The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-10
oPTICIAN. SCHMIDT BUILDING.
JOHN II. M'LEAN OF OHIO
Some Stories of the Democratic Candidate
For Governor.

FOR Governor.
John r. Mclean tho Democratic nomin,o for
Governor of Ohio, is Of tho SUCCESSFUL ncu.,-
paper owners of the Middle West He stcoscdsd
his father, Washington Mclean. a. editor Of the
Cincinnati Enquirer about quarter Of century
ago later acquiring in addition to his fathsrs in
terest that of Mr. Faran Mr. Mclean has aIways
run the Enquirer in strictly indepsnecnt fashion
! as regards pretty much everything excepting tina
support Of the regularly nominated Denocratics
| ticket He has never devoted much space to edi-
torial discussion, frequently going 10 prrss with
less than n column, and on one occasion at lcast
with none at ALL line at the head of the editorial
page stating: "All news, but no opinions today"
For a number OF years James IL WoOdard,
Western newspaper man. was the EnQuirsr's
correspondent at Indianapolis Later he went to
California with q railroad but finally returned to
the Enquirer Woodland WAS Republican and
not popular with the Hoosier Democrata A num-
Der OF the Democratic Leaders at IndianApols COR
cluded that Mclean did not correctly understand
the situation and made up delegation TO 60 down
TO Cincinnati to enlighten him They called On
him at his Office, denounced Woodland a. q Re-
publican obnoxious to them and other Democrats
and demanded his removal and the substitution Of
some good Democrat as the ERqsirsr oorrcspon-
dent at the Hoosier capital Mclean listcned "
them with courteous patience and then aAid:
Gentlemen l am satisfied with the situation
in Indiana SO far as the Enoatzer IL concerned.
1t has a large circulation in the State and il is
larger In Republican towns in proportion to popu-
lation than in Democratic towns All have to
say is that when | want the advice
of you gentlemen as 10 how l shall conduct the
Enquirer will send for you. Good day, gentle
men"
Since then he has never been bothered by dele
cations that want to instruct him as 10 the con-
duct Of his paper
Once in the early days OF his control of the En-
Quirer, while he still took an active personal part
IN Its management, a new reporter came on the
paper He was OF the order Of very fresh young
men, he hadn't been on the paper a week before
he was calling Mclean by his given name One
evening Mclean called the young man into his
private Office and said:
Look here, Blank. what the matter with your"
Blank looked surprised, but opined that there
was nothing the matter with him.
oh. yes, there Is, persisted Mclean. You arc
too formal in your intercourse with me- You
seem to suffer under sense Of restraint that
makes you cold and distant You call me John.
Now, don't COLL me John Warm up man, warm
up and be friendly and call me Mac"
About fifteen years ago Mclean went TO Wash
ington where he has since lived most of the time
though retaining his legal residence In Cincin-
natl lie married the daughter Of the late Gen.
beau one OF Gen. Grants close friends With
his inheritance, the profits Of the Enqutrer and
his successful investments Of his surplus he is
one OF the rich men Of Washington, being heavy
stakeholder in the Washington GaSlight Com
paay, the chief monopoly OF the National Capitol,
and OF the Capital Traction Company, its prind-
pal street railway system lie has lived well
out not wisely, Tor he is martyr to govt
Though prudent In his expenditures he never
hcsitatcs when it comes TO spending money ON
himself An illustration Of this is found in tho
way he treated a local Washington dealer who
was supplying his household with certain neces-
saries. The dealer called on Mclean one day
and told him that the servant who had charge
OF the household buying demanded a certain per-
oentaGc ON all purchases thus adding consid-
erably TO their cost He said ne thought Mclean
ought 10 know Of this POPULATION and so had taken
II upon himself 10 inform him of it
"Confound you." said Mclean, II wish YOU
hadn II told me Of this The servant you are COM
planning Of is the only one | can find who under
stands exactly what want and when want il
lie anticipates my wishes He has everything
ready Tor me without having 10 have it explained
10 him dozen times and then forgetting IT, as Is
the case with most servants Now you come hero
ana tell me he Is cheating me in the household
expenses Why, man, what do you suppose l
care for that? ] supposed he was doing it, but
didn't want II proved to me. l wouldn't part
with him if he stole twice as much as he doeR
lie suits me and I'm going To keep him, and I'm
not obliged to you for interfering. Good day."
and the crcstfallen tradeGan went away q wiser
man than hc came.