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

Finally it was arranged that should see
the president and talk over the whole mat
ter with him. 1t was understood that
should see the president alone. Mr.. Cieve-
land was at his usual post of duty in the
library of the White House with . great
mass of papers placed before him. He
talked nearly as frankly as at the first in
terview that had with him at Albany,
but he doubted the advisabiiity of saying
anything for publication. The CONVERSE
ton had hardly begun when Colonel La
mont came in very quietly and took seat
upon the ledge of the window Just back of
the president. His attitude was one of the
most perfect discretion. He never volun-
teered a suggestion, but his presence evil
IDENTIFY acted as checkupon the president.
Upon any doubtful point the president
would turn to Lamont, and he always
adopted his view. 1t was to the colonel
that the president finally referred the ques-
ton of whether there should be an inter-
view or not. Lamont nodded approval.
There were no notes taken at the time
of this interview. After half or three
quarters of an hour of conversation went
away and dictated to a typewriter the
substance of the conversation. The next
day when called upon the president with
a mass of manuscript he was greatly sur
prised and almost alarmed. He said to
me: "Why, it does not seem possible that
l said as much as this!
then asked him to read the manuscript
through, and if there was anything in it
that he had not said to promptly erase it.
The manuscript was absolutely at his dis
posal I further gave him the assurance
that not one word of the conversation
would be published except that part re-
vised and approved by himself. The presi-
dent seemed very much relieved at this.
He appeared to have all through the affair
an underlying feeling that it was not dig
nitied for the president of the United
States to submit to an interview at the
hands of newspaper correspondent.
The president now put on pair ofround
and black-rimmed eyeglasses and went to
work upon the manuscript. He first read
long breath and said: There is nothing
here which did not say. II is reported
with great carefulness and accuracy. But
there are number of things here which
said which / think it would be well to
leave out" The president then began the
work himself of revision and editing. In
stead OF calling Lamont to do this Under
his direction he performed the work him.
self, and only called upon Lamont now
and then for his advice. This manuscript,
crossed out and revised and in some in
stances with whole pages gone. is a most
interesting exhibit of Mr.. Cleyeland's
method of working. The part which he
left in, and even amplitied and empha-
sized, was the independence of the ex-
ecutive in his relations to congress. This
new departure from the previously held
views ofthe relations between the president
and congress was made without the
slightest con sultation with any one of his
cabinet ministers, and created therefore in
official circles the widest possible interest
and attention. Some of his cabinet ad-
visers criticised him because he took so
inv xvv,3h
them. But the president never paid the
slightest attention to any criticism which
came from this direction. His cabinet
ministers were never to him any more
than so many department clerks.
During the campaign that preceded his
election had travelled exclusively with
the Republican candidate, Mr.. Blaine.
Soon after Mr.. Cieveland's inauguration
Mr.. Blaine came to Washington to reside.
l asked him one day if he had ever met
Mr.. Cleveland"
"No, he said, "but intend to call upon
him. l have asked Secretary Lamar to ar
range an appointment, but he has evil
IDENTIFY forgotten it." Then. to my sur
prise, Mr. Blaine asked me to call at the
White House to make the arrangement
My call and request made a small sensa-
ton. Mr.. Blaine's politeness was APP
preciated in its true spirit by Mr.. Cleve-
land. An appointment was made for 3
O'Clock in the afternoon the following day.
The interview passed off pleasantly. Mr..
Blaine said afterward that the converse
ton was confined absolutely to common
place topics. He observed the etiquette of
calling upon high official by permitting
him to lead and control the conversation.
1t is the only instance have ever heard of
where the defeated candidate for the pres
idency has ever paid call of absolute cere-
mony upon the successful candidate.
T. c. CRAwFoRp.