The San Francisco call., 1896-04-03
How a Railroad Completely
Handicaps a Man in
Politics.
WHY VANDERBILT WON'T TALK
The Story of That Famous Public
Be Damned" Interview With
William II.

In his room at the Palace last evening,
his leg thrown easily over the arm OF his
rocker, Chauncey NJ. Depew talked and
talked in that entertaining fashion that
has made proverbs in his name.
He talked of California and used super
latiYes without stint; of politics past,
present and prospective; of why he
dropped out of the Presidential race in ss;
of railroad men in politics and why they
have right to be there; of newspaper re-
porters and his experiences with them,
dropping easily from one of his Peeksklll
stories to the National money question,
and always maintaining the high level of
interest to the listener.
And ali this time Cornelius Vanderbilt
registered downstairs as plain sc. Wander
bilt"-was in another room, refusing and
refusing to talk.
One of Mr.. Depew's best stories is
founded on Mr.. Vanderbilt's refusals.
The fact is Mr.. Vanderbilt refuses, under
advice of Mr.. Depew, for Mr. Vanderbilt
himself gives signs of disposition to
speak his mind. But Mr.. Depew
says to him constantly when they
are together and the third man is
asking questions "Do not be interviewed.
: Mr.. Vanderbilt" and Mr.. Vanderbilt
speaks again of the beautiful weather.
Why this is so will be allowed to take its
place in the pleasant procession of Mr.. De-
pew's conversation, for be must first De
allowed to explain how much better he
thinks California is than all the rest of the
world, for he does think so-he says he
does.
This is the first visi. of the great rail-
road man and politician to California, and
it may be said that the first Impressions
are mutual He looks TO be all that has
been said of him and no man can remem-
ber back to an i'll speech concerning him.
He is tall. straight, gray, quick of move
ment but not nervously so, wears
dark, plain clothes, gold chain across
his vest, boutonniere and a
wonderful pair of thick-soled shoes The
shoes are the only things that arrest the
attention as something unexpected, for all
the rest is made familiar by the newspaper
and magazine artist.
He pronounces his name 'Chancy"
rather than "Chawncey," thus further en-
dearing himself to the American heart.
The party arrived last evening at $50,
after day spent along the road north
from Santa Cruz. They were conducted
by Colonel Crocker and a retinue of rail-
road men, including, of course, Mr.. Crane,
the local representative of the Vanderbilt
lines.
They will leave for the East on Sunday,
and the intervening time, as Mr.. Depew
says, is TO be heavily charged with sight
seeing and San franciscan experience.
For instance last night was devoted to
Chinatown. To-day the party will take a
drive down the Napa Valley. Saturday is
down for an excursion about the bay and
a ride through Golden Gate Park to the
Cliff House, and Saturday night the din
ner at the Union League.
There was spreading bunch of long
stemmed roses on the center-table and a
pile of letters when Mr.. Depew entered
his room last evening. One letter he sim
gied from the heap, and begged to be ex-
cused until he read it. Then he threw
himself back in his chair, saying, THAT is
letter from Buster, my boy. ALPS well
now 90 ahead
Then he went right ahead himself. He
said he regretted very much that he could
not dine with the Bohemian Club as he
understood 1t was something on the lines
of the Lotus Club of New York, of which
the principal purpose in life was TO enter.
tain artists and distinguished men of let
ters. He did not know on what theory
they could entertain him as an artist ex-
cept it might be variety artist.
Mr.. Depew had been quoted in an even
ing paper as saying that in all the prodi-
gality of nature in California he missed
the song birds and beautiful women that
ought to be natural complement of all
the rest. He distinctly blushed while re-
pudiating this statement. As to the
birds it was all right, but "as to the
women what l did say was this" said Mr..
Depew: "That regretted that the speed
with which we travel took away from me
the opportunity of meeting the ladies of
California, who, when 1 did have that
pleasure, would no doubt be found to be
the fitting crown to all the other love.
liness."
Well satisfied with this, Mr. Depew con-
tinued: ''We came through the Santa
Clara Valley to-day. l can say as a +rav-
eled man that it is the grandest valley in
the world. San Jose as the capital of that
county is beautiful little city. with great
prospects.
mo, have not seen the Vale of CASH
mere. 1 have travelled through Southern
France and all Italy. / know the famous
places of earth. There is only once
place in the world that l have seen that
may be mentioned in the same breath with
Del Monte and then Del Monte must be
spoken first. The other place is Monaco,
the great gambling headquarters OF
Europe, the little principality at the foot
of the Pyrenees and overlooking the Medi-