St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-02-03
cred on that subject just now"
Had that man not been walloWing
in the
Slough of Ignorance

III the
Slough of Ignorance
he would have acted like a gentle
man at any cost.
Think of him and go with me to
the private apartments Of Gov.
William Mckinley, who received me
with a smile and a dignified bow.
Accustomed, as he was, to meet
and associate with great men, he
did not make me feel that he was
talking to a reporter, but accorded
me the same gentlemanly treat
ment that the prominent American
statesman had enjoyed at his
hands. He arose from his chair,
came forward and shook me cor
daily by the hand The usual
greetings over, it became a question
of business between us, but never
once during the interview did Gov.
Mckinley depart in the least from
his usual courtliness of manner.
We were talking of his race against
Jim" Campbell, and Gov. McKin-
ley remarked that, while he hoped
and felt he would win, still, with a
smile, he added:
No one, not even you gentlemen
of the press, can predict with any
degree of certainty the result of a
political battle. 1t is a great game,
this political puzzle Of ours, and it
is difficult to say which is the more
fortunate, the man who solves the
problem or the man who gives it
up" w hen 1 came to take my
leave, the governor invited me to
call again at any time, and that he
would be pleased to see me.
would call on him tomorrow with
the feeling present that 1 would
receive a cordial welcome.
And so it is with Gov Foraker,
Fire Alarm Foraker" as he has
been termed by political antagonists.
I called on him, too, during the ma
tional convention at Minneapolis.
Leaving a crowd of friends, he
came forward, his face beaming with
cordiality, and took both my hands
in his own.
glad, to see you. l respect and hon
or the members of your profession,
and am always glad to see them
wherever 1 am
A moment later I asked him how
he stood as between Blaine and Har-
rison.
Say that I am for Blaine" he
said enthusiastically. Say that my
heart and soul are with the man
from Maine. In fact just go ahead
with your little pencil, write what
you please, and put whatever you
please in my mouth, just SO it is for
James G. Blaine. I will back every
thing you say
Come again." he said, good-na-.
turedly. You'll find me here till
the battles over, and you are al
ways welcome. Don't forget that I
am for Blaine from daylight till
dark. Goodbye"
I often smile to myself when I call
to mind my experiences with some
of the small office-holders in this
city and vicinity. Their very ap-
parent efforts to impress me with
the magnitude of their Importance
were as amusing as a farce comedy.
1 was especially pleased at their en-
deavors to let me know how essen
tial they were to the public good.
And when, with pompous air, they
stroked their boards and mustache,
and affected a studied air of thought
fulness, I felt highly f1attered that
they had condeScended to notice my
existence.
I compared these instances with
my visits to President Rutherford
B Hayes and Senator John Sherman.
No more affable man ever lived than
President Hayes. He was man of
the people, so far as my personal
knowledge went. He met me at the
threshold of the door, and led the
free and friendly fashion, and ap-
parently gave me credit for know
ing what I was there for. He re-
ceiVed and treated me as courteouSly
when he sat at the nations head as
he treated me afterwards, when, di-
vested of the greatness Of Office, he
shook hands with me at a G. A. r.
campfire, and recalled an interview
Of a year before. And four years
ago I met him again at Detroit, and
he was the same courtly gentleman.
He Oh that day marched several
miles in a G. A. r. procession, and
appeared as erect and vigorous as a