Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-04-17

where the defeated candidate tor the Presi.
dency has paid call of absolute ceremony
upon the successful candidate.
GLIMPSES OF HARRISON.
Appears Cold, but Is Really Sympathetic
Talks Well and Is Posted.
first met President Harrison when he
was United States Senator. My first i'm.
preston of him is the same that is expert
enced by nearly everyone in first meeting
with him. He had the air then of being
very cold, very self-opinionated and with
but narrow sympathies It always needs
more than casual acquaintance with Mr..
Harrison to appreciate and arrive at a
knowledge of his true character.
My first real acquaintance with him be-
gan in the campaign of 1884, in the State of
Maine. I found myself at the Augusta
Hotel one dark and stormy night in the
month of August Mr.. Harrison, who was
one of the speakers in that canvass, arrived
soon after at the hotel We were tho only
guests. That evening I called upon Mr..
Harrison and found him most agreeable and
of most social nature. Over q glass of
weak grog and with good cigar he showed
a geniality rare upon his part except when
with intimates. He is very easy talker
and has most keen appreciation Of the
characteristics of people with whom he
comes in contact. He also disclosed sur
prising fund Of humor. His stories Of pre-
vious campaigns and of his law experiences
were told with such conciseness and effect as
might we'll arouse the envy of professional
story writer's.
He Has . Clear Legal aead.
My first experience with President Har.
rison in o newspaper way was at another
time. This was prior to the Chicago Con-
vention which nominated Mr. Blaine. The
Chicago Tribune asked me to write a sketch
of Mr.. Harrison's life, as he was one of the
candidates then. L called at his house,
which he then occupied, on Fourteenth
street, and told him what I wanted. wa,
anxious is have from his own lips the mate
rial necessary to write a correct biography
of his life. The best evidence possible of
his simplicity of character and lack of van
ity was shown In the way he responded to
this request There was not the slightest
assumption of mock modesty. He complied
with civility, and told the story OF his life,
in the privacy of his library, with the same
clearness, conciseness and lack of personal
color as if he had been telling the story of
the career of someone else In the presen-
tation of the salient facts of his history he
showed the clear, concise intellect of law
yer who understands how to present the
essential features while eliminating the de-
tails not necessary to the completion of
picture.
had after that a. number of occasions to
call upon Mr.. Harrison when he was Sen
49, lcI II r. -
ence, although had unusual opportunities
He is one of the most honorable and up
right men have ever known in public life
His ability is now conceded by every one.
While he has the reputation of being cold
man, he is really one of the most sympa-
thetic and tenderhearted. He has been
obliged through circumstances to lead a life
of toll, and has had few of the relaxing ad-
vantages' which come from ease and an
ability to escape from the grind of daily
work. have seen his eyes fill with tears
at some picture of pain or suffering called
up by some one near to him, although in the
presence Of strangers he is as stoical as an
American Indian.
Harrison Is = Keen Observer.
I published one authorized interview with
Mr.. Harrison in the New York Tribune last
March. This is the only authorized publi-
cation which has ever come from him since
he was President except what has been sent
out as an official document over his own
signature. Some Of the best pieces of news,
some of the keenest observations which I
himself I could always obtain much more
interesting material from the President than
from Mr.. Blaine, because the President
seemed to have much better knowledge of
The general situation of politics and what
constituted news than the brilliant Score
tary Of State, whose mind was wholly ab-
sorbed in the field of diplomacy. The ma
,erial for the interview was selected from
running through two or three
weeks. The principal conversation was,
however, obtained during a ride with the
President. Mr., Harrison, who is fond of
irving pair of horses attached to light
Brewster buggy, invited me to go out with
him one February afternoon. was then
With him for drive of upward of three
lours
The. President is often attacked when, if
lie were permitted to reply. his opponent
an be illustrated in no better way than by
irving a story that the President told in
hat talk of certain public man who, al
hough a Republican, had become prac-
ically an opponent of the administration.
This official sent one day to the President
IN applicant for Office with letter OF the
most cordial Endorsement. It was letter
written in such terms of eulogy that the
President felt that il the bearer of it was
worthy of the encomiums heaped upon him
lothing short of Cabinet Office would be
lis due. He took the matter under consid-
ration in connection with an important ap-
continent.
How a President Is Misrepresented.
The next day the high official, who was a
eading member Of Congress, called upon
lin, and in the course of the call the Presl-
lent said: "Do you really want this man
"Not at all" was the reply; che is the
biggest scoundrel in the State, and I meant |
o have sent you letter yesterday to pay |
10 attention to my letter of Endorsement"
Several months after the member Of Con-
,ose of asking him to help secure his own |
e-election. The President treated him |
With great civility, but gave him no en-
ouragement. twas with difficulty that he
ontrolled himself so as not to hand over to
he member of Congress letter which the
pplicant mentioned above had sent to the |
President that morning. The letter was
rom the member of Congress to his con-
tituent, explaining to him why he had not
eceived his appointment He said in this
etter that Harrison was a failure as Presi-
ent, had no real appreciation of working
and that it was impossible to
btain anything from him.
I think the President must have had
reat self-control to have listened calmly to
ne pleadings of such lying hypocrite as
MS particular public man in question. The
tory is valuable in illustrating the point
nat in most Of the stories against the Presi-
ent it is possible. that if the Presidents
,ory of the same thing could be known
ute different impression would be
reated. r. C. CRAWFORD