The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-07-17
GROVER In BUFFALO.
Cleveland as Sheriff and His
Race for Governor.
Interesting "reminiscences OF the Early 20
litical Days Of the hx-Presi-
dent in New York.
For the Salt LAX e HERALD.

one to which the eOld Dominion" lays
claim. The city Of Buffalo. New York, is
the only city Ia the United States which
enjoys the boast OF being the residence Of
two presidents at the time Of their election,
namely, Willard Fillmore and Grover
Cleveland. The residence OF Martin Van
Buren, was town IN The interior OF the
state that cannot now recall: Chester a.
Arthur lived in Now Ncf k City, and SO did
Samuel j. Tildeu. but the latter was cheat
ed out Of the ofice Both Fillmore and
ArtRnr were elected as vlce-presldents,
the former becoming chief executive
through the death Of Zachary Taylor and
the latter through the assassination OF
FreNdent Garfield.
No two men were more unlike than these
two Buffalo presidents, although tate
seems to have ordained them. Both men
came to Buffalo as many man came there
TO earn living. Both men jumped from
obscGrity IN less than decade Of yeark;
yet, FOR all that, there was o wide dlffer-
ence IN the character OF the two. Fill
more was parsimonious, and il 10 recorded
that be was one or the few presidents who
saved money during his administration.
saving enough TO build one of the hand
somest residences on Delaware avenue.
Up 10 the time OF his election as mayor Of
Buffalo. Grover Cleveland was content
with beo room back Of his law Office, and
am not sure but that he patched il there
even after the municipal honor was
thrust upon him. Fillmore was an aristo-
crat, 80 far as that term can be applied TO
an American, who makes up in chilliness
or cstentauOue dignity OF manner what
might be expended TO give srlstocracy q
clear title. Grover Cleveland is essen
TALLY man OF the people, or at least he
was such back in the days when / knew
him IS sheriff Of Erie county. In fact, he
was lone OF the boysn then. His mar
riaec, OF course although changing the
conditions Of the latter mode Of life, has
IA no sense made him less d man OF the
people. and a man Of the people in the
broadcast Interpretation of the term.
Nearly opposite the law Office Of LAning,
Cleveland & Folsom, on Seneca street.
was q saloon kept by German who set up
81 noon every day for lunch, veal outlets.
This saloon was also in the neighbor hood
OF the large number Of printing
offices clustered on Washington street.
Owing TO this fact strengthened by the
excellent quality OF the beer and the veal
outlets. it became a favorite resort for
printers. II the day was warm, frequently
would be seen here Ia his shirt sleeves this
man OF the people, drinking his beer and
eating his outlet, mean time chatting with
The printers ike as IL he belonged 10 their
craft. Not one Of Jake Dold's custom ers
then ever dreamed that "Grcve' Cleveland
would be president Of the United States.
He was not even mentioned as "a possible
candidate for mayor.
Grover Cleveland was never much OF q
club man, although be had opportunities In
abundance J speak now Of the days when
he was @ partner in the law firm men
tioned--a firm it may be truly said, that
had no equal in western New York. His
tastes were simple. aud he would
rather sit down to game OF
''peenuple' a. Schenkenberger's on
Main street, with the beer as
STAKES, that TO put his legs under the
mahogany Of the Buffalo club at their
champagne banquets. Ii is related that
while he was on his western tour and was
being fetec on the elegant grounds Of
Pcstmaster-G General Villas st Madison,
Wis. waiter approached linn to solicit
his order. rafting Of list OF wines and
champagnes OF famous brands. When he
concluded, the president looked up and
quietly said Bring me some whisky.
Whiskge good enough for me-"
! first heard OF Grover Cleveland when
he was u candidate Tor sheriff of Erie
county. his opponent being Colonel Jonn
b. Weber. a former schoolmste of mine,
now ronmiesioner OF emigration at New
York. Nat rally enough l scratched my
ticket in IAvOr OF the echoolmate. On the
dav that a long military aud civic process
sion slowly wendell its way towards
Forest Lawn, bearing the corpse
Oh EA-L EGB4QInt II sAAALOAG ~ AbH
last resting place, somebody pointed
out q pcrtly, middie-aged man OF
medium stature in one Of the
carriages, remarkine, "And that's the
sheriff III this man had supplemented
his remark with the exclamation, "A fu-
ture president rides il that carriage, = he
would be regarded in Buffalo today as an
other Elias or John the Baptist
Ny fret introduction to Grover Cleve-
land occurred while | was clerk Of the
Erle county board OF supervisors in 1874
Part Of my duties embraced The drawing
ef orders on the county treasurer in pay
1nent OF accounts audited by the board.
Cleveland had some sheriff accounts laid
over from his term. While / could OBJ
serve determination ana decision of char
acter written ell over his face, his intro
ducti0n on the morning Of the day ne
walked into my Office 50 receive his treas
ury srder made no NAKED impression on
me. In fact I could theu name over a hun
dred OF BufTaso's prominent men without
hitting Grover Cleveland. At this time
believe, he was associated in law with
Congressman Lyman X. Bass, the same
who died ia Colorado Springs and whose
widow ID now the vile or Sen
ator Wolcott OF that state. Cleve-
land was as lucky ia the selection
Of his law partners as be was in polucs;
rather j should sTN that The partners were
ir uniting with Grover Cleveland. Cleve-
land was no pleader, or he bad never exer-
cised that gift If be possessed it at that
tine. In the firm OF Lsnlng. Cleveland q
Folsom he was the hard worker, the coun-
seior. the brief lawyer. Laning had no
equal in that part Of the state for mstchless
eioouence. Oscar Folsom, father Of Mrs
Cleveland, was pretty good pleader and
Nc ] marine attorney. One afternoon his
horse ran away; be fell out Of the buggy
and broke mis- neck This unfortunate &C
currence also broke up the firm.
L.aninE and Folsom and Bass were promi-
nent public speakers. Why Grover Cleve-
land wss not nobody could tell. Why he
did not take the roHtrum like the rest at
that time probaDly he could not tell him
self. Ills first appearance on the platform
was at q mass meeting in St. James hall,
csilcc to favor home rule in Ire
land. AS mayor OF Buffalo lie pre-
sided and made the opening ad-
dress de surprised the audience and. per
h1ps. surprised himself. After that night
Cleveland was placed among the Buffalo
orators. He did not, becansesne could not,
ESSAY to become q word painter like Ian
ing and Folsom and Bass, but be created an
oratory That was as original az il was pro-
npunced and strong and which took better
tnnn all the rest.
III circumstances do not always make the
man. it may be truthfuily said that they
arc The chief factors 10 tho development OF
his character. The lines OF Shakespeare
..'Thare "a tide iii tho affairs OF men
Which taken al the flood, leads on 10 fortune. n
IL peculiarly applicable to the fortunes OF
Grover Cleveland lie might have
sail remHined nauRht but Buffalo aftor-
ney did not d committee call st his office
che day and id behalf Of the Citizens
League, tender him the nomination Of
x@ror. Buffalo lay at the mercy OF hood