San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1881-04-07
WAsuueenoy LETTIR.


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wAsniSoroS. DIsr. COLUMBIA.
March. 30, 1881.
] do not believe the story TINT
President Garfield lied to Senator
Coukling about tic New York pat
ronage. But there il, TO say the
least, a misunderstanding between
theia On the subject. The Senator
was invited to the White House On
Sunday, the 10Th. and told,ashs Gays,
that he ana Senator P.stt would be
consulted abont I'LL New York mp
poinntments. At that interview Son
itor Conking refused to make any
recommendations only wishing 10
know Of nominations in advance, a.
be had full faith that oil the selections
would be satisiactory. On the sue
cssding Tuesday several Of ConkIngs
alleged friends were given Office but
without consultation with him, OF
Senator Plat He was surprised.
On tho next day his chief enemy in
New York was given the chief Fede'
raj Office in that State-the Collector.
ship Of the port Of Now York. This,
too, without consultation Nth Conk-
ling or Plstt This is the Conklng
story as published. and is believed to
come directly from Senator Plat. 1t
has just been published, in the New
York Times. The Garfield story 10
that no promise Of consultation was
given by the PRECEDENT ct the inter
view with Conkling. There seems TO
be no doubt that a serious quarrel
will result from the misunder
standing.
This and the anomalous condition
Of affairs in the Senate, fill the polit-
ical mind Of Washington, especially
on there is a connecting link between
the two. Senator Conkling wishes to
keep back and perhaps ultimately
prevent the confirmation Of his enc
my by the Senate.
For this reason he desires to. pro-
long the contest over Senate officers.
Hence he il the chief Senatorial man
ager and encourager of Malone, who,
by voting with the Republicans stops
the Senate from going into executive
session, and acting on nominations.
The case of Malone has other
points Of interest besides this. 1t is
the first in which a Senator elected
to vote one way has on the opening
of a session gone another way Ma
none was not strictly speaking elect
ed .as a. Democrat, but it is entirely
true;thst. he was elected as a.conser-
vative, and that he is now acting
with and is the tool Of the most Rad
ical Republicans in the Union. His
vote and influence weigh to-day far
more heavily against the intelligent
people Of bis section than does that
Of uny Radical Senator.
At this writing there is no proba-
bility that the deadlock in the Sen
ate over the election of it's, officers
will be broken. The Democrats
greatly to their credit and much to
the surprise of many, have agreed to
stand together in insisting that a mere
election Of Sergeant-at-arms who is
the intimate friend Of Malone shall
not be made o condition of accom-
plishing the necessary and legitimate
work for which the Senators were
called together. They have reason,
decency and precedent on their side.
It was rumored last night that Secre-
tary Blaine was using his influence
with Senators to secure the transac-
ton Of executive Understanding
the confirmation of the Presidents
nomin eeF-at an early day, letting
the question of Senate officers 60 by
for the present. Dem.