River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-11-24

the use of the cottage for the president.
This ended the direct examination.
Crcss-examed by Mr.. Scoville:
Blaine AS to the indentical day /
first saw Guiteau) can't say; it was
early in March.
Ques.-Did you meet him during
the campaign last yea?
Ans.-It is possible did. He CORE
sponded with the main committee, at
tempting to get into the campaign as
speaker. / know there Were several
persistent letters from Charles Guiteau,
of whom then heard for the first time
as desiring of speaking to me.
Ques.-Can they not be produced?
Ans.-I don't think they can. The
debris of the campaign is generally
swept away into the waste paper basket
and into the fire. 1t is wholly unim-
p rtant. Very often persons try to get
into the campaign as speakers. This
is not an exceptional case. 1t is the
transaction of every committee in the
country that is familiar with the gen.
eral rule, it being never to take a
speaker who applies himself to speak.
(Laughter)
Ques.-What is the reason that that
is the rule?
Ans.-Because men of enough repu-
tation and influence are only sought
for.
Ques.-Had your attention been di-
rected to this man or to his name suf-
ficiently that the name should be fa-
miliar to you when you came into the
state department.
Ans.-No, sir. 1t made no impress
sion on me at ALL The thing had pass
ed out of my mind, until the private
secretary sad that this man had per-
sistently applied to speak in the cam
paign. should never have recalled it
in the world. He introduced himself
to me in the state department.
Odd he come at any time with
any backing for the Office, either writ
ten or personal?
Al do not recolleet that he did.
He continually referred to the fact Of
General Logan being his friend; am
not sure he did not have some letters.
That is fact / could not now state.
Q.-Has it been usual thing in ap-
plication for Office, that applicants
OOluC NIOhOOo olly pdSAhiS
Avery common. He " ould often
be one of forty, in single morning, all
alike, in desiring, and partly nearly all
alike in disappointment. Laughter. J
The case was not peculiar one.
Q.-How did you treat him?
A.-Possibly if had never seen but
one office seeker, might have thought
he was persistent; having seen so many
of the same kind, did not notice him.
daughter.
Q-When did you finally reject his
application?
Ale had come there repeatedly
without encouragement, and the office
was more OF less filled every morning
with gentlemen who were applying for
more places than the administra-
| ton had discretion to bestow
He was like others, persistent in his
application, coming and coming again.
| finally said he need not have the
faintest expectation of procuring the
consulship, and / did not desire him to
speak to me about it. / did not do it
with any harshness.
Ques.-Did you say substantially
that if the president chose to appoint
him you had no objection? Was not
| the interview concluded with some
such remark
Ans.--I should say not. / should
have decided objections.
Ques.-On what grounds?
Ans.-The Paris consulate is q very
important office, an Office of great con-
sequence, and | did not think Guiteau
/ Iol 10 II ole Of
that would be naturally assigned to it.
Ques.-What reason?
Ans.-For very simple reason. ]
think man of sufficient consequence
would be well known public man.
Such an important Office is always as
signed to gentlemen of conspicuous
rank for intelligence and public service.
| did not class him in that rank.
Ques-About public services do you
mean or party services?
! Ans.-It may be party services. The
incumbent at that time Geo. Walker)
can illustrate my meaning. He was
the gentleman who had performed
public service in the finance depart
ment of Massachusetts, and had been
| financial agent for Massachusetts in Eu-
rope, and was gentleman of high
character, widely and faverably known.
do not thing there are any grounds
for misunderstanding me.
o. want to ask if it was expected
and common in the distribution of
those offices, to pass them around as
rewards for party services?
Al should say that was the ele-
ment ALWAYS entered into it, and vet
not conspicuous one. A great many
eligible missions abroad are held by
gentlemen who never did party service
at all.
Q-Do you mean to be understood
that on the whole this element of par
ty service was not prominently recog-
nized in the distribution of office?
Al do not mean to be understood
that it was not recognized, only that it
was not the sole basis on which such
thinss were done, and that gentlemen
who had nothing of these claims were
consigned to conspicuous public posi-
tons.
Q.-Was it a popularity in Guiteau's
application for office that he based his
claim or party service?
A.-Oh, no, that is common.
Q.-Was it not the almost uniform
mode of application?
A.-As q rule / think you would
find that gentlemen who hold conspicu-
Gus positions in diplomatic stations are
not those who have applications for
them on file in the department.
Q.-To come nearer home, how
about collectorshios in leading cities?
Al am not in the treasury depart
ment. (Laughter)
Q-You know nothing about it?
A.-Nothing but hearsay, and that l
suppose would not be accepted. |
never appointed collector in my life
Q-What was the condition of the
republican party as to unanimity and
harmony for six weeks before the
shooting of the president?
A. latter a pause)-There were some
dissensious in it.
Q-These were considerable, were
they not?
A.-Yes, sir.
Q-They created a good deal of ex.
element in the country?
Al should say not in the country
OIL mean among the people?
A.-The dissention was largely local
There were differences between the
president and some members of the
party about some matters in New York.
Q.-They were agitated in the press
Al n,,a, Tho op1y,,t,svo