Mr. Lincoln’s skill in parrying troublesome questions was wonderful.
Once he received a call from Congressman John Ganson, of Buffalo, one of
the ablest lawyers in New York, who, although a Democrat, supported
all of Mr. Lincoln’s war measures. Mr. Ganson wanted explanations. Mr.
Ganson was very bald with a perfectly smooth face. He had a most direct
and aggressive way of stating his views or of demanding what he thought
he was entitled to. He said: “Mr. Lincoln, I have supported all of your
measures and think I am entitled to your confidence. We are voting and
acting in the dark in Congress, and I demand to know--think I have the
right to ask and to know--what is the present situation, and what are
the prospects and conditions of the several campaigns and armies.”
Mr. Lincoln looked at him critically for a moment and then said:
“Ganson, how clean you shave!”
Most men would have been offended, but Ganson was too broad and
intelligent a man not to see the point and retire at once, satisfied,
from the field.