The Portland daily press., 1878-01-18
New York Tribuns.l
A Chat with Mr.. Blaine.
The Senators Luck ns TO Appointments
He Favors the Retirement of Schurz
and Key.

In recent conversation with the junior Sem
ator from Maine friend asked Mr. Blaine if
he had seen the report originally published in
the Baltimore Sun that he had more letters Oh
file with the President recommending persons
for appointment than any other Senator. Mr..
Blaine answered he had seen the statement,
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, 81 have never
refused when applied to to indorse the applica-
ton of good Republican for office, when I
have known him to be honest and capable.
have been applied to by many such, and have
always very cheerfully complied with their re-
quests"
successful?' was asked.
"No," Mr.. Blaine answered; "such appli-
cants imagined, erroneously, that nay name
would aid them with the appointing power"
SLOW many such recommendations have you
madeY' asked his friend.
THAT do not know. My acquaintance"
continued Mr.. Blaine, with Republicans is
very large throughout the country, and possi-
bly, have been applied to more than almos
any other Senator; but such recommendations
as these are very different from those that
are made for appointments of supposed
personal favor or political advantage to ones
self OF these never made but two REQUESTS
Of the President. One was the appointment /
of my colleague, Mr.. Frye, to Cabinet posi-
ton, which the President declined"
"And who was the other?" "The other" an
swered Mr.. Blaine, ''was for the appointment
Of my former editorial partner, the Honorable
John L. Stevens, to some diplomatic position.
| This the President responded to very cordially
| and sent Mr. Stevens teSweden.''
"Dd you ask for any appointments outside
l of the State of Maine"
"Yes," was the answer, 81 asked the Presi-
| dent, and very earnestly urged him to appoint
represented to him that Mr.. Chandler had done
more jealous, intelligent and efficient work in
organizing the Republican party in two or three
National campaigns than any man of my ac-
quaintance; that he was now in ill-health from
overwork in the service of the party, and
thought it would be wise graceful and fitting
act to tender Mr.. Chandler position"
What other influence had Mr.. Chandler"
| asked Mr.. Blaiue's friend.
"None whatever. What 1 did was done
without Mr.. Chandler's solicitation, and with
out his knowledge until it was done. The
President, 1t is needless to say, did not coincide
with my views"
ibid Mr.. Chandler ever see the Secretary of
State on the subject?'
''He had" answered Mr.. Blaine, ''One inter-
view with Mr.. Evarts. think, in regard to his
appointment, but it was at Mr.. Evarts' request
sent through myself. One other case earnest
n ~ urReu Oh Tue EIe5lu6nG, I0r less prominent
position in the District of Columbia, but in this
also the President did not respond favorably."
We'll Mr. Blaine" said his friend, "what is
the result? How does the subject stand?'
The Senator answered, "1t simply comes to
this that the President up to this time has made
but one appointment to crafty me- and that
was certainly one of very high fitness, for
| which the President should thank me as COR
| daily as L thanked him."
On being asked what he thought of the report
| that the statement in the Baltimore Sun had
| emanated 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 it,
he would gladly authorize Mr.. Rodgers to pub
lish every letter of his in the Presidential files
| MIR. Blaine further added in substance, that
| such intimations coming from the White House
1 would imply policy in the use of patronage
| which the Civil Service theory of the Admins
| tratlon entirely disavoTed aud if the sugges
| tons and lnnuendoes meant anything, they
| meant that only those supporting the Presi-
| dent,s polcy were expected to make recon-
| me ndatlons or Endorsements in regard to any
appointment. Mr.. Blaine did not seem over
ready to talk on the subject He had point
ealy declined to take any personal notice of it,
ne said, but In answer to suggestion that his
| conversation might be printed, he said that
| while he had nothing to declare he bad moth
| ing to conceal about it. The above does not
| assume to present the exact words or Mr..
Blaine, but it contains the substance of his re-
marks 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 In favor of the appointment demo