The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-05-11

year or two Of this kind of warfare the
senator became 20 sensitive That y ,icre
sight of Il newspaper representative was
enough to give him a fit OF the horrors
His cynicism, good nature and sclf-con-
troll were never strong enough to make
him Indifferent to the watchfulness and
the universally of the cnmity of the
newspapers. After time these attacks
ceased or became so isolated as not
to call special attention. But the SEN
ator believed sincerely that his failure
to bc reelected after serving his first
term was owing directly to the news
papers. Following his defeat he set
tied in Washington and devoted himself
to his law practice When the term of
his successor had nearly expired, Mr.
Carpenter decided to again become a
candidate for the United States senate
He WIS then immersed in the cares of a
great law practice, occupying at the
time position second to none in his
profession.
lie had law partner. a practical
politician, also q resident of Wscon-
sin. This was Mr.. Coleman. of Fond
du Lac. Mr.. Coleman decided at once
that Mr.. Carpenter must do something
to conciliate 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 Wis
consin to make personal campaign.
lie thought that it would be much more
Cignificd, and involve 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 decided that
the best possible form for the presenta-
ton of these views would be in the
form of an interview. ! was at this
time the correspondent at Washington
of the Chicago Times. l never had had
any acquaintance with Mr.. Carpenter.
The Chicago Times was Il democratic
newspaper, but at the time of which |
speak very Independent, and printed
freely the news of both sides. Nearly
all of the prominent writers upon the
paper were in sympathy with the re-
publican party. Mr.. Coleman sent to
my office one evening Il request from
Senator Carpenter to call upon him.
He gave no explanation. My Office was
then on Fourteenth street in Washing
ton, while Senator Carpenters law of
flee was not over two minutes away, on
Z street. below the Epbitt house. The
time appointed for the call was nine
o'clock the next morning. was prompt
at the hour and found the senator alone
in large room, where he did all of his
private writing. He had n suite in the
1Iooe building of six or eight large
rooms, which were completely filled
from end to end with his law library,
one of the finest private libraries then
existing in the United States.
Senator Carpenter was one of the
most remarkable men ever seen in pub
lie life in Washington. He was very
tall, although the stoop in his shoulders
detracted much from his height, yet in
spite of this stoop he retained much of
the military set-up of bearing acquired
by him in his year at West Point. He
was very distinguished looking, and
would have been noted at once in anv
gathering. His head was very large
and surmounted by great name of
iron-gray hair, which fell down with a
careless wave across his forehead, al