The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-06-02
NOTES.

tine DGmOCTNtlC SIuUI IN bpOkCn VI ~ u Oru
Roman OF that institution. Almost every
evening he receives his friends and all talk
about the old TammAny days In New York
city. Mr.. Fox has been associated for forty
years with the leaders OF TammAny Hall,
lie has always been particularly the friend
Of Richard Croker. About once a year he
visits Mr.. Croker In Europe. and these two
old cronies go over the days when there was
more harmony in Tammany.
IN all his career. 1t was related the other
night. Mr.. Fox had but one serious difference
with Ii newspaper man. This was with John
G. Reid. for many years mani ging editor
OF the New York Times. who has always been
credited since the days Of 1875 with having
advised Zach CHANDLER OF Michigan. chairman
Of the Republican national committee, to
adopt the political slogan Of Claim every
thing, and then cry fraud" Indeed. 1t has
often been said that Mr.. Reid was far more
instrumental In putting in motion the ma
chinery which ultimately brought about the
seating Of Rutherford r. Hayes than any
other one political force In the Republican
national party.
Mr.. Fox and MIR. Reid were strangers until
an article appeared in the New York Times
which apparently llbelled Mr.. Fox. He called
on Mr.. Reid and knew full well that Mr.. Reid
was quite as determined a citizen as himself.
On gaining admittance to Mr.. Reds Office he
took the precaution to lock the door. and then
he looked MIR. Reid in the eyes and said that
the article libelled him and he wanted a re-
traction.
The article had TO do with the old Tweed
ring exposures. and Mr.. Reid at first was not
inclined to grant Mr.. FoX's request, but the
argument put up by Mr.. Fox and the fairness
and Justice OF Mr.. Reid brought about an
amioable understanding. the retraction was
made, and the two men 80 long as Mr.. heid
lived were the most oonsiderate friends.
Mr.. Fox. 1t was added. didn { thank Mr..
Reid for the retraction. claiming that he had
only asked for what was right: and Mr.. Reid
in no way ever seemed TO think that thanks
were necessary, as he had only done the square
thing. But Mr.. Fox in his acknowledgment
OF MIR. Reds courtesy and justice could not
speak too highly the other night OF the dead
Republican editor who was so influential In
his party's policies during his lifetime.
John G.. Reid in his later days became
the chief OF the literary bureau Of the New
York Republican state committee. He was
appointed to this place by Senator Plat.
Mr.. Reid was OF great service to the Plat
organization in the State. II was his duty
each week to load up the Republican weeklies
Of the State with boilerplate matter favor
able to the Plat organization.
He was more than chief OF the literary
bureau OF the Republican State committee,
for the reason that he was the confidential
adviser OF Senator Plat and suggested to
Senator Platt many important moves, which
ultimately made the Plat orga nization
triumphant and efficient to a degree almost
uneQualled by any State Republican organi-
zation save that OF Senator Quay in Penn
sylvia mia. When Mr.. Reid died Senator Pla Il
put on his thinking cap and finally selected
as Mr.. Reds successor Luther b. Little.
who has survived the regimes OF Col. George
w. Dunn, BENJAMIN b. Odell, Jrr and Timothy
j.. Woodruff.
It isn't an easy task TO hold this place, and
especially is it somew hat dificult now when
the old party lines of organization are under
going changes. Still, Mr.. Little. brought
UP under Mr.. Reid and conversant in the
later days with Mr.. Reds policies. is sue
cessful in greeting the score or more OF State
and local leaders and in keeping up the
system by which the Republican newspapers
are informed in delicate fashion and tsctful
expression of the views OF the majority Of
the Republican State committee.
All the foregoing is printed at this time
because eminent politicians in the Republican
! and Democratic camps believe that the days
Of the press agent, which started in Washing
toms time. were continued by Alexander
Hamilton. were not ne glected by Aaron
Burr and Thomas Jefferson and were par
| ticularly effective in the days of Andrew
| jackson and Martin Van Buren,. are passing.
The intimacy which existed in bygone
| years between politicians, local. State and
national, and the editors of newspapers has
| also 10 a great extent disappeared. In the
old days local. State and national leaders
frpauented the offices of Horace Greeley.
Henry j. Raymond. Manton Marble. George
Jones and other editors. Now the local and
State leaders get up policies Of their own
and seem TO think that the lie wspaper editors
should accept them onhand, and TO \ certain
extent some OF the national leaders seem
10 be OF the same belief. Party organization
has had much to do with this. IL was said.
and yet il should be added that the opposition
| of ne wspaper editors TO the selfshness aud
| commercialism of political leaders hns had
much 10 do with the severance of the old
time relations. The ne wspaper editors. it is
declared. in these days are more alive 10 their
responsibilities 10 the people, TO their readers,
and there is less of the old political machine
unde rstanding between what might be called
the opposing forces-the newspaper editors
and the politicians. And yet. as Disraeli
said, the public press makes public opinion,
and no man in english politics recognized this
more fully than Disraeli himself. who estab-
lished a newspaper for no other purpose than
10 give expression to his view \ in opposition 10
those of Gladstone and the various English
state smen who in their careers opposed the
| nTNI anu OHlN JEWELL VI VI Nv
Empire.
Mars Henry Watterson and the late Calvin
Stewart Brice, once Democratic national
chairman, were regarded in their prime as
the best poker players in the Democratic
purty. Bryan doesn't know anything about
the game and neither does David X. Hill,
and for that matter neither did Samuel j.
Tilden, nor John Kelly. nor Richard Croker,
but most other Democrats Of renown from
Martin Van Buren's time played tle great
American game with the usual success,
There Ia a growing belief in New York
Democratic State politics that William
Travers Jerome Is to he nominated for Gov
ernor next year. Mr.. Jerome's boom has
not as vet taken definite shape. hut comments
as to his availability have been frequently
heard OF late in quarters hitherto not alto
Rether politically friendly 10 the District
| Attorney Of New York county.
"The Democrats OF the country are united.
il the leaders are not " was the remark made
at the Democratic club the other night by
one deeply Interested in the part Us ahHirs.
Winston Churchill declares that he will not
ngain he a candidate for the Republican