my memories of eighty years-第42章
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English； and made a first…class impression upon all the audiences he addressed。
At Chicago Lord Coleridge was entertained by the Bar Association of the State of Illinois。 Storrs； who was an eminent member of the bar of that State； came to him and said： 〃Now； Lord Coleridge； you have been entertained by the Bar Association。 I want you to know the real men of the West； the captains of industry who have created this city； built our railroads； and made the Great West what it is。〃 Coleridge replied that he did not want to go outside bar associations； and he could not think of making another speech in Chicago。 Storrs assured him it would be purely a private affair and no speeches permitted。
The dinner was very late； but when they sat down Lord Coleridge noticed a distinguished…looking gentleman； instead of eating his dinner； correcting a manuscript。 He said： 〃Mr。 Storrs； I understood there was to be no speaking。〃 〃Well；〃 said Storrs； 〃you can't get Americans together unless some one takes the floor。 That man with the manuscript is General and Senator John A。 Logan； one of our most distinguished citizens。〃 Just then a reporter came up to Storrs and said： 〃Mr。 Storrs； we have the slips of your speech in our office； and it is now set up with the laughter and applause in their proper places。 The editor sent me up to see if you wanted to add anything。〃 Of course Lord Coleridge was in for it and had to make another speech。
The cause of the lateness of the dinner is the most original incident that I know of in historic banquets。 Storrs received great fees and had a large income； but was very careless about his business matters。 One of his creditors obtained a judgment against him。 The lawyer for this creditor was a guest at this dinner and asked the landlord of the hotel if the dinner had been paid for in advance。 The landlord answered in the affirmative； and so the lawyer telephoned to the sheriff； and had the dinner levied upon。 The sheriff refused to allow it to be served until the judgment was satisfied。 There were at least a hundred millions of dollars represented among the guests； packers； elevator men； real…estate operators； and grain operators； but millionaires and multimillionaires in dress suits at a banquet never have any money on their persons。 So it was an hour or more before the sheriff was satisfied。 Lord Coleridge was intensely amused and related the adventure with great glee。
Several years afterwards Lord Coleridge had some difficulty in his family which came into the courts of England。 I do not remember just what it was all about； but Storrs； in reading the gossip which came across the cable； decided against the chief justice。 Lord Coleridge told me he received from Storrs a cable reading something like this： 〃I have seen in our papers about your attitude in the suit now pending。 I therefore inform you that as far as possible I withdraw the courtesies which I extended to you in Chicago。〃 In this unique way Storrs cancelled the dinner which was given and seized by the sheriff years ago。
I met Storrs many times； and he was always not only charming but fascinating。 He was very witty； full of anecdotes； and told a story with dramatic effect。 Except for his eccentricities he might have taken the highest place in his profession。 As it was； he acquired such fame that an admirer has written a very good biography of him。
XVIl。 GOVERNORS OF NEW YORK STATE
There is nothing more interesting than to see the beginning of a controversy which makes history。 It is my good fortune to have been either a spectator or a participant on several occasions。
William M。 Tweed was at the height of his power。 He was the master of New York City； and controlled the legislature of the State。 The rapid growth and expansion of New York City had necessitated a new charter； or very radical improvements in the existing one。 Tweed； as chairman of the Senate committee on cities； had staged a large and spectacular hearing at the State Capitol at Albany。 It was attended by a large body of representative citizens from the metropolis。 Some spoke for civic and commercial bodies； and there were also other prominent men who were interested。 Everybody interested in public affairs in Albany at the time attended。 Not only was there a large gathering of legislators； but there were also in the audience judges； lawyers； and politicians from all parts of the State。
After hearing from the Chamber of Commerce and various reform organizations； Mr。 Samuel J。 Tilden came forward with a complete charter。 It was soon evident that he was better prepared and informed on the subject than any one present。 He knew intimately the weaknesses of the present charter； and had thought out with great care and wisdom what was needed in new legislation。
From the contemptuous way in which Senator Tweed treated Mr。 Tilden； scouted his plans； and ridiculed his propositions； it was evident that the whole scheme had been staged as a State…wide spectacle to humiliate and end the political career of Samuel J。 Tilden。
In answer to Tilden's protest against this treatment； Tweed loudly informed him that he represented no one but himself； that he had neither influence nor standing in the city； that he was an intermeddler with things that did not concern him； and a general nuisance。
Mr。 Tilden turned ashy white； and showed evidences of suppressed rage and vindictiveness more intense than I ever saw in any one before； and abruptly left the hearing。
I knew Mr。 Tilden very well； and from contact with him in railroad matters had formed a high opinion of his ability and acquirements。 He had a keen； analytic mind； tireless industry； and a faculty for clarifying difficulties and untangling apparently impossible problems to a degree that amounted to genius。
In reference to what had happened； I said to a friend： 〃Mr。 Tweed must be very confident of his position and of his record； for he has deliberately defied and invited the attacks of a relentless and merciless opponent by every insult which could wound the pride and incite the hatred of the man so ridiculed and abused。 Mr。 Tilden is a great lawyer。 He has made a phenomenal success financially； he has powerful associates in financial and business circles； and is master of his time for any purpose to which he chooses to apply it。〃
It was not long before one of the most remarkable and exhaustive investigations ever conducted by an individual into public records； books； ledgers； bank…accounts； and contracts； revealed to the public the whole system of governing the city。 This master mind solved the problems so that they were plain to the average citizen as the simplest sum in arithmetic； or that two and two make four。
The result was the destruction of the power of Tweed and his associates； of their prosecution and conviction； and of the elevation of Samuel J。 Tilden to a State and national figure of the first importance。 He not only became in the public mind a leader of reforms in government； municipal； State； and national； but embodied in the popular imagination REFORM ITSELF。
Mr。 Tilden carried this same indefatigable industry and power of organization into a canvass for governor。 His agencies reached not only the counties and towns； but the election districts of the State。 He called into existence a new power in politicsthe young men。 The old leaders were generally against him； but he discovered in every locality ambitious； resourceful； and courageous youngsters and made them his lieutenants。 This unparalleled preparation made him the master of his party and the governor of the State。
After the election he invited me to come and see him at the Executive Mansion in Albany； and in the course of the conversation he said： 〃In your speeches in the campaign against me you were absolutely fair； and as a fair and open…minded opponent I want to have a frank talk。 I am governor of the State； elected upon an issue which is purely local。 The Democratic party is at present without principles or any definite issue on which to appeal to the public。 If I am to continue in power we must find an issue。 The Erie Canal is not only a State affair； but a national one。 Its early constructi
