The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-04-24

for that reason incurred the hostility of
that very compact and influential band of
men known as the Washington City cor
respondents. The senator, unfortunately,
was very vulnerable to newspaper attack.
Many of his ideas concerning the rule of
private life were more French than Ameri-
can. The correspondents watched their
opportunity, and several times he was hit
pretty hard. Upon one particular occa-
sion the newspapers had special oppor-
tunlty for holding up the senator in an un-
fortunate light to the public. The result
was that after year or two of this kind
of warfare the senator became SO sensitive
that mere sight of a newspaper re-
resentative was enough to give him fit of
the horrors. His cypicism. good nature
and self-control were never strong enough
to make him Indifferent to the watchful-
ness and the universally of the enmity of
the newspapers. After a time these at
tacks ceased or became so isolated as to not
to call for special attention. But the sena-
tor believed sincerely that his failure to be
reelected after serving his first term was
owing directly to the newspapers. Fol-
lowing his defeat ne settled in Washington
City and devoted himself to his law prac-
tice. When the term of his successor had
nearly expired, Mr.. Carpenter decided 10
again become q candidate for the United
States Senate. He was then immersed in
the cares of a great law practice, occupy
ing at the time position second to none
in his profession.
He had law partner, practical poll
tician, also a resident of Wisconsin.
This was Mr.. Coleman, of Fond du Lac.
Mr.. Coleman decided at once that Mr..
Carpenter must do something to con-
ciliate the newspapers, and to establish. if
possible, ordinarily friendly relations.
Mr.. Carpenters health was then beginning
to fail, and he did not feel equal TO the
task of going to Wisconsin to make per-
sonal campaign. He thought that IL
would be much more dignifed, and in
volve much less risk and loss, to present
his views to the public and then permit
his friends to carry on the balance of the
campaign themselves. Mr.. Coleman de-
cided that the best possible form for the
presentation of these views would be in
the form of an interview. / was at this
time the correspondent in Washington
CITY of the Chicago Times. 1 never had
had any acquaintance with Mr.. Carpenter.
The Chicago Times was a Democratic news
paper, but at the time of which speak very
independent, and printed freely the news
of both sides. Nearly all of the promin-
ent writers upon the paper were in sym-
pathy with the Republican party. Mr..
Coleman sent to my office one evening a
upon him. He gave no explanation. Nv
office was then on Fourteenth street in
Washington City, while Senator Carpen-
ter's law Office was not over two minutes
away, on L street, below the Ebbi;t house.
The time appointed for the call was
O'Clock next morning. l was prompt at
the hour and found the senator alone in A
large room. where he did all OF his private
writing. He had suite in the Howe
building of six or eight large rooms. which
were completely filed from end TO end
with his law library, one of the finest pri-
vate libraries then existing IN the United
States.
Senator Carpenter was one of the most
remarkable men ever seen in public life in
Washington City. He was very tall. al
though the stoop in his shoulders de-
tracted much from his height, vet in spite
of this stoop he retained much of the mill
tary bearing acquired by him in his year
at West Point. He was very distin-
guished looking, and would have been
noted at once in any gathering. His head
was very large and surmounted by a great
name OF iron gray hair, which fell down
with careless wave across his forehead
almost in his eyes. When engaged in
speaking he was continually tossing back
this mass to clear his eyes. His round full.
featured face was smooth shayen A droon
ing mustache mid a full-lipped, pleasure-lov
ing mouth. His eyes were very large and
full. He had most musical voice and
the keenest appreciation of fun. When
| came into his Office that morning he was
moving up and down the room, with a
black SLOUGH hat pulled down over his
laughing gray eyes. He gave a chuckle
as came in and said: Mr. Crawford
do not believe that you would ever guess
why have sent for you" Then he
thanked me for coming SO promptly, and
added mechanically: III wish to be
interviewed"
Nothing that he could have said youId
have surprised me more. In Mr.. Carmen
ter's entire career in Washington CITY he
never had figured in an interview excent
in the brief and picturesque paragraph oc-
casionally given by venturesorne cores
pondentent in his report of Mr.. Carpen-
ter'5 ferocious refusals to submit to a news
paper interview and thereby dropping a
phrase or two indicating his hatred aud
contempt for all newspapers.
Mr.. Coleman here came in and made n
further explanation in behalf of the SEN
ator. He said that the senator wished 10
become candidate again for the limited
States Senate and thai he would ike 10 he
asked such questions as would bring ont
his views upon all the existing issues of
that time Mr.. Carpenter also expressed
desire 70 have the matter taken down by