Daily Kennebec journal., 1881-05-14
MIR. COnkling and the President


MIR. COnkling and the President.
To the article in the New York Herald
Indignantly assaling President Garfield.
which was no doubt written or inspired by
Mr.. Conklng, the Tribune Of Thursday had
We copy that portion Of it throwing light
upon the relations of Garfield and Conkling
last summer, and correcting current misstate-
ments as to the conference held last August
in New York.
The article directly charges General Gar
field with being profuse Of promises during
the campaign and even Of going to New York
in August on purpose to make promises.
Now happen to know something on the
promise subject, and good deal about the
trip to New York. During large part of
the campaign, had general charge of Gen
eral Garfeldss correspondence. My general
directions were to make no promises to any
one. If General Garfelds personal conduct
was consistent with these instructions, no
promises or pledges were made. beyond the
general statement that he desired to treat
all republicans fairly. As to the trip to New
York | wish to be somewhat particular. The
Herald correspondent says. after describing
the doleful prospect of the republican party
at that time. General Garfield. in n sort OF
despair. suggested a conference in the CITY of
New York. of the leading men of the party
from all sections of the country" This state
ment is sandwiched between two paragraphs
setting forth the desperate straits of the re-
publican cause at the time. And why was
the peril Because. as this article admits.
1t was not known whether Conkling and his
friends would support the republican
ticket. Now the facts are, that the only
man there ever were serious doubts
about was Senator Conkling and il
was his friends. and not General Gar
helds, who suggested the New York Confer
cnce, and who pressed General Garfield to
consent to it and attend it. First they urged
him to attend the meeting Of the National
Committee in July. which he declined to do,
the desire Of Conkling's friends being TO have
him meet MIR. Conkling. After the National
Committee was organized Mr.. Conkling's
friends still did not know whether he was
going to take part in the campaign. and
heartily support the ticket, or not. So they
suggested the August conference and insisted
nm General Garfield's attendance. while
'nany Others were opposed to the
conference, or. if it was held. were
opposed to General Garfeld's attendance.
went to New York at General Garfield's
request to see what the situation was tha,
demanded his presence before he would decide
whether to attend or not the letters and the
kilograms that reached him on both sides of the
case being generally vague and unsa satisfactory.
was told by Senator Dorsey, Secretary Of
fhe National Committee. that they didn't
know what Mr.. Conkling was going TO do in
che campaign. and that they wanted a meet
ing between him and General Garfield which
they hoped would be satisfactory to ConklinQ
and at least would settle the question as ia
his course. Mr.. Dorsey did not seek 10 dis
suisc the fact that he thought Mr. Conkline
wanted some sort of conditions or
assurances before he would actively
support the ticket. He desired
me TO urge Garfield to come. and said
that he did not think Conkling would ode
nand pledges" but he thought he wanted to
faik with Garfield on a general pslicy, and
Manted to "have him where he could look
him in the eyes" l asked Mr.. Dorsey to
send for General Anson G. McCook. and state
she same facts to him. saving that if he woultl
ante with me I would urge General Garfield
30 attend The conference. General McCook
~as sent for. He came. and Senator Dorsey
again stated the case. McCook told him that
II meant that Mr. Conkling was contemplate
ing treachery: that to either impose condi.
t!ons before he supported the ticket or to
skuik, do nothing, was simply treachery
Mr. Dorsey said, "You may cali il whatever
SOU please. l have stated the facts The
matter was discussed at considerable length.
rnd the final result was that agreed to re-
aurn to Mentor the next day and report in IA
sor Of holding the conference and Of General
.iarneids attending, not to make pledges or
s;nnslitions with Mr. Conkline, but to thwart
ms tteachery. That was the purpose for
which General Garfield attended the August
ronsereace. How we'll he succeeded is known
80 he country.
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