Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1908-07-31
STORIES TOLD OF
GROVER CLEVELAND
orv1rF HUNTERS RECEIVED ScANT
SATISFACTION FROM
HIM.
HIS INTEGRITY IS PRAISED.
Men of Political Influence Paid Ex-Presi.
dent Tribute for His Unswerv-
ing Purpose.
EXCELLENT SPORTSMAN.

,ersonal magnetism that was the basis
af ca much of the success OF men like
Ciov and Blaine, he was not, on the
otber hand, of the cold, unsympathetic
TYNE Of men with whom one is accus-
toned TO associate his political antago-
mist. Benjamin Harrison. His unswerv-
ing insistence on a point or policy, once
If seemed to him the right one, won for
him a reputation for mere stubborn
ness. which he did not deserve. He was
4 bluff rugged sort of a man, with SIM
ple. democratic tastes, who found pleas
ure in the companionship of men, and
next to his home and family he enjoyed
the open-air life that took him into the
fields or marshes or along the trout
streams.
As mayor of Buffalo, governor, and
President, Cleveland was extraordinar-
ily conscientious in his work. He scru-
tinized small items in appropriation bills
with the same care that he did those
carrying thousands of dollars. Often
times after all his clerks and secretaries
had retired he sat far into the night por-
ing over legislative matters as though he
were preparing legal brief that had to
be ready on the morrow. His partisan
bigoted. If he could not conscientiously
approve a matter, the fact that it might
benefit his party had no weight with
him. A bill that would have greatly as
sisted the Buffalo political organization
TO which he owed his earliest political
advancement came before him at Al
bany. He did not like it, and said so
plainly.
But, Mr.. Governor" pointed out an
old friend who came to its support, the
Legislature has given it's assent. The
Republicans made no objection to its en-
actment. 1t was thoroughly understood
by all what its purport was. And those
who have always Loyalty supported you
look to you now to come to their assist
ance."
IF they supported me with any such
idea. they did not know me. If Repub-
licans. through some secret understand
ing. have supported it, they are untrue
to their party as well as the state. These
considerations carry no weight with me.
The bill is bad, and | shall veto it,
1t was the same principle he applied
later on to party measures of national
Importance of which he could not APP
prove. Col. A. X. Mcclure says of this
characteristic of Mr.. Cleveland: "No
more conscientious man ever filled the
executive chair of the nation. and
G0ubt whether any other President ever
gave such tireless labor to the duties of
his office. His cabinet officers were SIM
ply advisory as to the direction of their
departments, and every question of inn
portance came to him for final decision.
| think he was as nearly capable of Civ
ing up the presidency TO maintain his
convictions as any man who ever filed
the position.
Attitude Toward Office Seekers.
Cleveiand's attitude toward office
seekers, even when men of prominence
has given rise to many interesting anec-
dotes. One that is sufficiently illustra-
tive is related by Henry Watterson.
We chatted and joked and laughed
and were on terms OF most agreeable
companionship," he says. Il don't know
what the President thought of me, but
l marked him on my mental tablet as a
splendid companion and a jolly good
fellow. After an hour pleasantly spent
IN the personal enjoyment of each other
l thought it would be a good time to
mention little matter in which | was
Interested. AS soon as | began the re-
ctal. | could see the process of congela-
ton: and before l had half finished my
story the President was a monumental
lcieie. | became SO thoroughly chilled
that | broke off, took up my hat, and
said, Good night, Mr.. President That's
the kind of a good fellow Cleveland is. -
:, joaquin Miller, the poet. tells sim
liar story Here he writes, is my
hrst interview with the President. Mr.
PRESIDENT. IL want Capt. Hoxie to
ne returned to Washington so as to COM
plete our works.. Capt. Hoxie' an
swered the President instantly, is sub
leet TO orders of the secretary of war.
and he looked at me as if to say, and
yon know it. l gave up that subject
ana started in on another equally inn
portant. Mr.. President, | hear you are
gong to remove Commissioner Ed
munds,, | began. The President looked
at me hard and said. We'll, if you have
heard of it haven't. And as / shall
nave to hear of it before it is DONE you
can rest easy for the present BY that
uine l felt convinced that | had not the
eilghtest business with the President
and 50 fell in with the band of shorn
sitieep that was passing in and out of
the corral by another door,"
Place Hunters Snubbed.
Cleyeland's intolerance of place hunt.
eFS was frequently illustrated by acts
mat brought the greatest discontinue
on Tie applicants. The term of a Re
puohcan postmaster in western city
SApifed shortly after the beginning OF
ms second term. There were tive Dem
uefauc aspirants for the position, each
"iJl an influential partisan following In
T't'A w ssLAlilS EOTIH MS own claims
e~eh enc Went out of his way, by docu.
IIAtAtary evidence, to prove the other q
AtnaYe' The President, after considering
ult evidence, sent for the mems political
Pgnsors, and thus addressed them:
have looked into this matter with
1Eeat care, and have come to a decision
rom the evidence submitted | am con.
tsiAeed that each applicant has proved
t'' point entirely-in so far as it applies
b ~ ms opponents incapacity and ineligi
o,-lt5. have therefore conducted an
cation in unprecedented quarters
II, result Of which | have reappointed
''F present holder of the Office
mere was perhaps even more Of a re
80 IN the lesson he administered to a
1Toup or too eager fellow-townsme
UV!fee hundred strong, they appeared IN
asaington a few days before his frst
s,Qration as President. There they
taOilshed themselves in d public hall
- z Foclferous and rather Spectacular
5ti % the celebration. and then. after
PRESIDENT was safely installed in Of.
every mothers son Of them filed bis
lfraetuon Tor appointment Of some sort
tl osf IDEA seems TO have been thai
N; Ian whom they had helped elect tC
- hfsf public office conld NOT refuSf