The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1905-09-23

Gift of q DOuntiful Father above;
| Won't you accept now the homage bring you
| Won't you be glad, dear, because of my love.
BALTIMORE, Md.
DAN LAM0NT's FIRST MEETING OF GROVER
CLEVELAND.
"The late Col. Daniel S. Lamont
used to relate most amusingly to his
intimate ffiends,' said Col. J. E.
Jones, 'how it came about that he
first met Grover Cleveland after Cleve-
land had been elected Governor of
New York.
Lamont was then a reporter on
the Albany Axgus, which was con-
trolled by Daniel Manning, and he
had little idea of being anything else
for long time to come. Grover
Cleveland had only a limited acquain-
tance with the leaders of his party
throughout the State at that time,
and though he had not yet been inau-
gurated, he was being deluged with
letters from all over the State. filled
with all sorts of suggestions, making
all sorts of demands and calculated to
make the days and nights unpleasant
for one with the little experience in
politics that Cleveland then had.
"But those letters had to be answer
ed, and as they piled up before him
day by day, Cleveland saw the neces-
sity of having some one who knew
State politics and politicians to help
him out of the muddle. He wrote
to Dan Manning and told him of the
dilemma he was in. For heaven S
sake he wrote, send some one to
help me !
"Dan Lamont entered the Azgus
office as Manning was reading Cleve-
lands letter, and when he had finished
reading he looked up and saw La
mont. He pondered a moment and
then said:
"sDan, 1 shouldn't wonder if you
might be able to help Cleveland out
in this. Suppose you run up. to
Buffalo and try it.
Manning handed Lamont the let
ter. Lamont read it and said:
All right. When shall l go?'
"'Better go right along,' said
Manning.
$50 Lamont packed his grip-'And
it didn't take much of a grip to carry
all I had in those days, Lamont used
to say, i'll telling about it-and took
the first train for Buffalo, 1t was
late in the evening when he arrived
there, but he thought he had better
report to the Governor before going
to hotel, so he had himself guided to
where Cleveland was keeping bachelor
quarters, over a store or some
thing. Lamont knocked at the door.
"'Come in 7 said vigorous voice.
"Col. Lamont and his handbag
went in. The Gover-elect was sit
ting at a table. Letters opened and
unopened were piled and scattered
about the floor and Uttered the table,
while their recipient was plainly work
ing hard to get them in shape for
answering, his coat off and his sleeves
rolled up.
"He glanced inquiringly up as La
mont entered the room.
Mr.. Manning sent me from AL
bany, in response to your letter to
see whether I could be of any service
to you, said Lamont, by way Of in
PRODUCTION.
"Col. Lamont used to say that
Cleveland's face frightened, and he
rose and shook hands heartily with
his visitor.
"'Sit down, said he. I'm mighty
glad you've come.
Lamont sat down, and they chat
ted awhile. Then Lamont said:
" Well, Governor, I guess I'll be
going now TO hunt up a place to stay.
What time shall I come around in
the morning to begin the work?'
In the morning' exclaimed
Cleveland. looking surprised. You're
not going to begin work at all in the
morning. You're going to begin
right now"
"Now, Lamont was tired and hun
cry and sleepy. He kept the tired
and sleepy part to himself, however,
but admitted to the Governor he was
hungry, and said he would go out
and get bite of something before
starting in with the business in hand.
" Entirely unnecessary, replied
Cleveland. 4 can feed you right
here
"And Dan said the Governor bus.
tied around and soon had a good
enough spread of cold victuals and a
nice cup of hot coffee, the latter made
on the stove in the room, ready fol
Dan to pitch in and eat and drink,
Cleveland taking snack himself, to
keep compapE. The meal finished,
the Governor Eastily cleared the table
" Nov, said he, let's get to work.
"They went to work, and from
Lamont's knowledge and experience
and training in the matters to be at
tended to he was able by half-past ]
in the morning to get such a goo6
showing of order out of the mass and
had outlined such practical plans fol
facilitating the work that the Govern
or said he guessed they could spare
the rest of the night for sleeping. He
had bed for Lamont, and when La
mont turned in he asked what time
he should get up in the morning.
"'Oh, never mind that, said Cleve
land, I will call you.'