Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-07-28
friends and enemies. the newspaper
men. One OF the members Of the
party. a newspaper man from Chicago.
re,.aatea n story which has often been

men. One OF the members OF the
party. a newspaper man from Chicago
repeated a story which has often been
told, but which serves to illustrate
something OF the magnetic power Of
the man whose vocabulary was said
to be more extensive than that of any
other man who spoke the English
tongue. The newspaper man said:
Il had friend who was working
for the press. He was detailed to
report a political meeting in Kansas
City. Mo. where Senator ingalls, was
to be the chief speaker. The cor
respondent seated himself on the ros-
trum. pencil in hand. ready to take
the senator's speech. The senator
began by saying: AS came down
through the great Kaw valley to this
city, looked up and beheld triangles
Of wild geese narrowing the beautiful
pastures of the bright blue sky and
continuing the senator drifted on into
a wonderful flight Of oratory. The
correspondent dropped his pencil to
listen. and ere he was aware, the
senator had concluded speaking with
out one line Of his speech being taken
for the press by the prominent cor
respondent
Mr.. Ingalls, says that his father
had some amusing experiences with
reporters on various occasions. In one
instance during political excitement
when certain city paper very much
desired to secure an interview with
the senator, a reporter "braced" Mr..
ingalls, in hotel lobby. Isn't this
Mr.. Ingalls?" asked the pencil pusher
with an ingratiating smile. "No sir"
replied Mr.. ingalls,. looking gravely
and squarely at the would-be inter-
viewer.
The reporter. who was tolerably
sure Of his man, was nonplused and
with a puzzled look begged the sena-
tors pardon and "vamoosed." A
short time afterward the same news
paper man heard some Of the sena-
tors friends address him by name,
and tried again to get next" to him.
Accosting him second time he said:
Why, sir. am sure you must be Mr..
ingalls, No, sir. your are wrong
mn not Mr.. Ingalls," replied the
senator decisively without change Of
countenance and the discounted re-
optrer had no choice hutto %. =
However, the ~sAsc.3te should not
be assumed to prove that Senator In.
gals was unusually discourteous to
newspaper men. From his early
youth he was q newspaper man him
SELF, and until his step had become
feeble and his hand palsied he delight.
ed In nothing SO much as newspaper
work. Brilliant orator as he was.
keen thinker, man Of many parts, he
was before all journalist. Usually
the reporters found him friend and
champion. The incident OF the baf.
fled reporter illustrates the humorous
side Of the senator's disposition
There was probably no reason on
earth why Mr.. ingalls, should have
wished to avoid an Interview, but the
whimsical Idea Of denying his identity
came to him as an impulse which he
followed upon. II is remarkable
fact that the Kansas senator was al.
most never misquoted and that when
he wished to withhold an Interview
his wish was always quickly respect
ed.
II Is probable that an Optic reporter
was accorded the last interview that
was given by this remarkable man
On the depot platform In Albuquerque
one evening, when the old republican
leader was nearing the close of his
brilliant life. the reporter encountered
Senator ingalls,. He was very feeble
and his voice was tremulous and
husky. The old gentleman was alone
and needed information about his
train. He was on his way to Las
Cruces. seeking relief from the trou
blesome bronchial affection that az
fIicted him The reporter assisted
him to his car. Recognizing the sen.
ator. the newspaper man called him
by name. saying. however. that he
would not ask him to exert himself ia
utter Z word In the form Of an inter.
view. The old gentleman. however,
declared that he wanted to talk 4 III.
tie; that It wouldn't hurt him. Then
In few words. as chastely expressed
and as well considered as In his best
days. he touched upon the Spanish pol