Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-22

Talk Win SHERMAN GAcCuIoi.
During my stay here in Mansfield tramp
ing about In the footsteps of the great SEN
ator l have had a long talk with his ex-
ecutor- biographer. We chatted together on
the porch of Mr. Kerr's beautiful home
within a stones throw of where John Sher-
man lived, within sight of the place where
he wrought and hoped for the presidency
during the latter part of his life. and of the
great lawn, every foot of which was
tramped by him again and again
My first questions to Mr.. Kerr were IN
regard TO John Shermans biography. He
left directions in his will that 1t should be
written and a bequest of $4,000 to pay for
the work upon il. All his papers were TO De
at the disposal of the author. and the book
was to contain the authentic story or Sher-
mans life. Said Mr.. Kerr:
81 have been working on this book for
about three years and the manuscript is
now ready for the press. 1t has taken
great deal of labor and research. John
Sherman's public services covered more
than forty years, and l had to go through
all the congressional proceedings of that
period for a part of my material. Some OF
his earliest speeches have never been pub
lished outside of the Congressional Record,
and some of them were his best. l refer
especially to those he made during the Kan
sas-Nebraska controversy"
How about his papers?'
''They were voluminous. He kept every
thing and he had great mass of speeches.
correspondence and notes of one kind or
another. His autograph letters filled many
volumes. They were pasted in scrap books,
each of which was duly labeled. Important
and unmportant letters were put in to-
gether, and side by side with correspond
ence about public matters Were formal
notes accepting invitations to dinners. The
latter were kept, l suppose, on account OF
their autographs, for they were from some
of the most distinguished men of the
world"
Kerr's Life of Sherman
Tell me something of the character of
your biography of John Sherman, Mr.
Kerr"
THE title of the book will be The Life
and Public Services of John Sherman L
will give the story of his career and also
his principal speeches and letters. 1t will
consist of two volumes of about 600 pages
each and will be of about the size of John
Sherman's Recollections for Forty Years il
the House, Senate and Cabinet" The book
will have only a few Illustrations, but il
will be bound and printed in creditabl'
manner.
.'Do you expect it to have a large sale?'
/ asked.
No it will not be sold at all. The money
for its publication was provided for in Mr.
Sherman's will and it will not be handled
through the ordinary channels of trade. Il
is not brought forth as a money-makins
enterprise and such copies printed
will he furnished to libraries, historical so
cieties and Institutions of that sort A few
copies Will be given TO Senator Snerman's
friends and those who were especially inter
ested in him and his work. The object OF
the biography is to present the real JOIN
Sherman and to give authentic facts abou
him and his connection with public life
Foraker and Sherman.
''Will it contain much unwritten his
tory?"
Yes. 1t will tell many inside stories o.
Ohio politics which are not general,
known, and especially in relation to the
troubles between Senators Sherman and
Foraker"
How about the Garfield episode, whereas
GARFIELD, speaking for John Sherman at tn
nominating convention, was chosen Presi
dent in his stead%
That incident will be fully dealt with.
said Mr. Kerr. Il have the facts concern
ing il from the mouth of the late Charlie!
Foster and from Shermans letters anc
papers,.
was Charlie Foster false to Sherman a
that convention. and did not Foster wan
Garfield to be PRESIDENT?
Il don't think Foster was false to Sher-
man. and / doubt if he thought Garheio
would be nominated. / think, however
that he was more anxious about his OWE
position in that convention than Sherman s
and that he hoped situation might arise
which would cause him (Foster) to be
chosen as the vice presidential candidate.