The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-03
NEWSPAPERS AND POLITICS.
Ex-Governor Boutwell, Relates Some
Early Experiences.

l trIOm tne BOSTON J
Gov. George S. Boutwell, was the
| principal guest OF the Massachusetts, Press
Association at its annual meeting in the
| United States Hotel yesterday afternoon.
| He was delightfully."- reminiscent. He re-
| fused to talk politics. and declined to say
much about newspapers, because i know
| little about them save to read them-and
some times to believe. The lame messen-
ger. who comes last frcm the battlefield,
| is the one we trust most. and SO with the
papers, 1t is best to wait for the last edi-
tion before believing. The newspapers rule
the country three years and nine months
in every four years. The other three
months they are ruled by their party. But
/ am not afraid of the destruction of the
country from bad newspapers, or bosses.
or trusts. All these things are temporal
and will give way in time to something
better Mr.. Boutwell, told of having gone
to Washington in 1889. when he had his
first experience with newspaper reporter,
whom he described very wildly.
When he entered the Legislature in 1912
he became intimately acquainted with
Counsellor" Gill, famous reporter on
the Boston Post" and he related many
incidents connected with Mr.. GilPs life,
and especially the effort made to secure
an appointment for him while Mr.. Bout
well was Governor Of Massachusetts in
with the friends OF Mr.. Gill established
rule upon which he always acted in polit-
icai life, namely, to notify the man whom
he could not appoint, or some representa-
tive friends of him, before the successful
man or his friends knew aught OF it. Sem
ator Cameron once wanted him to appoint
a follower as Register Of the Treasury.
and it was decided by the President and
Mr. Boutwell, that 1t was impossible to do
so. The Secretary sent for the Senator,
stated the case, and the Senator was furi-
Gus. But when the case came up for con-
firmation in the Senate, he made the
leading speech in favor of the appoint
ment of the other man, and was ever aft
erward a very devoted friend of the SecA
rotary OF the Treasury.
The speaker stated very deliberately
the conditions of the coalition of 1850
The Democrats and the Free Sellers were
the farthest possibly removed in all
their general interests, but they agreed
on two points. The first was that there
should De division of the Representative
districts. Ali the Representatives OF
Boston had been of one political party,
as were all the Representatives Of Mid
dlesex county and of every other county.
The large cities voted a unit, and the
counties outside Of the cities voted asa
unit. This both parties agreed to abol-
iSh.
The second was a widespread suspicion
that the employers Of labor made their
employees vote for the Wing candidates.
and the coalition was for the purpose of |
having \ secret ballot, which consisted |
in furnishing every voter with an en- |
velope, ~ which he put his vote and de- |
posted the sealed envelope in the box. |
e there CHANGED to be two or more bal
lots ai.se in the envelope, they were \
counted as one, but if they were diff
ferent ballots. they were all thrown out. |
AS soon as these two purposes were ac- |
complished the coalition ended, and the |
Free Sellers and Democrats had nothing !
whatever in comOn.