Birmingham age-herald., 1895-05-12
TALES OF THE TIMES.
Chaunoey Depew Accused of Not Knowing on Which End of 2 Steer the Horns Are.


 Chauncey Depew Accused of Not Knowing on Which End of 2 Steer the Horns Are.
 At last Chauneey M. Depew is exposed. For years, accofding to Governor John P. Altgeld of Illiheois Ing hg hay E Rsgp posing be- fore the farmers of this cotintfy as aii ex- pert agrieulturist, whining their votes and their applause on the false pretense that he had all sorts of occult information.
 Mr. Depew brought it all on himself by his address to the students of the Chicago university. The orator didn't expose Gov ernor Altgeld by name, but speaking of the Chicago riot said:
 "So potential was this uprising that two governors surrendered and the mayor of our western metropolis took his orders from tho leader of the revolt"
 This is what excited Altgeld. In his proclamation, which, it is said, will be pasted on the front door of the state capi- tol of Illinois, he officially declares:
 MT Depew does not know on which end of a steer the horns belong"
 Ordinarily ignorance of this kind would not be criminal, but in the case of Mr. Depew the charge means more than ap- pears upon it's face He is member of the New York Farmers club, which de- mands large amount of technical knowl- edge
 MT. Depew," asked reporter, "do you wish to be yindicatedP Will you reply to this charge of Governor Altgeld and tell the public which end of the steer should have the horns?''
 MT. Depew was visibly affected. He dis tinctly evaded the question and exclaimed: "Altgeld is mad. The best proof that man has poor case is when he loses his temper. He poses as an anarchist, but at the same time he believes in the doctrine of fortunes, for I understand that he owns one of the tallest buildings in Chicago"
 But, Mir. Depew, he makes distinct charge. It is about steer which he says'-
 ''He thinks that wrap myself in tho stars and stripes, does he2 Well, have q great respect for the American flag. It is q good thing to wrap yourself in. Altgeld comes nearer wrapping himself in the red flag"
 "He says that you don't know which end"-
 "See here, exclaimed Mir Depew, with some warmth, 'you say the Farmers club is being brought into this thing. I am member of that club, and a member in such standing that I shall not be affected by anything Altgeld says about me, I don't believe anything Altgeld could say about any one would do him any harm"
 "But you have not given categorical answer to the question about the steer. Now, suppose"-
 "What does it matter?" shouted MT. Depew. t'It is true that am connected with the Union stoclyards of Chicago, an office that Altgeld says yields me S25 900 year, but don't have to know anything about steers horns, do l? Suppose the hae m WI n fbnrD has two horns at each end9 What are you going to do about it? We simply handle the cattle out sthere. We don't kill them or pack them. We don't have to know about horns.o
 Admitting that you don't have to know, MT. pepew, will you tell whether you do know or whether you don't at which end''--
 "No, I will not" retorted tho orator hotly. "Is a man bound to criminate him selfP''
 In the governors proclamation he also says; [" But all this was of no consequence, as, instead of slaughtering cattle he was expected to earn his salary by slaughtering the innocents.
 "Now, Mir. Depew," said the reporter, "since you refuse to criminate yourself on the steer question, will you state whether you have slaughtered any innocents, and, if so who they were?'
 No, sir, replied MT. Depew decided ly 1T have not slaughtered any innocents, at least not lately"
 MT. Depew's attitude on the steer and his horns problem will satisfy some farm CTS that the exposure of Altgeld has been effective. It is said, however, that Mir. Depew will still remain in public life.- New York World