The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1893-06-21
Is THIS MR.. CLEvELAND'S VERSION?
A New and Enlarged Account of the Ficto-
toria Hotel Damn.
New York Herald, 13th.]

terestlng.
This is the way it is repeated by an
intimate friend of the President, and is
the first time it has been made public
in its details.
Mr.. Whitney had urged upoL Mr..
Cleveland the Importance of meeting
the surly leaders of the Democratic or
ganization with a view to harmony.
The then ex-president was unwilling
at first. He insisted that the fight at
Chicago had settled the question of
personalities, and there was no more
reason why lie should go to New York
and make overtures to Mr.. Hill's friends
than that he should go to the followers
of any defeated candidate in any other
State. If they were Democrats it was
their business to support the ticket.
Finally, however, Mr.. Whitney's
arguments prevailed, and Mr.. Cleve-
land started from Buzzard's Bay to
meet the sullen leaders. When Mr..
Cleveland met Mr.. Whitney prior to
the dinner he looked at him with Gu
rious smile.
READY TO HEAR THE RIOT ACT.
"Nell, Whitney, have you got your
dinner ready"
"Yes; everything is ready"
"NVho will be there to-night?"
murphy, ,Sheehsn, Croker, "and Mr..
Whitney named the invited guests.
There was a moment of silence, and
then Mr.. Whitney laughed.
II saw Sheehan st the Hoffman
House to-day" he said," and he says
he intends to read the riot act to you
tonight"
II have heard that he intends to do
something Of fthat sort, >" said Mr.. Cleve-
land quietly, land have come to New
York so that he may have good op-
portunity."
When the dinner was ended that
night Mr.. Sheeban turned to Mr.. Cleve-
land and said there was a matter Of
business to be discussed. Mr.. Cleve-
land expressed his willingness to hear
anything that might be said. MIR.
Sheehan told him that tie gentlemen
then present were the leaders and rep
resentatives of the Democratic organi-
zation in the State of New York, and
that they wanted to come to definite
understanding with him. he could
not be elected unless they supported
him and they did not intend to take
any chances this time.
Mr.. sHEEHAN's DEMAND.
"Well, what do you gentlemen
want?" asked Mr.. Cleveland.
"We want pledges from you," said
Mr.. Sheehan. awe want to know
what you are going to do if you are
elected. We want you to give US pro-
misses that will satisfy US that the or
ganization will be properly recognized
if you become President again."
Mr.. Cleveland doubled up his huge
first and smote the table.
"Gentlemen," he said, speaking slow
ly and with almost painful distinctness.
II will not go into the White House
pledged to you or to any one else. I
will make no secret promises. I'll be
damned if I will"
Again the big fist whacked the
table. 49,.
"What are you going to do, then?"
inquired Mr.. Sheehan cynically. .
Mr.. CLEvELAND's DEFIANCE.
"I'll tell you what I'm going to do,"
said Mr.. Cleveland as he rose to his
feet, IT intend to address a letter to the
public, in which shall withdraw from
the ticket. I vii. write that letter be-
fore sleep tonight, and give it to the
Associated Press. I intend to explain
my situation and report what you have
said to me here. I will tell the voters
of the country that I cannot give any
secret pledges, and that unless do you
will not support the Democratic ticket,
which means the loss of the State Of
New York and defeat. I will tell the
voters that I do not want to stand in
the way of Democratic victory. That
is what I shall do. Then, gentlemen,
you can pick out candidate to suit
you, and if he is the proper man and
the candidate Of the party I will vote
for him."
There was a pause.
"But I'll tell you one thing, Mr..
Sheehan," said Mr.. Cleveland, as he
turned to. the now breathless Lieuten-
ant Governor. I'm my opinion public
indignation will show you and your Or
ganization out of sight before the end
Of week.
Mr.. Croker leaped to his feet.
'This must stop, Mr.. Sheehan," be
said. II agree with Mr.. Cleveland. He
cannot make any pledges, and it is not
right to ask for them"
So the dinner party separated.
II tell you what it is," said the ex-
President, as he related the story,
"those fellows got hold of Mr.. Whitney
and ratified him. He vas actually rat
tied. They scared him."
IS THERE ANOTHER FIGHT IN SIGHT?
A gentleman who saw the President
4 few weeks ago says Mr.. Cleveland
now thinks it was a great mistake not
to have allowed the anti-Tammany
Democrats to nominate an independent
ticket. He is confident that such a
ticket would have been victorious and
would have resulted in a political con-
dition in the State less embarrassing
than that which now ccnfronts him.