The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-03-12
HoKE SMITHS RIVAL HAPPY.
His Own Account of an Interview
With Mr.. Cleveland ct Haywood.


With Mr.. Cleveland at lakewood.
From the Mem YorkSSpa-
WASHINGTON, March 9.--One of the
most lonely figures TO be found straying
around the Metropolitan hotel. the great re.
sort Of the Georgia contingent, Is a wiry,
sharp-eyed little fellow named Benjamin
M. Blackburn. Since the appointment Of
Hoke Smith to the secretaryship of the in
terror Blackburn has been ia a state Of
nervous collapse. The story which leads
up to his disconsolate condition is one which
illustrates anew the proverb not to put faith
In princes.
When the late presidential canvass opened
there was a paper started Ia Atlanta under
the name of the EUeninJ Herald, with
Blackburn as its editor. The Constitution
was fighting for the nomination of David
| b. Hill, while the Journal. OF which Hoke
Smith was editor, was playing around for
western man with whom to beat the Con-
StittltiOn's candidate. just wnIle tktl
byplay was in progress Joe Jefferson took
Mr.. Cleveland down 10 Louisiana on a duck
hunting expedition. Mr.. Cleveland passed
through Atlanta unobserved, save b. the
Constitution. On his return, however,
there was a scramble between tho evening
papers as to who should make the most out
OF the traveller Hoke Smith hired cam
non to greet the arrival Of Mr.. Cleveland.
Blackburn stole "A march on him, however,
by going out to East Poiut aud riding into
the city with bis dexter arm twlned around
Mr.. Cleveland's corpulent form, and bow
ing to the crowds as though the demonstra-
ton was INTENDED for himself. That
evening he emphasized his possession Of Mr..
Cleveland by calling public meeting for
tie purpose Of inRugurating tue Glove
|
IL was then that no came to be known
as the original Cleveland man in Geor-
gia. In the course Of several days there
after Hoke Smith dropped his western idea
and came out for Mr.. Blackburn's friend
Cleveland. The war which was waged from
that time on between Hoke and Ben for the
honor of being the great original Cleve-
land man was interesting and curious.
Finally the day came when Mr.. Cleveland
was not only nominated, but elected.
"By GeorgeW Blackburn would say my
friend Cleveland will not be so far misled
as to take Hoke into his cabinet Why,
am the man TO whom all the credit is due
for carrying Georgia for Cleveland" and
he would walk about with tbs air of man
who knew what be was talking about.
When the news came that Hoke had in
deed, landed himself into the cabinet, Black
bHrn was a thoroughly disheartened man.
II do not see what Grover can mean," he
would remark conhdentially TO his friends.
81 have told him that Hoke Smith bad no
hold upon the people of Georgia, and here
be goes and puts him into his cabinet"
10 was while smarting with sense Of injus-
tice that couple Of weeks ago Mr.. Blackburn
went to Lakewood to have an understand.
ing about all these matters Tonight, while
standing at the doorway Of the Metropoli-
tan breakfast room, Blackburn told an ad-
mlring group Of Georgians how Grover re-
| ceived him.
when 1 entered the house said he,
"Mr. Cleveland, who was reading, looked
up, and, seeing me, sprang to his feet, say
ing:
Blackburn, I'm devilish glad to see
you. would never have forgotten you had
you failed TO call on me here in Lake
| wood
Then placing his arm around my neck,
we retired to a sofa in one side OF the room,
aud Mr. Cleveland said:
"'Old fellow, don't you worry, I'll take
care of you. Damned If you don't de-
serve it,
81 was 30 moved with Mr.. Cleveland's
cordially that, placing my hand upon his
knee. aud looking him square in the eye,
| said:
Mr.. Cleveland, there is but one thing
more that / will ask OF YOU
"'What is thatP he asked.