The Helena independent., 1892-04-25
7. c. Crawford Tells How 4 News
paper Article Re- Elected Matt
Carpenter Senator.
How tho Wisconsin Statesman h
Arranged His Views for
the Public.
II Acconnplished It's Purpose and Broke
Down his Old-Tims Aatipathy
to the Press.

Carpenter. of WISCONSIN. He had . par
ti0ulnr dislike for the newspapers. His
uuarrsls began ut the time of tho imprison-
ment by the senate Of Messrs. White and
Ramsdell. former correspondents Of ths
New York Tribune. They both are now
dead. The correspondents were arrested
by the senate for having procured an ad-
vance copy Of the treaty of Washington.
Senator Carpenter WAS very active in
prosecuting the oass against the correspond
ents, and for that reason incurred the hos
tility of that very compact and influential
band of men known a. the Washington 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-
oan. The correspondents watched their op-
portunity, and several times he was hit
pretty hard. Upon ono particular occasion
the newspapers had special opportunity
for holding up the senator in an unfortan-
ate light to the public. The result was that
after year or two of this kind of warfare
the senator became 30 sensitive that mere
sight of q newspaper representative was
enough to give him fit of the horrors. His
cynicism. good nature and self control were
never strong enough to make him indiffer-
ent to the watchfulness and the univer-
salty of the enmity of the newspapers.
After time these attacks ceased or became
80 isolated as not to call for special atten-
tion. But the senator believed sincerely
that his failure to be re-eleoted after serv-
ing his first tsrm WAS owing directly to the
newspapers. 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 was then i'm
merssd in the cares of great law practice.
occupying at the time position second to
mono in his profession.
He had Law partner, practical poll
tician, also resident Of Wisoonsin. This
was Mr.. Coleman, Of Fon du Lao. Mr..
Coleman decided at once that MIR. Carpen-
ter must do something to conoiliate the
newspapers and to establish, if possible,
ordinarily friendly relations. Mr.. Car
penter's health was then beginning to fail
and he did not feel equal to the task Of
going to Wisconsin to make personal
campaign. He thought that it would be
much more dignifed 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.
MT. coleman U8ClueO tuaG tQe De6L pOb6lDl6
form for the presentation Of these views
would be in the form of an interview.
was at thia time the correspondent at
Washington of the Chicago Times. never
had had any acquaintance with Mr.. Car
psnter. Tie Chicago Times was demo-
which speak very independent. and
printed freely tho news of both
sides. Nearly all Of the prominent
writer's upon the paper were in sympathy
with the republican party. Mr.. Coleman
sent to my Office one evening request
from Senator Carpenter TO call upon him.
The time appointed for the call was nine
O'Clock the next morning. I was prompt at
the hour and found the senator alone in a
large room whero he did all his private
writing. He gave chuckle as I came in
and said: ''Nr. Crawford, do not believe
that you would ever guess why have sent
for YOU" Then he thanked me for coming
SO promptly, and added melodramatically:
II wish to be interviewed"
Nothing that he could have said would
have surprised me more. In Mr.. Carpen-
ter's entire career in Washington he never
had figured in an interview except in the
brief and picturesque paragraph OCCASION
ally given BY venturesoms correspondent
in his report of Mr.. Carpenters ferocious
refusals to submit to a newspaper inter-
view and thereby dropping phrase or two
indicating his hatred and contempt for all
newspapers.
Mr.. Coleman here came in and made q
further explanation in behalf of the sena-
tor. He said that the senator wished to be-
come candidate again for the United
States senate and that he would like to be
asked such questions as would bring out
his visws upon all the existing issues of that
time. Mr.. Carpenter also expressed de-
sire to have the matter taken down by me
in brief notes then written ont afterwards
and submitted to him for revision. do
not propose to give in detail the develop
ment of this wonderful interview. MIR.
Carpenter from the first treated me with
the absolute confidence of a tried and true
friend. If had published the interview as
it actually occurred it would have mac
him the laughing stock of the country. and
MS there is no more effective weapon than
ridioule he would have undoubtedly been
defeated in his senatorial ambitions. To
show tho correctness of this it is sufficient
to indicate the real character of the talk.
MIR. Carpenter WAS profoundly cynical and
constantly consultad with his partner as
the shrewd politician who knew the special
wants of the aching hearts of the Wiscon-
sin constituency. Mr.. Carpenter would be
asked a leading question relating 20 some
one of the grave issues of the day and he
would rcply copiously and eloquently. then
ho would suddenly shut off the flow of elo-
quence and ask mo a question: "How does
that strike you?" or course, I always de-
clined to express an opinion. This refusal
always irritated the senator. Perhaps
you think that opinion wouldn't 60. Then
how would this go7 The senator would
now turn about, and with that intellectual
de1terity for which he was noted, present
upon tho instant another chain of reason
ing bnsed altogether upon different
line of view. This second opinion
would be expressed with such can
dor and such simplicity to appear to
be the real heartfelt conviction of the can
didste. But then he would alwayu turn to
his partner for his opinion. Coleman do
Won think that will to2, RI Coiomnp un III