The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-07-19

INTERVIEWING SHERMAN.
The Way the Senator From Ohio Wa
Caught by Reporter.

The Way the Senator From Ohio Was
Caught by Reporter.
Senator Sherman of Ohio is Familiarity
known as the Mansfield Icicle," but all
who know him we'll know that this term is a
misnomer. 1t was invented many years ago
by New York newspaper man, who at
tempted to interview Senator Sherman
against the latter's protest and failed. The
Senator has always treated the represe nta-
tiyes OF the press with great courtesy, but
hen he says that lie will not be interviewed
the experienced newspaper man knows that
it will be worse than useless to attempt to
shake his determination.
The modern reporter is an enigma which
will confess L have been unable to solve"
said Sherman one day in the course of
half hours conversation while our train
was delayed at Pittsburg. "He is one Of the
greatest OF the great marvels of nineteenth
century civilization. l respect him always
honor him usually and fear him OCCASION
ally. But his resources never fail to sur
prise and sstoniSh me. l shall always re-
member bit of experience with New York
interviewer at the time first assumed the
Treasury portfolio duties under President
Hayes. Soon after my appointment went
to New York upon business connected with
my new position and l was particularly
DESTROYS that my real mission should not be
hHUNu Oulslut Ol exclusive circles.
therefore determined to have nothing 10
do with newspapers or newspaper men. At
the hotel L gave positive instructions that |
would receive no one. After dinner, how
ever, and just as i was congratulating N.Y.
self that l had escaped the reporters, l
stepped into the elevator TO go up to my
room and found the cage already occupied
by young man who, instinct told me, was
one OF the bohemian tribe. 1t was too late
to retreat. so | faced the music. Hallway
between the first and second floors the ele-
vator-cage stopped. The elevator-boy
seemed TO be unable to start 1t either up or
down. While | was prisoner there, sus-
pended between heaven and earth. as 1T
were, that newspaper man bombarded me
with questions. 1t dawned upon me that
the accident to the elevator undoubtedly
was due TO half dollar which the reporter
had given 10 the youngster before l entered
tile cage. / suppose | ought to have been
angry. but tine oddly of the whole affair
pleased me, and l kept as mum as an oyster
and enjoyed the interviewer's discontinue.
The next morning, however, was thun-
derstrucE to read at the breakfast table
column and a half interview with me- in
which was set forth very accurately the OBJ
iect of my visit TO New York, and a discus
sion OF financial prospects and probable
tiles, with an outline of the governmental
line Of policy. And the best OF it all was
the fact that the article scored bulP s-eye
in every sentence. Iu fact it was better
than anything could nave written myself.
1t told nothing but the truth; it misrepre-
seDted no one; and II gave my views in
better language and more concisely than |
would have been able to put them into
speech had l submitted to an interview. 1t
was gem. l did not Tepudiate the bogus
interview, and in truth | felt rather proud
of it, and decidedly relieved that the newt
able ordeal had been passed so satisfac-
tnrilyV