Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-20
CLEVELAND NOT OUT
SAYS INTERVIEW ON HIS POSI-
TON MIsREPREsENTS HIM.
Correspondent Quotes Letter of Former
President to Uphold
Him.

A dispatch from Princeton N. j., says
that Grover Cleveland, on being shown the
alleged interview reported by Mr.. Geo. M.
Bailey of the Galveston News, made the
following statement to the Associated
Press correspondent:
IT am very much astonished to see sucn
an outcome from visit made to me by
one who only gained friendly access TO
me by reason Of his being representative
of paper formerly conducted and owned
by nv deceased friend, Colonel Belo. and
now conducted by his son.
II don't know whether Mr.. Bailey intend
ed it or not, but he has given a very err
roneous impression of what occurred be-
tween us. If I had dreamed that he would
attempt to construct an important inter-
view, dealing with important subjects, out
of what was said on the occasion OF his
visit 1 would certainly have insisted, ac-
cording to my habit, upon Its pelng theh
and there reduced to writing ana SUP
mitted to me. Instead OF gaming the
least intimation of such an intention on
his part, his first words were that ne
knew an ex-President was not person
to be interviewed, and he left me Witnou.
the least hint that l had peeh Aneei 'io"eo
for publication.
"AIl care to add is that the substance
of the interview as published Is IN some
respects grossly Inaccurate. Ihere are
statements in 1t attributed 10 me ait 80
certainly would not have made TO per
son no nearer to me and no more III NY
confidence that Mr.. Bailey.
The interview repudlated by MI Nieve-
land was couched In the foiio"lhs i"n-
guage: En-. a.,
at is perfectly absurd to suppose tor an
instant that I have any desire 10 re-elitei
public life nor have l even remotely enter
over six years ago The matter is as far
from my thoughts as 1t was In 1880, Wheil
all must admit it was not WITHIN my near
ing or sight / have no higher aspiration
than to pass my days In peace, WIN - -" -,
family around me, and to take no part IN
politics, which any private cltlZen caiiio'
take with the utmost propriety:
II have never spoken to anybody on the
subject Of a fourth candldacy, nave he eve,
written to a single political friend one way
or another nor have l been written 70 OF
spoken to by them. There is not pohucal
leader of any prominence endeavorlns ~
advance any movement TO nomlnate me- iiie a.
any state so far as have been ADVISED,
nor do I anticipate that any such enort VIII
be made by any leader, prominent or oo-
scure in any locality in the country.
I'm this respect the situation Is more imam
n,ea sing. In earnestly desiring the demo.
cratic party to become strong ana uhl'eu
as of old, committed to the simple traoi-
lions and sound principles which mace
a ppressive and victorious, no thought OF
nersonal interest has disturbed me. nave
On several occasions within year unoer-
taken to perform the labor winch usuaily
falls to the private in the ranks. put tnere
has not lurked within me the hope or any
reward save the consciousness OF having
made an effort to assist in bringing about
Statutory conditions In the party
To substantiate his story the correspon,
dent of the Galveston News quotes the re-
Div of the former President to his letter re-
auesting an interview. This reply reads:
~ have received your letter of the 4th IN
slant suggesting visit to my nome on your
~, hah ol ~
I should be very glad to see you. put am
obliged to say that l shall leave nome on
Saturday morning, the 9th instant; 10 De
absent for ten days or more. ana that my
time between now and the day or my oe-
parture will be exceedingly occupied with
work which must be done before leave II
might be possible for me to see you In the
midst of all this, but II II shouio nappen
NV return the chances of satisfactory
visit would be greatly increased"
In further explanation and defense OF
his Interview Mr.. Bailey says:
eff there is an inaccuracy in single
statement in that interview 1t is to be re-
GREETED, and I sincerely deplore IT. II MT.
Cleveland is misrepreSented, 1t Will be easy
to correct any erroneous impression which
nav have been made If he will point 1t out.
There was much said which regarded as
personal and which I did not quote, and
subjects discussed which did not mention
in the story at all. 1t cannot be doubted
that I would have gladly submitted my
COPY to Mr.. Cleveland If he had requested
it, and surely he must have forgotten my
first letter to him and his response to 1t
if he was under the impression that had
come for any purpose whatever other than
to get story for my paper.
1.-The signature for this letter was in Mr..
Cleveland's own handwriting. talked with
Mr. Cleveland upon variety of subjects,
and at some length upon the question Of
the recent Cleveland movement.
Mr.. Cleveland's depreciation of the
movement was emphatic, il I am capable
of understanding the English language. and
what wrote was as I understood him.
Mr.. Cleveland does not specify the mac
curate statements OF which he complains
and am unable. therefore, to understand
just what his cause of complaint is His In
timation that gained access to his home
through any misunderstanding on his part
of the purpose OF my visit is an injustice
to me, which am sure he would not pur-
posely infiict. In the letter, which I have
quoted, he seems to have understood that
the purpose OF my visit was IN behalf Of
your paper and what I could do in behalf
my paper by Visiting Princeton. except get
ting story from him Is beyond conjoc-
ture."