The midland journal., 1901-08-02
33HANP CLARK STORIES
Gathered In and About the
= Halls Of Congress.

Incident Of Grover Cleveiand's First
Presidential campaien-Senator Cor.
mans Summary Disposal Of an Ad.
dress to the Pubiic-starting a Row
In Kentucky - Major McDowell's
Joke-Greeiey's Passage at Arms
With College President.
copyright, 1901, by Champ Clark1
An ex-representative from Maryland
on one occasion entertained the cloak
room with this remarkable bit of his
tory. He said:
when Grover Cleveland was nomi-
mated In 1884, ex-senator Arthur p.
German was chairman of the national
Democratic committee. Soon after the
nomination Daniel Manning wrote to
German to come to Albany. He went,
and Manning took him over to the gu
bernatorial mansion and introduced
him to Mr.. Cleveland. During the con-
versation German said:
Governor, came down to consult
you as to the conduct Of the campaign
Cleveland replied: L don't know
continental thing about q campaign!
You run it to suit YOURSELF which Cor
man, taking Cleveland at his word,
proceeded to do. Now be it remem-
bered that Cleveland had a habit of
spending good deal of time incubat-
ing a document and then springing it
suddenly upon an unsuspecting and as
founded public. Toward the end Of
the campaign Manning telegraphed
German to hasten to Albany on busi-
ness Of most serious import. German
obeyed and took the first train for New
York's capital. Manning met him at
the depot and told him that Cleveland
had prepared an address to the people
which, if published, would knock his
presidential fat into the fire and play
the deuce generally, that he had en-
deavored to dissuade him from his sui
cidal course without avail and that he
see If he could devise some plan to cir
cunyent Grover and prevent his polit-
ical undoing. German listened, won
dered, said little, but, after the fashion
of the Irishman's owl, kept up deuce
Of thinking They drove to the gov
ernor's mansion. 1t was clear. crisp,
frosty day. and bright fire was burn
ing in the open CRATE,
After passing the compliments Of
the season Mr.. Cleveland said:
"'Senator, l have prepared an elab-
crate address to the public, and before
publish 1t l desire to know what you
think Of it,
with this modest preface he handed
German a large roll Of manuscript in
that small, feminine caligraphy for
which he is famous. Most men would
have been utterly nonplused, but Sem
ator German Is one of the coolest and
least eXcitable of mortals. He read
the document carefully and then did
the most remarkable thing ever done
TO o paper prepared by the hand OF
either a president In esse or a presi-
dent In posse. Just as German con-
cluded its perusal and Grover was en-
joying by anticipation a eulogy ON his
and enraged him by unceremoniously
and promptly fiinging it into the fire,
with the sententious remark:
That's what think of it.'
Cleveland hoped around like q tur-
key on q hot griddle, tried to claw his
precious paper out Of the fire and only
had burned fingers for his pains. And
his great address went into the limbo
of oblivion along with the sibyline
leaves and the Lost Tales of Miletus.'
Not being able to rescue his document
from the flames. he swore and ranted
and cayorted, telling German that he
would permit no living human being to
take such unusual and unheard Of lih-
critics with the children of his brain.
German. looking like a Greek statue,
said:
"'When first nominated, I asked you
for your ideas of running the campaign.
You said you had none and told me to
run 1T to suit myself. This paper
would defeat you. / will not be re-
sponsible for any such performance.
You either run this campaign, or will
run it, With that German bowed him.
self out, and the world knows the re-
suit.
ut may be-who knows-that that
incident at Albany laid the foundation
for the mutual dislike between Presi-
dent Cleveland and Senator German
which finally took onthe character Of a
feud and which was productive of
great deal of history. What pity that
that queer and unique scene could not
have been placed on immortal canvas
by cunning hand"
Too Late.
Hon. Theodore F. Kluttz of North
Carolina told this tale illustrative of the
Kentucky reputation: "While the cir
cult court was in session quarrel arose
just outside the courtroom which was
so uproarious as to attract the atten-
ton Of the judge. He ordered the sher-
iii to go out and quell the disturbance.
Just as that functionary returned into
the courtroom the shooting began out
side. The Judge said to the sheriff:
"'Didn't tell you to stop that row?
"'Yes, judge answered the sheriff:
I tried, too, but it was too late. When
| got out there, the id lie" had al
ready passed."
Apropos OF that story Il member as
serted that II was u historic fact that
In murder case Kentucky Judge in
an early day decided that the phrase
above mentioned was equivalent to the