Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-25
BY w. m. SMITH.

BY w. III. SMITH.
In my newspaper work I have made
many visits to the White House in pur-
suit of news, and on q few occasions
my mission was of political cast 1
thus have had opportunity to note the
difference in manner OF Presidents re-
ceiving and treating newspaper men
and their method of imparting infor-
nation. I will say in the beginning,
that the most constantly genial and
cordial in his treatment of newspaper
men and his freedom of giving out
news, was President Arthur, and the
most snubbish and churlish was Presi-
dent johnson. Perhaps 1t is due him
to say these visits to him were made
when he and Congress were hammerlng
ct each other, striving to see which
could hammer the hardest.
My visits extended over a period OF
30 years, covering the administration
from johnson to, and including the
second Of Cleveland. They were In
the days before the introduction of the
present system of the President receiv-
ing newspaper men in a bunch at
stated times. In these earlier days 1t
was not uncommon for q President to
have some favored correspondent to
whom he talked more freely than he
did to others.
M&0c ASCAudAAo'
I recall one occasion when I visited
President johnson and he opened
several walls of wrath and scattered
their contents pretty freely ever me
Rumors were prevalent in Indiana that
changes in some of the Federal officers
were under contemplation: The Indian
apolis Journal wired me to make IN
quiries. The journal had been exceed
ingly severe In its critiSims OF the
President, and had no sooner men
toned its name to him than the corks
began popping from his wrath walls.
For three or four minutes he devoted
himself to saying hard things of the
journal When q pause came reached
for my hat, and remarked: well, Mr..
President see my chance OF getting
the information is. about as good as
that of the House to escape q daily
castigation from Thad Stevens" This
seemed to slightly mollify him, and he
impaired the information that changes
were under consideration, but nothing
definitely determined upon.
President johnson had one member
Of his Cabinet who always delighted in
the visits of newspaper men, Secretary
Of the Treasury MCCULLOUGH. He talked
freely with them, often saying The pub
lie was entitled to know what was
going on in the Government: His
usual topic was the finances, the desire
to reduce taxation, and to make green
backs as good as gold In the commercial
world. OF the general affairs of the
administration he never said much, but
confined himself to his own depart
ment.
President Grant was very different in
his manner of receiving and talking to
newspaper men. He was kindly and
listened patiently to questions pro-
pounded. or suggestions made, but did
not always reply. In fact, he was rather
reticent. When he did reply 1t was
often epigrammatic in its brevity. re-
call one occasion when his statement
was most emphatic. It was while the
United States and Great Britain were
trying to agree upon how what were
known as "the Alabama Claims" were
70 be settled. He sid that the first
thing TO be done was for England 70
acknowledge she had been wrong. and
the question Of damages could then be
considered.
Presidents MOuthpiece.
While Secretary of War Rawlins
/. lived he was regarded as the mouth
piece Of the President After him Sec
rotary of State. Hamilton Fish was the
real spokesman, and 1t was not infre-
duent for the President to refer the
newspaper inquirer to the Secretary.
President Grant had q high opinion Of
the press and frequently spoke in COM
uIimentary terms of some Of the cor
respondents who accompanied MS
armies.
During the investigation Of what be-
came known as the whisky ring"
President Grant spoke more freely with
newspaper men than had been his pre-
vious custom. recall an interview /
had with Mr.. Bristow, Secretary Of the
fk1a IF the
ring was brought about. He said that
for months there had been occasional
statements in the public press that such
airing existed, and he and the President
had discussed the matter several times.
In one Of the consultations Mr.. Pratt,
commissioner Of internal revenue, was
invited TO take part.
Secretary Bristow said the commits
sioner listened to what he and the
President had TO say, and when asked
II he could make any suggestions, re-
piled: "Such q ring cannot exist unless
it Is in league with the collectors,
storekeepers or gaugers. The way to
find out is to make a general shift Of
storekeepers and gaugers. would sug-
gest that those east be sent to the
middle districts, and their places filled
by those now in these districts where
the ring is supposed to be at work
Such q shift was made and the ex-
posure quickly followed The Secretary
said President Grant previously gave
the credit of the exposure to the press.
Spoke Of His Town.
Soon after Gen. Grants return from
his voyage around the world ne made
O tour through some Of the States Of
the Middle West. At one point ! was
invited by him to join the party.
found he could talk, and talk well on
many Ss%ojectS. He told me much OF
what he lad seen during his absence,
to European policies.
At one point in the conversation
asked him what he regarded as the
happiest moment of his journey, and
was surprised at the warmth which he
said it was when he landed again on
American soil: that he had feeling of
deep thankfulnessa that the journey had
been made without an accident, and
that he had come back more assured
than when he started that the United
States was the best country in the world.
OF course the Civil War furnished q
topic Of conversation. He paid high
tribute to several Of the general Officers
who had served under him. He was
especially laudatory Of Sherman, Sheri-
dan and Hancock. He said that II ne
gave an order to either Sheridan OF
Hancock to be in certain position al
q certain hour, he could rest content
knowing they would be there. He told
me story of Sheridan which he said
was characteristic of the man.
Wanted TO Fight.
He said that on one occasion while
Sheridan was serving under Buell., In
Kentucky, he reported the presence OF
the enemy on his front. Buell. sent
instructions, concluding with the
words. BE careful and don't bring on
q night At this Sheridan broke out
"Hell! What is an army for If not to
fight. II we are not going to fight, Old