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 construction opened the great Northwest； and it was for years the only outlet to the seaboard。 The public not only in the State of New York； but in the West； believes that there has been； and is； corruption in the construction and management of the Canal。 This great waterway requires continuing contracts for continuing repairs； and the people believe that these contracts are given to favorites； and that the work is either not performed at all or is badly done。 I believe that matter ought to be looked into and the result will largely justify the suspicion prevalent in the public mind。 I want your judgment on the question and what will be the effect upon me。〃
I then frankly answered him： 〃Governor； there is no doubt it will be a popular movement； but you know that the Canal contractors control the machinery of your party； and I cannot tell what the effect of that may be upon what you desire； which is a second term。〃
〃Those contractors；〃 he said； 〃are good Democrats； and their ability to secure the contracts depends upon Democratic supremacy。 A prosecution against them has been tried so often that they have little fear of either civil or criminal actions； and I think they will accept the issue as the only one which will keep their party in power。〃
It is a part of the history of the time that he made the issue so interesting that he became a national figure of the first importance and afterwards the candidate of his party for President of the United States。 Not only that； but he so impressed the people that popular judgment is still divided as to whether or not he was rightfully elected president。
Once I was coming from the West after a tour of inspection； and when we left Albany the conductor told me that Governor Tilden was on the train。 I immediately called and found him very uncomfortable； because he said he was troubled with boils。 I invited him into the larger compartment which I had； and made him as comfortable as possible。 His conversation immediately turned upon the second term and he asked what I； as a Republican； thought of his prospects as the result of his administration。 We had hardly entered upon the subject when a very excited gentleman burst into the compartment and said： 〃Governor； I have been looking for you everywhere。 I went to your office at the Capitol and to the Executive Mansion； but learned you were here and barely caught the train。 You know who I am。〃 （The governor knew he was mayor of a city。） 〃I want to see you confidentially。〃
The governor said to him： 〃I have entire confidence in my Republican friend here。 You can trust him。 Go on。〃
I knew the mayor very well； and under ordinary conditions he would have insisted on the interview with the governor being private and personal。 But he was so excited and bursting with rage that he went right on。 The mayor fairly shouted： 〃It is the station agent of the New York Central Railroad in our city of whom I complain。 He is active in politics and controls the Democratic organization in our county。 He is working to prevent myself and my friends and even ex…Governor Seymour from being delegates to the national convention。 It is to the interest of our party； in fact； I may say； the salvation of our party in our county that this New York Central agent be either removed or silenced； and I want you to see Mr。 Vanderbilt on the subject。〃
The governor sympathized with the mayor and dismissed him。 Then in a quizzical way he asked me： 〃Do you know this agent？〃
〃Yes；〃 I answered。
〃What do you think of him？〃
〃I know nothing about his political activities；〃 I answered； 〃but he is one of the most efficient employees of the company in the State。〃
〃Well；〃 said the governor； 〃I am glad to hear you say so。 He was down to see me the other night； in fact； I sent for him； and I formed a very high opinion of his judgment and ability。〃
As a matter of fact； the governor had selected him to accomplish this very result which the mayor had said would ruin the party in the county。
When the New York Democratic delegation left the c