The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1881-05-14
AN OPEN LETTER.
Spicy Letter from Hard Money
Nichols.


Nichols.
Washington, May 13. = "Hard
money" Nichols, Gen. Garfeld's pri-
vate SECRETARY during the presidential
campaign, to-day makes spicy addi-
tion to the literature of the Conkliug-
Garfield controversy. 1t is addressed
to the editor of the Erening Star, and
reads as follows:
81 am the subject of an editorial in
this mornings Republican, suggested
by and referring to a communication
over my name in yesterdays New
York Tribune. In that communica-
tion it distinctly afirms four things:
First, that the 'wriggler' in the Her.
aid bore plain evidence OF Senator
Conkling's assistance in its prepara-
ton. Second, that the policy of sneer-
ing at the president in the pending con-
troversy, and calling him the tool of
Mr.. Blaine, is an undignified attempt
to belittle the president and a cowardly
thrust at Blaine, who is not at present
in position to respond. Third, that
Gen. Garfield did not suggest nor plan
the New York conference last summer,
as charged in the Herald's article, but
Mr.. Conkling's friends did; that Gen.
Garfield only consented to attend when
convinced that Conkling was contem-
plating treachery, and did attend to
thwart and stamp out that treachery.
Fourth, that assuming the charge
about the promises and pledges to be
true, it proves the selfishness and con-
templated treachery Of Conkling and
company. 1t is confession ON their
part of a baser nature and meaner
and more selfish conduct than they
charge on the president.
Now, what has the Republican to an
swer? That 1 am a diminutive person;
that sat in an arm chair on the plat
form in the Chicago convention; that 1
thrust myself onto Gen. Grrfield to his
annoyance and disgust at New York
(Which is lie); that Garfield could not
stop me from writing letters in his
name (another lie. never wrote a
letter in Gen. Garfield's name in my
life; l wrote the letters and he signed
them himself); that was only allowed
to write Acknowledgements of receipts
of letters of congratulation (another
lie. l opened, read and answered all
classes of letters) and finally, that sMr.
Nichols is professional, honest man. ,
What has my size to do with this
CONTROVERSY I am not as large as
David Davis, nor as sdiminutive' as
Malone. I do not know as much as
some other people, but what 1 do know,
know just as well as if weighed 4OC
pounds; and part Of my limited stock
of information is likely to prove an in
convenience to certain enterprise OF
the firm of Conkling, Gorham Il Co., II
there is any company; but il my size is
an element of value or an item of in.
terest to the public, the public may az
well know the exact truth, and make
I
such estimates as seem proper. 1 an
s feet II inches high, and weigh 1876
pounds.
."As to the items that have marked
as lies above, they are simply, and ii
plain Saxon, lies. What chance had
Mr.. Gorham, or the writer of this arti
Gle, whoever he may be, to know wha,
my instructions from Gen. Garfield
were while I acted as. one of his secre
taries. or how 1 carried out those in
structions. Yet he pretends to tell Just
as though he knew and was telling thu
truth, and tells story that everybody
who was about the Mentor premises las,
summer knows to be false.
Gas to the concluding sneer at me a,
Ifa rrr,fouuinno1 hopook v,,ov,ax, ,~,c~. i