The Sunday globe., 1901-05-19
MR.. JOHN F. COYLE,
WashingtOn'S Veteran and Accom-
pliShed Writer and LiteraturiSt,
COMMENDS THE GLOBE.
Interesting Talk on a Variety Of Subjects with
Uthls Literary OutOgsnerlan BOnWhere The Post
Office Nov Stands-hIs "reminiscences and
ReuoIIeOtIOns Of Long AgO-Thad Stevens
Generosity and The Thurman-EdmOnds Battles.

Ol Tue OlueSl VI lne NSNSldu hSNSpApNA
men of the country. Mr. Coyle has
national reputation i'm the profession
and his articles have been reproduced
oftener and given wider publicity than
any specialist or feature writer on the
press,
Mr.. Coyle was born in this city eighty
years ago. Four score years on his
next birthday and still one of the ablest
writers on the press Of this city or any
other city. Let us hear no more of the
middle aged men, who complain of
being "shelved" for younger and more
active journalists, trained in the mod
eTn school of manufacturing a news
paper. .Mr. Coyle was an able news
paper writer and editor before the mid
die aged men, who apostrOphise the
times as being out of joint, were born
and he still swings vigorous pen and
is valued contributor to the Post, in
the pages of which his "reminiscences
and wonderful pen pictures of men and
events of more than half century ago
are eagerly looked for and read not
only by the older residents, but by
the students of all ages, who are ambi-
tlous to acquire a knowledge Of the
characteristics, achievements and pub
lie lives of the historic personages who
have made Washington the scene of
their labors.
Mr.. Coyle was born where the Post
Office is now located, and on the corner
where the Star building rears its beauti-
fu and spotless front stood an old yell
low frame, which he still lovingly re-
calls as the scene Of his boyish frolIcs.
1t is more especially impressed on his
remembrance as the clerk in that yel-
low house was generous with liquorice
sticks and toOthsome candies, which
boys in every age and cline never can
get too much of inside their waste
bands
"That clerk, sir, said Mr. Coyle, in
a friendly chat with the editor in his
sanctum one day the past week, event
west, became governor of Iowa, and re-
turned from that State as United Sena-
tor. met him here, of course, and he
was still the same genial, & nerous and
frank character we boys knew so well
when we filled our pockets with the
candies and liquorice sticks he reward
ed us with for being good Senator
Kirkwood, the gentleman in question,
achieved a national reputation, and, if
you remember, he was member Of Mr..
Lincoln's cabinet"
In reply to an observation Of the edi
tor, ON the influence of the National
lntelligencer, on the staff of which Mr..
Coyle held a prominent and confiden.
tial position, he related the following
anecdote:
Henry Clay was very positive and
determined character, as we on the In
telligencer had reason to know on one
memorable occasion. Previous to the
convention which was to nominate
Presidential candidate, he being the
most CONSPICUOUS aspirant for the honor,
he penned letter on an issue then as
important TO the opposing parties as
Imperialism is now. In this letter he
took positive grounds, and Mr.. Seaton,
who received the letter by the hands of
a messenger sent him by Mr.. Clay,
called us in SORT of staff conference.
Mr.. Seaton was afrai that the publi-
cation of the letter would injure Mr..
/ Clay's chances for the nomination, in
fact positively put him out Of the race.
1t was the best Judgment of the staff
that Mr.. SeatOn, as one of the proprietors
of the paper, should visit Mr.. Clay and
endeavor to postpone its publication
until the arrival in Washington Of some
Of the leaders of the party who were
Clay partisans. Accordingly he visited
the distinguished Kentuckian in his
room, but soon returned discomfited,
eXclaiming as he entered the office,
"Clay is out Of his head" Then Mr..
Seaton's partner IT, ed his hand and re
turned with the same result. Finally,
| was detailed on the mission, and
entered the presence of the great states
man with some misgivings He was
striding up and down the long corridor
of the house, and having make known
my errand and the earnest request Of
the Intelligencer that he would post
pOne its publication for a few days he
turned on me freely and thundered;
" No, sir; and if your newspaper does
not publish it tomorrow shall send it
to the other paper"
Noticing that L shrank or seemed
nervous he placed his hand kindly and
reassuringly on my shoulder, and with
infinite sweetness, thought, in con-
trast to the tone of voice he had refused
any delay to the publication of his
letter, said;
Not you, not you. l know your
position, and appreciate your kindly
meant mission"
The letter was published, and created
dismay in the Clay camp, but this
was speedily turned into surprise
in some and confusion in others when
his rival, Van Buren, came out with
similar letter, the only difference being
tina Mr.. Van Buren took almost page
of the Intelligencer to say what Clay
put in two thirds of a column. Then it
leaked out that Van Buren, had visited
Clay at Ashland, KY, at Mr.. Clay's
home, and there the rivals in friendly
conference agreed to take the question
out of the issues of the campaign.
"What was the issue, Mr.. Coyle?"
'"The annexation Of Texas, sir; and
both men dropped it from the issues of
the campaign, and before the gentle
man who rose to nominate Mr.. Clay in
the convention got half way through
with his speech the delegates took the
bit in their teeth and In a whirl Of en-.