Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1903-08-31

ltction with some statement he had
Llada or . f0,M4r visit, perhaps long
tine previous. He did i;e.g make nys-
tery of his news giving, and some
,ncs communicated the most impor-
information viii such simplicity
aa, = < Of eiat,o4 Is 10 give the inn
preston that lie was not aware Of its
value l'e was not a silent man to
the newspaper man in whom he con
fded Nor was lie sossipy or Ill
natured. Oa some subjects he was in
comparably the best authority of his
period and it seemed to be a pleas
ure 70 him to talk about Mexican pro
eress as he had observed it in his
wol Ids tour.
President Garfield had been one of
the most productive of neWs-giVers in
the house Of representatives before he
was nominated for president, and he
went to the White Heuse carrying the
free-and- d-easy ways Of the representa-
tive with him. Even on inauguration
day he broke from a circle of distin-
gushed graduates of Williams College
to shake the hand of an intimate news
paper friend and give his Ohio paper
a ''tip" of a very important nomination
to come. The traditions and his pri-
Yate secretary soon closed in upon
him, and between March and July he
learned enough about the importance
of not saying all things to give his
last days a reflective cast.
1t did not make much difference with
President Arthur whether he was call
ed upon for information during the
usual morning business hour, along
with the crowd or after midnight. II
he could be reached over the heads
of over-solicitous doormen, he was
glad to discuss with correspondent
question that needed just the infor-
nation he possessed to make it clear
to the public. He knew what a scoop
newspaper President Arthur was in
clined to place the blame for the leak
on the civil service commissioners or
on the cabinet, very much to the cha
grin of those gentlemen. who in turn,
produced the copies of the rules that
had been left in their care. When the
newspaper correspondent who was re-
sponsble for their appearance heard
of the unpleasant situation and called
upon the president to relieve the sus-
pected officers of blame, Gen. Arthur
insisted upon sending messages to all
members of his cabinet and to the civil
service commissioners to express his
regret that he had been led for a mo-
ment to entertain suspicion as to
their fidelity.
If the White House was better
news center during the first admins
tration of Mr.. Cleveland than it was
when he occupied the office of prest
dent for a second term. the difference
must be attributed to the fact thce
during his first tenn Daniel S. Lamont
was his private secretary, and during
his second term he was not. LamC@t
was not afraid of his chief, and pos
sessed TIE tact to make it easier rather
than more difficult for people to get
y; Il
successfully. A newspaper man NM
self. Lamont appreciated the 1mi"f-
tance and advantage OF enjoying the
good will of the representatives OF the
newspapers in Washington. II might
not be conclusive of anything, but IT
at least tended for the hest. so, 1t
was unforttnate that with the begin
ming of the second administration oI
Mr.. CleN eiand the impression wa al
lowed to set abroad that he was more
difficult Of approach than he tad bees
during lis first term.
President Harrison was not inae-
eessihle to newspaper visitors, ha'
there was none that could describe
himself as intimate or who enioyec
freedom Of conversation ON pubh(
matters wish tie Indiana statesman
His greeting was cordial enough, ant
is talk on general subjects Was unre
strained When il came to getting al
opaian from him touching matte
of public policy or an appointment, h
adopted an Uncompromising sllenc
taat soon led to the breaking up o