The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-02-19
DANIEL 3. LAMONT

newed after four years Of active business
LIE. There is one question ! would like
to ask: Which do you like best, politics
or business?'
Il am very fond Of business life; my ex-
perence has been extraordinarily pleasant.
my career | should be able to devote my
self entirely to business pursuits. Politics
has fascination. but -"
He did not complete the sentence, but it
seemed as though it were in his mind to
say at the excitements and fascinatiOns
OF a political career could not furnish the
delight which successful business enter
prise gave to young man who had his
fortune to make.
Have you any disposition to return to
newspaper life ?" ask ed.
None at all: l have had my share Of
that experience. don't think could be
tempted back"
But you are still a newspaper pro-
prietor?"
Yes. retain my interest in the Albany
Argus." And then he added with dry
smile: Il presume / always SHALL"
Although Lamont may not care again to
become Il newspaper man, he IS one OF the
most faithful newspaper readers. There
are very few newspapers in New York
state which he does not see, occasionally
at least, and from them he gets much in
formation as to the temper of the people
and the character and ability of young
men who are coming to the front. In my
conversation with him he spoke of various
articles which he had seen in New York
state newspapers, so that IT was plain he
kept up his early habit of putting himself
in touch with public sentiment through
out the state by means of its press.
Mr.. Cleveland is an astute judge of men,
although some of his friends have thought
him lacking in this quality. He also takes
strong likings or dislikes. Lamont had
not been with him a month before Cleve-
land perceived that he had secured not
only valuable assistant, but man
whose mental, moral and physical char
acteristics were exactly To his liking. La
mont's executive capacity is exemplitied
by extraordinary tact. quality which Mr..
Cieveland's friends have felt that he
lacked. Moreover. Lamont was quiet, I'M
| assuming. diligent and capable OF quite as
hard work As Mr.. Cleveland himself. SO
| that the relations between them took on
| more the characteristics of personal init
| macy and liking than those of employer
and empoye.
1t is one of the traditions that after Mr..
| Cleveland was elected president ne said to
Lamont:
Dan. won't go to Washington City
| unless you go too"
But | can't afford il, governor. can
| live very nicely in Albany on my income.
| but don't see how | can live in Washing
| ton City on il"
Then Mr.. Cleveland. silent for mo-
| ment. told Lamont that he would out of
| his own pocket make up an amount suifi-
| cient, with the salary OF private secretary,
| to enable Lamont TO live in Washington
| City as became his office. and with this
| brief conversation the whole matter was
| settled.
| Lamont was the only private secretary
| to president who ever gained fame
| through his management of that Office.
! Others have held the office who have after
! wards secured repute. No one has ever
| gained national distinction by reason of
| the service in IL excepting Lamont. Mr..
Cleveland himself Was extraordinarily
| impressed with the tact which his secre-
| tary displayed. almost as much by this
| quality as by the wisdom OF some OF
| Lannon'S suggestions and bis discretion.
which seemed almost too mature tor one
| of his years. These qualities also I'M
/ pressed Mr.. Whitney. who, while secretary
| of the navy. was already IN negotiation
! with certain great capitalists Tor import
| ant business interests which he undertook
| to develop as soon as the administration
was ended.
| To the eve of the politician, and in fact
! the business man, the intimacy between
Whitney and Lamont seemed almost un-
accountable. The secretary was man OF
| the highest culture. of seemingly indoient
maureFisfn. an unuSuai one Tor an Ameil-
| can. although quite common III England.
| and which VAS altogether mis.eadIn z
/ when estimates OF Whitney's business
| ability we're made He had unusual fond
| ness tor the destinations of social liie, ex-
| ouisite charm as a host. n gh cultivation
/ in matters of art and literature and pos
sessei what Lamont never did, the art OF
/ concealIng thought by words
! Lainout never fully oyercame the sag-
! sestion OF his early country lite. lie was
! by no means rustic n appearance or
] manner, but there VAS something Of the
! hint OF seli-consciousDess which was es-
! peciallv manifested in his dIslaste for the
whirl Of fashionable festiyity. HIS cuI-
/ ture Is entirely that which comes from ex-
/ per ,ence, anu there seems - be but little
/ To furnish q bond OF sympathy between
| these men excepting their taste for poll
ties.
! We. the most cordial intimacy was de-
veiopei between them. going so far that
Mr.. Whitney lifted Lamont out of wat
might have been al embarrassment had
/ he been compelled 10 look soou, for ca
reer. and set him right IN the midst OF that
group OF great capitalists whose plans are
/ believes: 10 EN- brace the control 81 the street
| ftos.ssgsd o. Pase IL