The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-04-08
Indignation Over Report That
Cleveland Was Drunk.
Many Persons Hasten to Deny
the Accusation.
CHAUNCEY DEPEW ONE
He Says Story is Contemplate
and Absurd.
Others Surprised at Such Talk
About a President.

New YORK, April 8-lhe World says
today: Indignation of the intensest Kind
has been excited among Democrats in
New York and other cities over the at
tack made upon President Cleveland at
the New England Methodist conference
by the Rev. l. J. Lansing Of Boston,
charging the president with drunken
ness at a public dinner in New York.
Many of the leading Democrats and
Republicans who attended the three
dinners at which Mr Cleveland was
present, between the time of his election
in November, 1892, and his inaugura
tion in March following, yesterday de-
nounced the story as a lie and in set
terms expressed their opinion of the
American citizen, who without the
shadow of proof, on a simple hearsay
statement would malign the character of
the president of the United States.
The three dinners referred to were
those of the Chamber of Commerce given
at DeImonico's on November 10, 1892, a
dinner at the home of Henry Willard, two
days later, and that given by the Reform
club on Decent ber 10, 1892.
Chauncey 81. Depew said last night:
"There is only one reply that can be
made to such a story-it is absolutely
contemplate and absurd.
cat the chamber of commerce dinner
I sat near Mr.. Cleveland. l saw him
from the time he came in until he went
away. can say that he was absolutely
sober and in full command of his facul-
ties He conducted himself in the way
that the world at large would expect
from the United States executive"
+. R. Coudert, who was one of the
leading men in the Reform club dim or
of 1892, had this to say on the subject:
"The suggestion or the assertion that
President Cleveland was drunk is too
contemplate for notice." he said. II
was present at the Reform club dinner
Of shat year. l sat next or almost next
to the president and l say that he, from
first to last, conducted himself as a gem
tleman, and in a manner befitting his
Office. To say that he was the worse for
drink is to utter falsehood.
at seems almost incredible to me that
any man-Republican or Democrat
claiming to be an American, with the
credit of his country at heart, should so
readily cast an unjust aspersion upon
the character of the president. A possi-
bic explanation of this story is that DR..
Lansing's informant was himself drunk
and saw all things as through glass
darkly."
T. LlleKy Auu0FSOu Salu: Il was one
of the guests at the dinner given by Mr..
Willard in honor of President Cleveland.
incidentally too.I presided at the Reform
club dinner. On both of these occas-
sions as on every other when 1 ever met
President Cleveland during an acquaint-
Rnce of many years, he has conducted
himself in a way if possible, to increase
the admiration and respect of his fellow
men. We all felt proud of our presi-
dent He was always gentlemen"
The Rev. DR.. w. II. Vibbert of Trinity
church said: "The story is ridiculous and
worse. untrue DR.. Lansing has been
misinformed l was present at the
chamber of commerce dinner, sat next to
him, talked to him, heard his admirable
address and can say that he was in the
fullest command of himself from first tc
last How on earth such a story could
be told puzzles ma 1t is almost too alb
surd for denial"