Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-21
HE DENIES He IS DEAD
Rumor Exaggerated and Pre-
mature, Says Sherman.
NEVER IN BETTER HEALTH
Expects to Remain in Utica Until
After Funeral"
PREDICTS EARLY TARIFF LAW
Would Deplore Delay That Would
Keep Business in Condition of
Suspense, to Its Injury.
VEvER IN BETTER HEALTH
PREDICTS EARLY TARIFF LAW

Special Dispatch to The Star
UTICA. y. Y. March 2D-Vice Presi-
dent Sherman was at. his desk in the
Offices of the Utica Trust Company. OF
which institution he Is pres. dent. today
when Wall street inquired by long-dis-
lance telephone il there was anything in
the rumor that he had died suddenly.
Mr. Sherman himself answered the tele-
phone inquiry from the metropolis. He
listened patiently to a New York broker
who went on at length in regard to the
rumOr Then the Vice President cut off
the conversation by remarking:
ut is grossly exaggerated. sir. besides
being entirely premature. Take it from
me that I'm not dead
Within few minutes a corps Of re-
porters was beating it toward the Vice
Presidents bank, spurred on by in
quiries from news agencies from far and
wide as to the correctness Of the rumor
that Mr.. Sherman dropped dead after
partaking of breakfast One of the re-
porters, having had considerable expert
ence in breaking news and having learn
ed the art of imparting painful intelli-
gence with a degree of delicacy and gen
tleness calculated to act as an ali,
cushion against shock. was delegated by
his fellows to approach the Vice Presi-
dent and CLEAN the details.
Dead Again, He Hears.
did you die this morning, Mr.. Sher-
man." asked the newspaper man.
The Vice President wlnked an eyelid.
He carefully applied a blotter to a let
ter that he was in the act of signing.
put down his pen and leaned back in his
chair with an air of sadness BETTING the
circumstances.
Yes" said he, with sigh Of resigna-
ton, Il died this morning again. learn
ed it short time ago by a message from
some one in Wall street. ApopieXy,
wasn't it,?
Yes. apoplexy.''
1T was very sudden. I've had other
things, but not apoplexy before. How
ever. Wall street may rest easy for the
present, at any rate. The Vice President
has not dropped dead. The truth is l
haven't felt so well in twenty years.
"How long will you be in town." in
quired the visitor.
Until after the funeral" replied the
Vice President.
Then the joke was dropped. Mr.. Sher-
man said he would be here until Monday:
that he will be here for few days about
every other week during the session of
congress.
Hopes for Quick Action.
Dropping into a discussion Of the tariff
bill. the Vice President said:
e:I don't think 1t matters SO much that
the tariff on every article should be fixed
exactly right. as 1t. does that the work
should be done soon and 1.-The business in
terests permitted to adjust themselves to
the new conditions.
Il don't think it is so important whether
the duty on a given article should be
10 per cent ad valorem or 10 per cent
adj VaIorem as II is that the tariff should
be revised without delay. 1t is the sus-
pense and uncertainty that hurts bust
ness.
But / think | can predict that Con-
gress will revise the tariff and complete
the work early in the summer. That s
as near 1 would care To fix the time
Of adjournment"