Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-08-24
I.AMONT'S START.
The story of His First Night Session
with Mr., Cleveland.

The late Col. Daniel $. 1amont used
TO relate most amusingly to his intimate
friends, said Col. J. T.. Jones. how it
came about that he first met Grover
Cleveland after Cleveland had been elect
ed governor of New York. says the
New York Sun.
Lamont was then a reporter on the
Albany Argus, which was controlled by
Daniel Manning. and he had little idea
Of being ANYTHING else for a long time
to come. Grover Cleveland had only Il
limited acquaintance with the leaders OF
his party throughout the state ut that
time. and though he had not yet been
inauguratcd. he was being dolugod III
letters from all over the State. filled
with all sorts Of suggestions, making
all sorts of demands and calculated to
make the days and night unpleasant for
one with the little experience in politics
that Cleveland then had.
"Eut those letters had to bo answered.
and a. they piled up before him day by
day, Cleveland saw tho necessity of
having some ono who knew state poll
tics and politicians 10 help him out of
the muIdle. lie wrote to Dan Mannin
and told him of the dilemma he was in.
For heavens sake he wrote, send
some one to help me- Dan Lamont en-
tered the Argus office as Manning was
reading Cloveland's letter. and when he
had finished reading he looked up and
saw Lamont He pondcrcd a moment and
then said: Dan, l shouldn't n if
you might he able To help Cleveland out
in this. Suppose you run up to Buffalo
and try it, Manning handed Lamont the
letter. I.amon, read 1t and said: AN
right. When shall / go|
Better so right along said Man.
ming
s anon packed his grip-'And it
didn't take much of a grip to carry all !
had in those days Lamont used to say.
in telling about it-and took the first
train for Buffalo. II was late in the
evening when he arrived there. but he
thought he had better report to the
governor before going to a hotel, so he
had himself guided to where Cleveland
was keeping bachclor quarters. over a
store or something, Lamont knocked al
the door.
"'Comc i'm said a vigorous voice.
"Coloncl Lamont inc his handbag won't
in. The govcrnor-clect was sitting at a
table. Letters opened and unopened were
PILED and scattered about the floor and
Uttered the table. while their recipient
was plainly working hard to get them
in shape for answering. his coat on and
his sleeves rolled up.
"IIe glanced inquiringly up as Iamon,
entered the room.
"'Mr. Mannin sent me from Albany,
in esponsc To your letter, to see wheth'
or I could he of any service to vou.' said
Lamont. by way OF Introduction.
Colonel Lamont used to say that Cleve-
lands face frightened. and he rose and
shook hands heartily with his visitor.
sit down. said he. I'm mighty glad
you've come
"Iamont sat down. and they chattcd
awhile. Then Lamont said:
""Ncll, governor. | guess III he go
ing now to hunt up a place to stay. what
time shall | como around in the morn
ing to begin work.
In the morning" exclaimed Glove
land, looking surprised. You're not 20
ing TO begin work at all in the morning.
You're going to begin right now
Now. Lamont was tired and hungry
and sleepy. He kept the tired and sleepy
part to himself. however. but admitted
to the governor that he was hungry,
and said he would go out and get a bite
Of something before starting In with the
business in hand.
Entirely unnecessary" replied Cleve.
land. I can feed you right here
And Dan said the governor hustled
around and soon had a good enough