Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-03-25
THE NEW YORK CoLLEcToRsHIP

The old quarrel between the executive
and Roscoe Conkling seems likely to
break out, and prove source OF infinite
trouble to President Garfield as it was to
Mr.. Hayes For some weeks it has been
supposed that the President a1d the New
York Senator were on the best of terms.
One of Lord Roscoe's friends was APP
pointed postmaster general, and various
other smaller concessions to his whims
and his interests were made. Conkling,
too, condescended to call at the White
House on several occasions and eat salt at
the Presidential table. These facts have
led the public to suppose that peace
would reign during the present admins
tration between the President and the
New York dictator.
Such hopes of amity have, however,
been dashed to the ground, and by Gar
fields hand at that. On Wednesday, he
sent to the Senate the nomination of Mr..
Robertson, an avowed enemy of Conk
ling's, to be collector of the port of New
York. This office is in many respects
the most important In the gift Of the
President. The salary and perquisites
amount to more than the income of the
President himself, and the patronage at
the disposal of the incumbent is simply
immense. By = judicious employment
of this patronage, the collector can con-
troll caucuses and conventions, legisla-
lures and executive officers. 1t is the
prize coveted by all aspiring politicians
in the Empire State, for it assures them
of preferment in whatever direction their
ambition lies. 1t is the prize over which
Hayes and Conkling quarrelled four
years ago, and over which they have
been squabbling ever since. After q
long and bitter fight, Hayes got the best
of his adversary, removed Conkling's
friend, tho present Governor Of the
State, and to emphasize his victory, also
decapitated his next best champion, tho
present Vice President of the United
States. Conkling, however, eontended
wonderfully against great odds, and really
defeated the executive by placing Cornell
and Arthur in the places they now oc-
cupy. e 80 80 - y
Every one has supposed that in return
for his labors in the campaign that re-
suited in Garfeld's election, Conkling
would be permitted to dispose of the Of
fee of collector of the port of New
York, or, at least, that the Office would
not be filled by one of his avowed enc
mics. But, inspired by some genius
whether good or evil, time alone will de-
termine-Garfeld has administered q
singing blow in the face of Milford Ros-
coe. 1t is equivalent to challenge
to mortal combat, and in the battle that
is sure to ensue, one or the other of these
dignitarles must bite the dust. Conklinr
has had hard work during the past four
years to maintain his supremacy at home
A man less talented, less fertile of re-.
sources, would have been utterly crushed.
He will have a still harder time of il
during the ensuing four years, if the
nomination of Mr.. Robertson is confirmed.
for there is nothing that so weakens a
public man as symptoms that his influ-
ence with the appointing power is on the
wane. Garfield, too, is stronger antag-
onist than Hayes. He has not been in
Quoted into Office under a cloud, hut is
sustained by the whole of his party, be-
sides having the best wishes OF ma
jority of the Democrats. He is made of
sterner stuff than Hayes, and if his path
way is crossed will give battle to the