The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1903-06-25
REPORTER CALLED DOWN.
Alleged Interview, Widely Published,
Causes Ex-President Cleveland
Worry and Brings Denial.

A Princeton, n j., dispatch says:
Ex.President Grover Cleveland, on be-
ing shown the alleged interview re-
ported by Mr.. Bailey, washington cor
respondent of The Galveston News,
made the following statement to the
Associated Press correspondent Fri
day:
81 am very much astonished to see
such an outcome from the visit made
TO me by one who only gained friendly
access to be my reason Of his being a
representative Of a paper formerly con-
Quoted and owned by my deceased
friend, Colonel Belo, and now conduct
ed by his son.
81 don't know whether Bailey intend
ed It or not, but he has given very
erroneous impression of what occur
red between us.
Tf had dreamed that he would at,
tempt to construct an important inter
view, dealing with important subjects,
out of what was saidon the occasion OF
out Of WHIT was said in the occasion OF
ed, according to my habit, upon Its
being then and there reduced to writ
ing and submitted to me. Instead OF
gaining the least intimation Of such an
intention on his part, his first words
were that he knew an ex-president was
not a person to be interviewed and he
left me without the least hint that |
had been interviewed for publication.
"All / care to add is that the sub
stance of the interview as published
is, In some respects, grossly inaccur'
ate. There are statements in 1t attri-
buted to me that I certainly would not
have made to person no nearer to me
and no more in my confidence than Mr..
Bailey"
The Alleged Interview.
Mr.. Bailey, to whom former Presi-
dent Cleveland alludes, spent Thurs
day at Princeton, and when he arrived
in Washington prepared an account OF
his conversation with Mr.. Cleveland.
The correspondent believes Mr..
Cleveland deeply in earnest in two
things. The first, that his name shall
not be considered in connection with
the democratic nomination. The Sec
ond is his hearty desire for the unity
of the party and success of democratic
principles.
According to Mr.. Bailey, Mr.. Cleve'
land made the following statement:
Il have never spoken to anybody on
the subject Of a fourth candidacy;
have never written to a single political
friend one way or another, nor have
been written to or spoken to by them.
There is not political leader of any
prominence endeavoring to advance
any movement to nominate me in any
state. so far as have been advised,
nor do anticipate that any such offer
will be made by any leader, prominent
or obscure, in any locality OF the coun'
try.
I'm this respect the situation is more
than pleasing. In earnestly desiring
the democratic party to become strong
and united as Of old, committed to the
simple traditions and sound principles
which made it aggressive and victo'
rious, no thought of personal interest
has disturbed me. 49,
sI have on several occasions within
year undertaken to perform the id1or
which usually falls to the private in
the ranks, but there has not lurked
within me the hope of any reward save
the consciousness of having made an
effort to assist in bringing about salu'
tary conditions in the party"
Mr.. Cleveland, Mr.. Bailey said,
would talk no more politics, but in re-
sponse to remark that southern peo'
pie were pleased with what he had re-
Gently said on the race question, the
face of the former president kindled
with interest as he said it was indeed
gratifying to him 70 know this. He
said he. had received hundreds of let
tiers conveying kindly sentiments from
the southern people since he had spok-
en- on the race problem, and, believing
he has fairly appreciated the Difficult.
ties with which the southern people
had always to contend, 1t was all the
more a pleasing reflection that he had
the commentator of people for whom
he had ever entertained respect and
admiration.