The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-04-25

must have been acquired within the short
est possible period, for he did not take up
the subject until after he was elected presi-
dent. l spent nearly the whole day with
the governor in preparing material. He
gave me line of introduction to his mar
ried sister, who had charge of the execu-
tive mansion, at some distance from the
capitol. / found her most agreeable, re-
fined lady, and was indebted to her for
some of the most interesting material fur
nished concerning the life of Mr.. Cleve-
land.
When I had finished my observations of
the executive mansion came back to the
governors office TO bid him good-by. I
had with me my little boy, Jack. golden
haired lad. 6 years old. Jack had accom-
panied me on nearly all OF my trips
through the country, and nearly always
went with me when | called upon public
men. | merely mention this to indicate
that he had perhaps lost the reverence of
little child for high office through his
familiarity with the public men of WASH
ington City. When, in bidding farewell
to the governor, l introduced Jack, the
governor bowed and said; II am glad to
know you, Jack" Then he added, with
an air of kindly patronage: Perhaps, if
you are a good boy. you may grow up to
state as New York" Evidently this
speech did not make the impression in
tended because Jack shook his head furi-
ously. He sa d, politely but very firmly,
81 don't want to be a governor"
What would you like to be2" asked
Mr.. Cleveland.
When grow up am going to become
an artist"
This reply amused the lawyer politician
and evidently made an impression on his
mind, for the next time l saw Mr.. Cleve-
land nearly a year afterward, he at once
alluded TO the conversation and inquired
after the young artist.
Upon this second occasion when l saw
the president he had just taken possession
of the White House. 1t was within Two
or three days after his inauguration.
Colonel Lamont asked if l would like TO
go in and see him. 1t was 10 o'clock in
the evening at the time of my call. l
found the president alone. He had been
through, perhaps, as great strain of ex-
element as is possible for man to be
called upon to endure. He had been the
center OF the concentrated attention OF the
entire country and had borne the transfer
from the comparative quiet of Albany to
the pressure and excitement OF the highest
place in our country without showing the
slightest trace of disturbance, lack OF con-
ndence or nervous worry. L had but a
few words with him that evening and
nothing was said which | was permitted
to use for publication. | had never seen
him but once before to talk with him and
that was at Albany. When appeared at
the door without any introduction from
Colonel Lamont he at once called ont my
name and in the second breath asked after
Jack the artist.
The first authorized interview that Presi-
dent Cleveland gave out as president. and
in which he enuncia;ed the extraordinary
powers assumed by him as executive, was
given to me. / have today the original
manuscript of that interview. with the
careful revisions made in the presidents
own handwriting. To obtain this inter
view required the work of several weeks.
The president | always found very &C
cessibie, but his brusdueness increased as
time passed on. and he was more and more
reluctant to talk to representatives of
newspapers for publication. When he
consented to give me the interview, which
was published during the first year of his
taking office. | am sure he followed the
advice of Colonel Lamont and that it
would not have been given if Colonel La-
mont had objected.
The interview was not obtained without
4 number of preliminary visits and talks
with the presidents private secretary.