The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-11-10
What the Utica Ex-Congressman
Says About the Senator.
ARROGANT, QUARRELSOME, UNFAIqHFUL
His Relations TO the Back Pay Bill
and Utica Savings Bank.
SECRETS OF CUSTOMS MOIETIES.

Tho piquant aud lengthy intervie" Win Soua'oi
onkling, which appeared IN yesterdays HERALD
created no little sensation In republican circles MS
open declarations and free criticisms on mon and
measures were as much discussed among the demo-
cratic leaders as among those OF his own party.
Tho HERALp's course being 10 present all sides to
the public reporter was yesterday commissioned 10
interview Mr.. Ellis IL. Roberts, cx.Ccngressman
from Oneida county. against whom Senator Conkng
was unusually severe. Whom asked II he desired to
speak on tho subject OF Senator Conklings remarks
Mr.. Roberts said
WHAT MR.. ROBERTS SAYS
"Tpree years ago the HERALD did me the honor to
send reporter asking to give TO It's readers an
explanation OF the strange result which had just then
occurred in tho election in Oneida county. was not
willing 10 parade whatever disappointment l might
have felt over a defeat for Congress which great
many or my friends attributed directly to tho
personal and political inadelity OF Senator ConknG.
AS tho HERALD this morning indicates, Senator
Conkng has suffered a serious disaster In the city
and county OF his residence. He does not MAINTAIN a
like reserve. / cannot refuse tho courtesy
which tho HERALD does me in asking my views on
some OF the points presented In tho remarkable in
terview to which you call my attention. No
other man IN public lilo can DO found
who would talk he has done, but he seems to have
genius Tor quarreiling. In Oneida county the man
who before Mr.. Conkling was OF age invented him
q candidate Tor Di6trlct Attorney anu was LOT years
devoted 10 his ambitions Is Mr.. Joseph A. SHERMAN,
and for long period no persons have OK.
changed moro bitter words about eacn other
the gentlemen who discovered Mr. Conkling as
. candidate Tor Congress were Mr. William H. Ferry,
A. D. Barber. Palmer V. Kellogg and Richard U.
Sherman. All Of these gentlemen no has either
driven out OF the party or disguised with Oneida
county politics, they have found homes elsewhere.
Every Chairman OF tho Oneida County Republican
Committee during his cntire political career. except
only two persons now holding federal positions by his
bao tharh han nYtva nj fhQ p0rtv
by his offensive conduct or Is now within the party,
ino pronounced opponent Of his factious ambitions
You know how he quarreed with Mr.. Greeley, how he
has arrayed all tho republican papers in New York
city against him, how In the Senate OF the United
Trumbuil, sumner. scnurz and others contributed
largely to the liberal movement Ia 1872
how mis- resentment against Mr. Blame. growing out OF
debaes In Tho House. affected the action OF the Cincin-
natl Convention. The arrogance and quarrelsome
position which this interview exhibits have been for
long period mschicyous 10 the republican party at his
own home and IN tho nation"
DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN ROBERTS AND coSKLrSG
At this point writer interrupted Mr.. Roberts to
sny:-"It IL q matter OF general knowledge, Mr.
Roberts, that formerly you were jealous In Senator
Copkllngs benalL Would you mind stating the
cause Of the disagreement that now seems 10 exist
ii have no quarrel with Senator Conkling IsimpIy
refuse 10 bow s down h and wo1'op him. rs, mso
wrong, to be supported whom right He has seemed
10 think Oneida county is not largo enough for both
OF It Is big enough for me. was born
thore; thcre all my lie has been spent
have done some work, and boon prospcrcd
and honored beyond deserts by the people Of the
county Ny original offence was that when was
elected to Congress my nominations werc unanimous
and tho popular majoritics werc generous. Tho con-
sidcration shown to me In Washington annoyed
HIM, for he could not endure that any ono
1t Utica but he should receive any favor. Hc had
not ADOPT his cnmity, but recognized the Speakers
ability and patriotism. Ho hates Blaine and fears
him. and ne gave credit for believing that Blaine
would overshadow him in tho race Tor tho Presidency,
10 the result proved"
THE SANB0RN CASE
"was there not some action OF yours 10 Congress
which Senator ConkIng regarded as directed against
hms"
moicy legislation OF 1874. 1t happened TO 20 DO
chairman Of the subcommittee in the Com
mt.ee on Ways and Means. to which was
referred tho bill which grow out Of the
inquiry into the abuses In the New York Custom
House. myself shocked NJ tho exposures, tho
grown up during all past history IN tho collection
Of the customs needed correction, and none tho less
because 1t was claimed that from them was derived
political fund which devoted TO tho maintenance
Of Senator Conking's power In tho party. Whatever
could do was TO repeal tho moetsos which were at
The base OF SO many oil tho evils and scandals. II
Senator Conklng has steadily since tho repeal OF the
moctics exhibited toward me the temper which your
interview yesterday represents strongly II nos dii
Hcult for you 70 see the reason. You may
remember also that the Sanborn investiga-
ZION drove Richardson, Sawyer and Banded
has tailed 10 speak In the terms Of ali
OF us who were enlisted In that work which was SO
utsagreeaDe Out Wnlcn now, 70 eyes OIL all men.
Is have been most necessary. Secretary
Bristow into the Treasury through the same
movement, and, strange MS II may seem, my cordial
support OF Mr.. Brstow was also a grave offence TO
Senator Conkling"
coxKLSG AND RACK PAY.
"What about the Back Pay bill TO which Senator
Conkng aludes?"
senator Conkling was one Of the earliest most
ndro and persistent organizers ofthe movement which
resulted in tho passage OF the Back Pay bill. The
Congressional Hecord viii show that he voted at
many different stages voted against 1t every time.
Alter the bill passed wrote TO great
many Representatives proposing that should
unite in some plan Tor dcvoting our share
OF the money without ostentatlon TO public purposes
] proposed civo my money to o college and sem
inarcs IN my district. Hon. George +. Hoar did this
and abused Tor It. Conklng Tells the truth when
he says that bis attitude on this subject embarrassed
me. III wcre 10 give away my money either to The
Treasury or to schools, while he kept his IT might.
In view OF the feeling which his rcalncrs
fostering be regarded sort OF assault upon him.
II mad long been my purpose TO so to Europe, and
did so with the subject undecided. From Athens, as
sury May, wrote TO friend Utica at the head
Of toe academy that had determined TO return my
money TO the Treasury, and therefore that institution
could not receive II On my return Immediately
covered tho money into the Treasury. Senator Conk-
ling at TINS time AZ vigorous IN his sDcsrs and
dcnunciations OF those ''who not brave enough
20 keep their own money as ne put IT, he Ia
ID reputation OF the 'supcrtnc' people In New York
cty who are willing to Try to get good government IN
the city and the nation"
THAT SAVINGS BANK
"what with reference 10 the savings bank to which
Senator Conkling aludesfn
tunae 10 DO trustees ia tho National Savings Bank
Of Utica, which was merged into institution which
lterward iaied. lie ioue connectod With IL as
I was. When ] closed my connection with
II subsequent events have proved that
IL was solvent Two years aherward Il was
put into bankruptcy In consequence Of dssensions
among those VINO controlled after lott. IL has
since paid dividends OF sxy-two and halt per cent
and will doubtless pay much more Levi Blakelec
was cashier Al the Time OF the failure and Senator
CoDkiing has brought him to New YORK and givon him
conDdenal position in the nagemont OF nnances
ofthe New York Post Onicc. ConkIlngs law firm, al.
though no had been director took suits which aimed
10 reduce tho Of the bank and therefore werc
against the depositors whom he was In honor bound
10 protect
ROBERTS BUSINESS AFFAIRS
"Do you wish TO cay anything with reference 10 al
lusions made by Senator Conkling to your business
anzirs?'
.'wny, no. After the election OF 1874 word came TO
mo that senator Copkling would destroy Imam
cialy. Since stopped paying = large share OF his
election expenses have more money. never was so
prosperous and never was doing so encouraging and
satisfactory a business as now
''Senstor Conkling accuses you Of having voted the
democratic ticket, Mr.. Robertsn
"He could not possibly Know how voted, and, OF
course, he made statement regardless Of It's truth
Everybody who reads the Utica Herald knows that