Rensselaer Republican, Volume 21, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 April 1889 — PORTER’S POPULARITY. [ARTICLE]

PORTER’S POPULARITY.

A Claim that His private Secretary Contributed Largely to It. Indianapolis News. The services of Mr. W. B. Roberts as private secretary are in high demand. Very soon after he was taken into confidential relations with Governor Hovey he was offered the position of private secretary to Vice President Morton, and it is said that he is Minister Porter’s choice for Secretary of Legation at Rome, while the only reason why he will tf6t be elected Secretary of the State Board of Charities is because the duties will require more attention than he can give without neglectinn more important demands upon his time. He likes his present position too well to give jt up for any of the others that have been offered him. He is a rare young man and possesses a peculiar combination of exceptional qualities that make his services very valuable to a public man. Somehow he becomes an old-time friend after an hour’s acquaintance, and he never forgets thejpce or "name of any persons he meets. Porter’s popularity with the people while Governor, was very largely due to Roberts, who was the executive clerk. It was his principal duty to look after the callers. He would hold a little conversation with them, in the course of which he would adroitly learn their names, if they had ever met the Governor, and if they had, when and where. He would then manage to inform the Governor about the callers before they were admitted to his presence, or in presenting them would remark, “Governor, Mr. So-and-so, whom you doubtless remember having met at —,” and the caller was greeted with hearty cordiality by the Governor, who would proceed to ask questions indicating an acquaintance with his visitor that was agreeably surprising. Once a very embarrassing mistake was made. Two Republican politicians of local prominence called, and they each desired to see the Governor privately. Roberts reported to the Governor such information about them as would enable him to talk to them as of old acquaintances, stating that the Vigo county man would be admitted first, and the Morgan county politician next. The Governor misunderstood or forgot which would be presented first. When the Vigo county man entered the private room of the Executive he was greeted very cordially by the Governor, with the remark, “Ah, Mr. ,I am very glad to see you.” The Governor had used the wrong name, but the caller said nothing. Two or three misdirected inquiries were made. The responses indicated lack of interest or appreciation. The |G overnor doubtless felt ' that he wasn’t warm enough,and he remarked, “Do you know, Mr. Blank, that I have always had a particularly kind feeling for the people of Morgan county?” “So,” responded the caller. “Very nice people, I have no doubt; but I don’t know much about them. . I live at Terre Haute. I guess you have mistaken me for another man. My name isn’t Blank.” It was a little embarrassing, but the call ended agreeably enough. Roberts was careful afterward not to allow information about visitors to get mixed. Vice President Morton’s acquaintance with Mr. Roberts was brief, but it was enough to convince him that the-yoong man would be valuable to him. When the Vice President came to Indianapolis to Visit General Harrison, Roberts met him atHsfuncie, introduced himself, and at once \took charge of Mr. Morton. A crowd gathered about, the private car of the President and was clamoring for him to appear before them. Roberts brought him from the car, introduced him to the people, got them to shaking hands with him and Mrs. Morton, and started the cry,, “What’s the matter with Morton?” to which the crowd responded: /‘He’s all right.” Morton felt that he was getting along pretty well with the /people and asked Roberts to accompany him on the trip from Muncie to Indianapolis. He accepted the invitation, and the Acquaintance during the said ride brought to Roberts a few weeks later the Vice Presidential Private Secretaryship.