Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-12-07
TOM NASH ON GRESHAM.
The Appleton Post is Authority for
the following Interview.

There are few men in Wisconsin who
enjoy larger circle Of personal ac-
quaintance than Ton Nash, of Contra
Iia Although a staunch Democrat he
is not unreasonably ultra in his views.
In other words, he does not insist that
his own party is immaculate, or that all
the economic vices extanr are associated
with Republicanism. He is a gentle
man of marked resources and arrives
at conclusions through the process of
careful reasoning. AS assistant post
master general to William Villas, under
Cleveland's former administration, he
elected the respect and confidence of
both his political allies and adversaries
through his courtesies and the honor
able disposition he made of complex
irregularities in the public service
Tom Is not in politics now, nor was he
at the time when he freely expressed
his disapproyal, to the writer, of Judge
Gresham's appointment as Secretary of
State He had then commenced the
erection of a paper mill plant at Ne
koosa, on the Wisconsin river, where,
it is to be hoped, he will under con-
tinued protection give employment to
d large number of operatives at re-
munerative wages and pile up ducates
commensurate~to his enterprise. To
this changed condition we ascribed at
the time, the frank and fearless criti-
cism Of Mr. Nash at Cleveland's mis-
take in inviting Gresham into his
cabinet.
As nearly as we can recall the sub
stance Of his conversation Mr.. Nash
said: From what | know of HIM,
Judge Gresham is a wonderfully over
estimated man. Consumed with an
InOrdinate passion for public recognition
beyond what he has been able to secure,
ne is envious of his rivals and will
scruple at nothing to crafty his indi-
Vidral animOSiueS. Nothing but his
disappointment in securing the presi-
dental domination on the Republican
ticket has brought him into the Demo-
cratic party, and conversions of this
order are not alone insincere but un-
pardOnable makeshifts to create mis-
chief. Among the old-time employees at
Washington 1t is an open secret that
when Mr.. Gresham first occupied
cabinet position under Republican
administration he was devoted to a
class Of evening amusements which
were spiced with spurious libations and
n which considerable revenue changed
hands. He was of such a temperament
tnat when he met with reverses it so
that he treated his subOrdinates with
discourtesy bordering upon brutality.
AS consequence the force in the de-
partment made him study and when
he appeared in the morning with knit
brow and heavy eye they avoided him
Ior the whole day as they would a
deadly cOntagiOn.
ION one OCCASION" said Mr.. Nash,
as the story goes in Washington, all
important matter came before one OF
the departments that required Mr..
IreSham'S S immediate decision. From
one chief clerk down not a man could
De found TO lay the matter before the
Gentleman until it had been learned
that he had made a winning the night
before and was therefore in a passive
mood. | mention these circumstance"
aid Mr.. Nash, ''to illustrate the
fchlenesS, IN small way, that dOmi-
mates the character of Mr.. Clevelands S
newly appointed secretary of state.
Measured by these qualities coupled
With his political record, Mr. Gresham
viii prove as unsafe as he is disagreeabIe
IN the position of trust assigned him.
And you can depend upon it,"
volunteered Mr.. Nash, ''that the very
irst opportunity that presents itself, HE
Will CREATE TROUBLE FOR THE COUNTRY,
EMBARRASSING TO THE ADMINISTRATION, ii
~ so doing he tancies he is giving
body blow to some personal enemy"
When this conversation was had with
Mr.. Tom Nash we regarded it as
confidential and made no public use OF
t. Now, however, that his words have
proven to he words Of prophesy, We
ieel that the ban of secrecy is removed
rom that interview and that the public
will be gratifed to learn that one
Democrat in Wisconsin has made no
mistake in his estimate of the duplicity
and treachery of Walter @. Gresham.