The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1899-01-05
A Journalistic "ScOup."
How Gen. Gordon Helped a Washington Cor
respondent.

the writer to make, as we'll as his unvary-
ing courtesy when called upon by the
busy news gatherers of the National Capt.
tai. Some men are easier to report than
Others Senator Gordon has the faculty
of imparting information in style so
memorized. For example: one Saturday
| met him on Pennsylvania avenue and he
suggested some matter for letter to the
Atlanta Constitution. We stepped into
the Imperial Hotel and sat down in the
office while the Senator went over the
ground it was proposed to cover. | did
not attempt to write it out for several
days, and made no notes, but when the
letter appeared in print Gen. Gordon
expressed surprise at the accuracy with
which he had been reported. But the
credit was as much due to him as to the
writer. This, however, was a small mat
ter compared with the one l have to re-
late
At this time it seems hard to realize the
Importance attached to a contest over
But those were exciting days in Washing
ton and the effects of this controversy
were far-reaching. Under President
Grant Senator Conkling had the disposal
of ali the federal patronage in the State
Of New York. His colleague, Senator
Fenton, was ignored at the White House,
us were the Representatives from New
York. The control of this vast patron
age made Conkling all powerful in his
State and gave him great influence i'll the
Senate. He was arrogant and supercih-
Gus to the last degree. With the incom-
ing of President Hayes all this was chang
ed, and Conkling speedily became a bitter
opponent of the Administration. In De-
cember, 1877, President Hayes sent to the
Senate the nominations Of Roosevelt for
Merritt for surveyor at the port OF New
York. At an executive session held Dee
18th the nominations Of Roosevelt and
Prince were defeated, but Merritt was
confirmed. Conkling, with the aid OF
Democrats, defeated Roosevelt and Prince
while Gen. Gordon, a member of the com
mittee on commerce, to whic1 the nomi-
nations had been referred, led the Admin
istraton forces for confirmation. This is
preliminary to the story
One evening after dinner-we Ained late
in Washington noticed the electric
light blazing in the dome of the capital,
and knew that the Senate was still in
executive session. Having nothing spec
ial on hand at the moment | boarded a
street car and was soon at the great mar
BILE building where the laws of the nation
are made. just as | reached the Senate
wing the doors were thrown open, the
Senate having adjourned, and in rushed a
score or two of newspaper men who had
been patiently waiting in the Hobbies. On
entering l saw Senator Gordon with two
or three newspaper men about him. He
motioned to me ard as l approached took
me by the arm and suggested that we
should walk up Pennsylvania avenue.
His destination was Wizards Hotel, and
mine 18th street, or Newspaper Row.
viewers the Senator got his hat and coat
from the cloak room and we set forth
He began by telling me that just before
adjournment the Senate had voted to re-
move the Injunction of secrecy when they
met the next day, and so he felt free to
talk of what had occurred. Although the
executive sessions Of the Senate are secret,
and Senators and the few employees in the
chamber at such sessions are sworn to
secrecy, the newspaper men have never
failed to advise the public of the proceed
ings. Senator Gordon, however, was
never one of the ''leaky vessels" and but
for the action of the Senate just mention
ed would have been as dumb as the
Sphinx. Under the circumstances he felt
free to talk, and beginning with the open
lbS 6p0OCA HC gave ihC q lttii OutliHt VI luG
whole proceedings. Near the end of our
walk we were joined by another Senator,
whose name | do not recall and the mat
ter was further discussed.
Leaving the Senator at the corner of
14th street | went to the New Y ork World
office and found the correspondent, Geo.
W. Adams, at his desk elbow much do
you want of the executive session on the
New York appointments | asked. "Why
they haven adjourned yet,' was the re-
ply. But | soon convinced my old friend
that | was correct, and that | had some
important matter for his paper I first
jotted down notes of the proceedings as |
had obtained them from Senator Gordon
and strange to say | found those notes
among some old papers the other day, al
though | cannot imagine now why | saved
them. Then as | wrote out my notes |
handed page by page to Adams, whose
| thorough knowledge of the matter enabled
him to fill in many interesting details
and the result was that the World Wash
ington special the next day was far
/ ahead of those appearing in the other