OF
what you said after your interview With
Mr.. Cleveland; do you care to state exactly
what you did sayp
YES, will say that so far as the Huen.
ing Telegram interview Is concerned Ihave
no knowledge Of having met representa-
tive of that peper.n
"Did you regard your interview with Mr..
Cleveland as confdential9
Most certainly did not. Mr. Cleveland
during the conversation conveyed no hint
whatever that he regarded our interview
as confidential. What hoped to do was tc
convey to other democrats the impression
which my interview with Mr.. Cleveland
made upon me, namely that there no such
wide differences of view between himself
and his party as the enemies Of Mr.. Cleve-
land have been endeavoring to make ap-
parent"
WHAT HE DID SAY.
what did say is contained in the fol,
lowing published account Of the interview:
Treasurer Stephens called on ex-Presdent
Cleveland to-day and was most cordially
received. They talked at length upon varf.
Gus subjects. Mr.. Cleveland was frank
with Mr.. Stephens. as he is with everybody
with whom he comes Ia contact Mr..
Stephens has always been q Cleve.
land man, and the latter discussed his
silver letter as a disappointment to Missouri,
and Mr.. Cleveland as frankly said he could
not help it. He admitted, though, that he
had not foreseen the direful consequences
of the 81, coo, 900 and "a, 500 900 laws In altos
gether proper light.
"If you were President, Mr.. Cleveland"
asked hr. Stephens, would you, IL your
party should pass free coinage law by
big majority. veto it"
~ am private citizen" was the reply,
"aud, he added, 81 will not climb any
hills till ! come to them.n