Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-05-01
AROUND NEW YORK.
A Glance al Current Matters by O Master
0b1fIcs 1.
POLITICAL REM INlSCEkCES.
Clevsiand's Relations with Thurman
Superintendent Byrnes's Task-Miss
Woitefs and Her Verdict.


Woiters and Her Verdict.
lCorrespondence OF the Richmond Dispatch.l
NEW YORK. April 30.-Chatting in the
Aston House the other day with the gen.
tleman now in charge OF one Of our old
established New York journals, be told me
about an interview that ne had with Allen
G.. Thurman in this city along IN 1887.
The reminiscence was dpropOs OF some dis
cussi0n about Mr.. Cleveland and his third
candidacy for the presidency. This gem
tleman told me that Mr.. Thurman was
very bitter ia his depreciation OF Mr..
Cleveland al the time named. He had
nothing pleasant 10 say Of his administra-
ton. and his general hostility was mani
fest throughout the conversation. Much
20 the surprise of my friend. Mr..
Thurman was nominated on the Demo-
cratic ticket for Vice President the year
following, and knowing what he did OF the
old gentleman's real sentiments he was
prepared TO contemplate the incongrultles
OF American politics. TINS recalled the
fact that Mir. Cleveland. during his entire
administration. absolutely ignored Mr.
Thurman. and therefore gave him most e1-
cellent grounds tor hostility, II recalled
the fact 10 INV mind that immediately fol
loving Mr.. Cleyelaud's election IN 1894. a
gentleman IN tins city who was ANXIOUS 10
impress himself upon national affairs, visit
ed Mr.. Cleveland at the Governors man
SION IN Albany. He went there upon in
yitation to discuss the new Cabinet
and to learn. if possible. some OF the
charac teristics of Mr.. Cleveland. lie told
me that he never had met man III PUBIC
life who knew so little of public men and
political history as Grover Cleveland. AT
that time, it will be remembered, Mr..
Cleveland had never been furt her west
than Buffalo, ne had never seen the cliy OF
Washington, he had never seen many dis
tingulsbed men. and he lad meyer been N
any sense II political student. In talking
over the various capable men IN the Demo
cratic party il soon became evident that
Mr.. Cleveland knew very little OF the per-
sOnna o. the great organization which mad
gently boosted HIM from the Oific of sheriff
in Erie county to the chiei-magistrao y
OF the country within period OF ten
years. over bottle Of rather poor wills
KEY the fitness Of Allen q. Thurman tor a
Cabinet position was discussed. Dir.
Cleveland did not know much of Mr. Thur
mans record save that he had been con-
50 cuous Democrat III Ohio. He did not
know that Mr.. Thurman had actually Kept
alive the Democratic party IN the State OF
Ohio during the war and subsequent there
TO. and that his vigorous battles ia the
Senate had furnished inspiration for the
party throughout the Union. he hnaliy
said: Il think Mr.. Thurman Is too old
man for a seat in the Cabinet. | want q
young, vigorous, and working Cabinet"
WORK OF A CABINET.
Being asked whether he wanted his
Cabinet to do thinking for him or TO per-
form actual physical labor. such as saving
wood and sweeping out offices. and being
told that Mr.. Humans experience. his
great ability, and his absolute honesty
made him one of the best and greatest OF
nohtical advisers, Mr.. Cleveland replied:
"Well, am told that he drinks too much.
| am afraid he has no capacity now for
taking charge Of great executive depart
ment" lie was then urged to give Mr.
Thurman some dignihed and honor
able foreign mission. 1t was OK
planned that the old gentlemans
party services certainly entitled nm
TO lofty recognition, and that next to
being in the Cabinet nothing would please
HIM better than TO be sent as Minister 10
England or France. Mr.. Cleveland took
the matter under Amusement, but he never
rendered any sort OF place TO Dir. Thur
man. nor did he give him even the recog-
would have been entitled. Mr.. Thurman
disappointment must have been great. 1t
il well remembered that he took no active
part IN politics during Dir. Cleveland 5 adj
mIuistratlOn, and there was great surprise
when he was rendered second place on
the Cleveland ticket in 1883. ms was
due to the tact that Dir. Cleveland 8 course
had alenated the lron-hearted Demo
Gratis of the West-the "old hunkers,
Ia fa4d
fear haunting the White House about that
time that perhaps the Old Guard would
not muster to the Cleveland bugle. Then
IL was that Mr.. Cleveland discovered the
virtues of the "old Roman" OF ONO. tie
wanted hun on the ticket, and II was on
account of his urgent appeal TO his eoun-
sellers. reaching through them Mr. Thur
man. that the old gentleman was induced
TO accept the nomination Tor the wee.
presidency-the great political mistake OF
of his lile-snd thus II was that the man
who was considered too old IN 1881
TO occupy @ chair in Mr. Cleyelands
Cabinet was four years later con-
sidered strong enough and Ylgor-
Gus enough TO represent about all the
Democracy there was III the campaign OF
1883. | NAV add that the ambitious War
wick who went to Albany TO help Mr..
Cleveland select his Cabinet told me that
when he asked Grover whether he had
ever written or said anything on the tarih
question which might by any possibility
rise to disturb his administration the new
ly-endOwed Democratic leader frankly re-
plied: Not q thing, you can depend upon
y for | don't know anything about the
tariff" Three wears later. so apt student
IS Mr.. Cleveland, we had hum writing more
profoundly upon the tariff in all ITS phases
than any man in the country.
OUR EFFORTS AT REFORMATION.
The good DR.. Parkhurst's war upon vice
in tins city has borne considerable fruit.
We nave obtained from one grand jury q
very sweeping and well-timed presentment
of the vices which sap and undermine our
community: have had lot of dispossess
suits started against people who conduct
immoral establishments; nave had
closing of saloons TO some extent on sun
DAYS. and have had q change in the police
agency winch promises TO bear goodliruIt.
For three wears at least superintendent
Murray was absolutely unable To give
necessary attention 10 the police de-
partment, aud Inspector Byrnes, natu-
of the pro tenn. intendancy, could
do nothing decisive. Now that we have
Byrnes at the head Of the police depart
msnt he will be able 10 carry out, THINK,
some needed reforms. His fret decree
shifting the various police captains 10 new
districts Is a wise and judicious perform
apce. The tendency on the part OF long
stationed police captains Is TO become alb
solute autocrats of their districts. They
naturally form close friendships and IN
SHIRE bitter enmllies. Removing them TO
unfamiliar sections of the clty has ten
dency 10 break up ooteries of law-defiers;
defects a great deal Of temptation, and
begets wholesome regard for the muta-
bilitv of human affairs. One OF the re-
sult: of this systematic effort at general
reformation Is that hundreds. and perhaps
thousands. of depraved women are being
driven from the open haunts OF wee INTO
nr,vate and secret avenues. Inspector
Byrnes used to have theory that III deal
ing with the criminal and vicious classes
of the community the best thing that
could be done was 10 keep them IN one
pariicular quarter of the city. Decent
people would have no call to visit that Sec
ton. and the contamination would ma