The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-04-23
THE RADICAL LEADER.
why He liz Called he Golyer GARFIELD.
New York SUM-

New York SUM-
his question, put to us by Republican. IL
one which we are willing to answer:
"Will YOU please say why the S,1, calls Mr..
Garfield, Of Ohio, DE Gplyer Gartield2'
He came legitimately by the name. 1t often
happens that when rich man dies, leaving
part Of his property to some one who IL not a
blood relation. the legatee assumes the name
Of the henefaetor along with the property.
The original De Golyer was Chicago con.
tractor who owned the patent Of . so-.caled
ironized wooden block for paving city streets
Not long before he died conveyed a portion OF
his property, In the shape Of d check for $4,000,
to james a. Garfield, then and now d member
Of the House Of Representatives. We shall
presently refer to the circumstances under
which the gift was made. They were 40 re-
markable that IL has seemed proper that
James A. Garfield should bear the name OF
his benefactor.
Garfield was chairman Of the House Com
mittee on Appropriations In the Forty-second
Congress. The Shepherd ring was In full con-
troll Of the District. Board Of Public Works
The Chicago firm OF De Golyer N Mcclellan
had the patent Of d worthless pavement, and
also had $4,000 which they were willing to
expend Ms corruption fund for the sake Of
procuring profitable contract. The wide
streets and avenues Of Washington, with
many thousands Of square yards, each square
yard worth 80 many dollars To somebody,
stretched out III every direction from the
the Treasury door.
The agent vi the Chicago contractors spent
their $4,000 OF corruption money. A larger
part of 1t went Into the pockets OF the Shepherd
ring. Some Of II went into the pockets Of
members Of Congress. On May 20, 1879 Gar
field reported to the House two appropria-
tions. one Of $6S, $50 and the other of $te2 900
for the use Of the Shepherd Board of Public
Works, and advocated them In a speech lii
which he warmly eulogized the honesty and
ra3,,, Ah.,s4j and 1, ,tr
Randall, of pennsylvania, now Speaker Ran
dali. sharply questioned the character Of the
proposed appropriation but upon Garieds
assurance that It was all right, the bill went
through. Two Or three weeks later the Shep-
herd board awarded to De Golyer IL McClel-
Ian contract for 10000 square yards Of their
humbug pavement at I'D 30 per square yard
and promised them contract for $4,000
square yards more. The superintendent OF
the pavement concern has sworn that 1t costs
laid and soon rotted The profits of the steal.
TO all the parties concerned in 1t, amounts to
hundreds Of thousands Of dollars.
Did Garfield make blunder when he
opened the treasury door to the thieves2 Was
he the victim Of excessive confidencein human
nature, AZ 90 many simple-hearted patriots
had been before his timer
On July IL, 1872, James A. Garfield pocketed
check for 5000, paid him by De Golyer
through Richard o. Parkson, another member
was delieately put i'm the shape Of counsel
fee for professional services ~ o lawyer.
Garfield pocketed the money, although he well
knew that he had rendered no legal assist
ance to the firm of De Golyer & Mcclellan, for
the excellent reason that there had been no
legal question involved In their operations at
Washington. He accepted the money In the
spirit In which 1t was offered-as o gift, q
gratulty, a tribute from an eccentric Chicago
philanthropist to the character Of a Christian
statesman from Ohio. Soon after this benevo-
lent transaction DE Goiyer died.
Wethnk our correspondent will understand
now why Garfield owes 1t to the memory Of
his benefactor to bear the name De Golyer for
the remainder Of his days.