Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-01-18
A Chat With Mr.. III inc.
Especial 10 the Tribune.

WASHINGTON, Jan. l5.-In recent converse
ton with the junior Senator from Maine friend
asked Mr.. Blaine If he had seen the report oriei-
nally published in the Baltimore Sun that he had
more letters on file with the President recommend
ing persons for sppoi, tment than any other Sena
tor. Mr.. Blaine answered he had seen the state
ment, but he hardly thought it had come from the
President. In regard to the report itself he had
no means Of knowing what other Senators had
done.
For myself" he continued, " have never re-
fused when applied to to indorse the application
of = good republican for office, when | have
known him to be honest and capable. have
been applied to by many such, and have slways
very chesrfully complied with their requests"
Have such recommendations generally been
successful !" was asked.
mo-" Mr.. Blaine answered "such apr licants
imagined enormously, that my name would aid
them with the appointing power"
"How many recommendation have you made :"
asked his friend
THAT do not know. My acquaintance" CON
tinued Mr. Blaine, with republicans is Yely
large throughout the country, and pos
siblyi have been applied to By more persons
than almost any other Senator but such recon
msndations as these are very different from those
that are made for appointments of supposed per-
sona favor or political advantage to ones sell. Of
these never made but two requests Of the Plesl-
dent. One was the appointment Of my colleague,
Mr.. Frye, to Cabinet position, which the Presi-
dent declined"
"And who was the otheri" "The other" an
swered Mr.. Blaine, twas for the appointment OF
my former editorial partner the Hon. John l..
Stevens, to some diplomatic position This the
President responded to very cordially, and sent
Mr.. Stevens to Sweden.
ibid you ask for any appointments outside of
the State of Maine 7"
"Yes," was the answer, az asked the President
and very earnestly urged him to appoint William
4. Chandler TO = foreign mission. | represented
to him that Mr.. Chandler had done more Jealous
intelligent and efficient work in organizing the re-
publican party in two or three National campaigns
than any man of his acquaintance; that he Ia al
neither sought nor received any recognition from
the appointing power; that he was in i'll
health from overwork in the service OF the party,
and thought it would be a wise graceful and lit
ting act to tender MIR. Chandler position
"What other influence had MIR. Chandler :"
asked Mr.. Blaine's friend.
"None whatever. What did was done with
out Mr.. Chambers solicitation, and without his
know ledge until after it was done The President
it is needless TO say, did not coincide with my
views"
"Did Mr.. Chandler ever see the Secretary of
"He had" answered Mr.. Blaine, tone inter-
view with Mr. Evsrts, | think, in regard TO hi. APP
pointment, but it was at Mr.. Evsrts' request, sent
through myself One other case earnestly urged
on the President, for less prominent position in
the District Of Columbia, but n this also the
President did not respond favorably."
swell, Mr.. Blaine" said his friend, what is the
resultf How does the subject stand r
The Senator answered, at simply comes to this
that the President up to this time has made but
one appointment to crafty me and that was GER
tainly one of the very highest fitness, for which
the President should thank me as cordially as
thanked him."
On being asked what he thought of the report
that the statement In the Baltimore Sun had ema-
mated directly from the White House, Mr. Blaine
said he did not believe it; but that if it were so,
and came through Mr.. Rodgers, the Presidents
private secretary, as rumor had 1t, he would glad
ly authorize Mr.. Rodgers to publish every letter
of his in the Presidential flies. Mr. Blaine fur
ther added, in substance, that such intlmatlOns,
coming from the White House, would i'm
ply policy in the of patronage which the
Civil Service theory Of the Administration entire
ly disavowed; and if the suggestions and inuen-
does meant anything, they meant only that those
supporting the Presidents policy were expected to
make recommendations OF Endorsements in regard
to any appointment. Mr.. Blaine did not seem
over ready to talk on the subject. He had point
eddy declined to take any personal notice of it, he
said, but in answer to suggestion that his CONVEX
sation might be printed, he said that while he had
nothing to declare, he had nothing to conceal
about it. The above does not assume to present
the exact words OF Mr. Blaine, but it contains the
substance of his remarks on the subject stated
Mr. Blaine declines absolutely to talk on the
general policy of the President, both as regards
appointments and general subjects. He was never
10 favor Of the appointment Of democrats under
any circumstances, and if he knows it be viii
never vote to confirm one in the Senate. He i.
no more in favor of the retention of Mr. SChur7
and Mr.. Key in the Cabinet than he was the day
they were appointed, and it is well-known that he
did not vote for their confirmation. When asked
whether he intended TO make speech on the Si.
yer Bill, he said be preferred not to indicate hi,
intentions on any subject in the future. Mr.
Blaine walks to and from the Capitol every day
and says he is, so far as he can discover, as wei
and strong as he ever was.