The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-03-19

having returned to him, he went back
to Conkling and got the interview he
was after.
Wanted His Friend Kicked, but
Talked.
Naturally, the reporter or correspond
ent personally known to a public man
as reliable and capable rarely has any
trouble in getting to see the public
man, or in finding out anything that is
proper TO print. And naturally, public
men generally often tell reporters and
correspondents many things that they
do not want printed exactly as Conk-
ling enlightened the young reporter
mentioned above. But it is not surpris-
ing that public men are a little shy of
strangers.
Just after the present Speaker of the
House was made sure of his election
to his post a newspaper man was sent
from New York to get some facts about
a subject then exciting general atten-
ton. The correspondent was unknown
to Col. Henderson, and, being sure that
he would hesitate to talk to a stranger,
took along several strong letters of in
PRODUCTION. The colonel was found in
the rotunda of the hotel in Dubuque,
which has been his home for many
years when he is not in Washington.
TO him the correspondent presented the
letters, which Henderson read through
with great care before responding. Then
he returned all the letters except one.
II don't mind those letters" he said,
they mean nothing to me But this one
is from a man l can't we'll refuse. 1
wish l had him here. He ought to be
kicked. But you come up stairs with
me and I'll talk, providing you don't
say in your article that you got your
information from me-"
So, Tuning over the action of his
friend who had made it virtually i'm
| possible to refuse to be interviewed,
the colonel led the way to his rooms
! and there, putting away at their cigars,
| Speaker elect and the correspondent
talked out fully the topic which the lat
ter had travelled 1900 miles to investi-
| gate.
Like the President, the Speaker of the
House is rarely interviewed, so far as
| the public knows, and Henderson was
| just then so nearly Speaker that the
correspondent fully understood his rea-
sons for not being quoted.
Couldn't Bear Note Book.
The late Abram S. Hewitt varied in
his treatment of interviewers and
| newspaper men who knew him tell
many anecdotes of their meetings with
him. One reporter who went. a strang-
er, to ask him a lot of questions on
certain municipal matters, found him
sitting alone in his little Office.
81 don't know you" said Mr.. Hewitt
briskly, not to say sharply, "and |
don't know how correctly you will print
what l may say, but I'm willing to talk
with you If you won't bring out your
note book. Note books always make
me nervous. No. ] don't want to see
your copy after it's written. Nobodyll
believe II If you make me say ridicu-
lous things. and, Of course, you'll never
come 10 me again II you don't report
me accurately"
Then he talked rapidly and fully
while the reporter listened, without
taking note. and wondering, the
while. whether he would be able 20 re-
member all that was said well enough
10 write II out afterward.
Apparently he did for Mr. Hewitt
was interviewed repeatedly after that
by the reporter and he never com.
planned that the reports printed were
inaccurate.