New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-19

COLONEL ROOSEVELT MORE ACCESSIBLE
THAN HIS PREDECESSORS
HOW HE RECEIVES AsSEMBLYMEN AND
NEWSPAPER MEN - THE PRIVATE
SECRETARY so LONGER
MEDIUM OF COMMIT

NICATION
Albany. Feb Ex-Governor Roosevelt. like a
man Of strong individuality. has made some in
tercsting innovau, ms in respect to the method
Of receiving official and unofficial visitors at the
Executive Chamber Every Governor has had
his especial method in this regard and Governor
Roosevelt has his own-onc which is possibly
the result Of his experience a civil Service
Commissioner az a Police Commissioner. as A.
sistant Secretary Of the Navy Department. and
finally as Governor-elect.
Governors have always been more or less ac-
cessible David b. Hill said recently. however,
that II always was 2 little embarrassing To enter
the Executive Chamber when Samuel J. Tilden
was Governor for Mr.. Tilden. after extending a
hand Of clamlike character TO his visitor. would
say abruptly. when are you going to leave
town. Mr. Hill added: Mr. Tden's remark
was merely a cut across lots 30 discover how
long YOU were going 10 remain In Albany. in
order 10 make an engagement with you To dine
with him az the Executive Mansion; but never
theless. Il was naturally disconcertng." Lucius
Robinson was a blum old gentleman. who re
ceivod visitors with a stately courtesy Of man
ner. and he did not permit all callers to take a
part Of his tirro-the throng was weeded out by
his son. Dnvid G. Robinson. who acted as his
rrlvote secretary Alonzo Il. Cornell had had
experience AS chairman Of the Republican State
COMMITTEES and knew how TO affect frigdty
OF d.rneanor and WEAKNESS OF mind when a
caller had outlasted his welcome. His secretary.
Henri. f. Abel. now Police Commissioner Of
Ncv-York had little TO do with visitors
MIR coRNEIr,s PUBLIC PARDON HEARINGS
Mr. Cornell was also democratic in another
way: he heard applications for pardons publicly
ir the Executive Chamber and the writer well
recalls making an accidental visit 10 the Exec
utlve Chamber in 1SN2 and finding there rather
stout gentleman haranguing Mr.. Cornell in a
most earnest manner. VINO n was told was a
certain Grover Cleveland, Mayor Of Buffalo, and
no desired the Communication Of the sentence or
a halC-witted murderer to life Imprisonment.
Mr. Cornell rarely granted such combinations,
but he did heed Mr. Cleveands petition.
Mr. Cleveland. as is well known had his pr-
vate secretary. Daniel :. Lamont, intervene be
tween himself and the public in "A large measure.
Colonel Lamont was most diplomatic; even when
visitors could not gain access TO Mr.. Cleveland
they left the Executive Chamber without any
sense Of having a grievance Cleveland would
have done well also to have trusted to La
mont's Judgment IN other matters. one morn
ing he tossed upon his secretarys desk letter
with the remark. Il don't suppose you would
send that letter." Colonel Lamont read the
lctter-which afterward became famous-and
found that &, was request from Mr.. Cleveland
10 John Kelly for his personal comfort" not 10
send back Thomas F. Grady as a Senator 70
Albany no" said Colonel Lamont when
pressed BY Mr. Cleveland Il would not send IT.
Mr. Cleveland tossed his head and said Wen.
am going to send IT," The letter nearly cost
Mr. Cleveland the Presidency. John Kelly
fought his nomination, and then after his nomi-