The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1881-05-13

Michel Again Defends His
Master.

n Nichol, in q letter in the Tribune
this morning, says: a five column
article, accompanied by over column
Of editorial comments, appears IN the
New 70. Herald this morning. Being
somewhat familiar with q number OF
matters alluded 10, 1 wish % make few
corr ections and comments. First, the
whole article bears internal evidence Of
the senator's assistance in PREPARATION.
Who but Senator Conklmg, OF the Presi-
dent, could have told the writer OF the
article what passed between those two
gentlemen in private conversation at
Mentor. Now it is absurd to suppose
that Garfield told the correspondent Of
the Herald such things, So the logical
conclusion ia Conkling furnished the
material and inspiration; second, the
article treats the President as o tool Of
Mr.. Blaine. Mr.. Blaine is not 10 q posi-
ton to take part in the present fight. II
be were, it WOULD not be so persisteutly
forced upon him. he drubbed COnk-
ling once, eighteen years ago, and that
great man has never found an agreeable
opportunity TO renew the contest till now,
when Blaine cannot reply; third the
article directly charges Garfield with be-
ing profuse of promises during the cam
paign, and even of going to New ork
Ia August on purpose 10 make promises.
Now, happen to know something on
the promise subject. and q good deal
about the trip to New York. During
large part of the campaign l had general
charge Of Garfeld's CORE pondeuce. Ny
general directions we're to make no pre- m
ises to anyone. and if General Garteld's
personal conduct was consistent with
these instructions, no promises or pledg S
were made beyond general statement.
He desired u treat all republicans lrly.
As 10 the trip 10 New York, l wish TO be
somewhat pa, ticular. The Herald r
respondent says, r fter describing tae dole
fol pro pect of the repub lean parry a.
the time: General CARTE q, IN q sort o.
despair. suggested q conference n toe
City of New York of the leading men Of
the party from Eil sections OF the coun-
try. Now, the facts are, the only man
there ever were serious doubts about, was
Conkling, and it was his friends, and not
Gsr6eld's, who suggested the New York
conference, and who pressed Garheld 10
assent 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 Conkling.
Af.er the national committee was organ
izsd Conkling's friends still did not know
whether he was going to take part in the
and heartily support the ticket
or not, SO they suggested the August con-
ference, and insisted on Gar
fields attendance, while many others
were opposed to the conference,
or if it wss held, were opposed to Gar
seld's attendance. | went to New York
ut Garheld's request to see what the sit
ustion was that demanded his presence,
before he would decide TO attend or not,
letters and kilograms that reached him
on both sides of the case being generally
yague and unsatisfactory. was told by
Senator Dorsey, secretary Of the national
that they did not know what
Conkling was going to do in the cam
paign, and that they wanted a meeting
between him and Garfield, which they
hoped would be satisfactory TO Conkling,
and ut least would settle the question as
to his course. Dorsey did not seek to
disguise the fact that be thought COnk-
some sort of coalitions, as
before he would actively sup
port the ticket. he desired me to urge
Garfield to come, and said he did not
think Conkling would demand pledges,
but thought he wanted to talk with Gar
field on a general policy, and wanted TO
"have him where he could look him in
the eyes" l asked Dorsey to eend for
Arson G.. McCook and state the same
facts to him, saying, if he would unite
with me l would urge Garfield to attend
the conference. General McCook was
sent for. He came, and Senator Dor
sey again stated the case. McCook told
him It meant Con king wss coDtemplat-
ing treachery, to either impose conditions
skulk and do nothing. 1t was
simply treachery. Dorsey said: you
may call it whatever you please. l have
stated the facts. The matter was
discussed ut considerable length and the
final result was that l agreed to return
to Mentor the next day and report in
favor of holding the conference, and Of
Gar6eld's attending. Not to make
pledges or conditions with Conkling, but
to thwart his treachery, that was the
purpose for which Garfield attended the
August conference. How well he sue
ceeded, is known to the country. Now,
temptation is strong TO indulge in some
comment, the subject is suggestive; but
I will indulge in only one. Suppose al:
said about Gen. Garfeld's promises and
pledges to be true, it only proves Conk-
ling and his followers were not willing to
support q republican ticket as loyal,
honest, republicans should, but only on
conditions; only for honors and profits;
the loaves and fishes. This is the self
confessed disgrsceful story, Matched out
and told now, after eight months ofin-
cubation, in such bombastic tones a only
one man in the United States is master OF.