Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1881-05-25
NEW SERIES--V0L. %, NO. 81,

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We now como to another stage il
this curious story of political chicanery
and deceit. If Mr. Garfield meant
D anything when he summoned Conkling
, to Mentor it was that he should con
suit him and take his advice in the
; construction Of his Cabinet, so far at
/ least as the State of New York went.
1t meant nothing If it did not moan
that. Mr. Conkling plainly signifed
J his wishes. The Treasury would DO
} acceptable to the Empire State if that
WAS impossible, let IL be passed over,
and the understanding upon Senator
Conkliugs part was that it should be
passed over. What was the result 2
A few days before General Garfield's
departure from Mentor to the Capitol
ho telegraphed Mr.. Morton ..-"The
cast of my Cabinet must be made be-
fore ten o'clock. Please telegraph me
instantly that you will accept the post
OF Secretary Of the Navy" Now, that
was the one thing Mr. Conkling had
asked Mr.. Garfield not to do, and it
was the only thing he did. 1t was for
this that he dragged him thousands of
miles at the most inclement season of
the year all the way to the snow hills
of Mentor. In the absence of the
friends with whom he could consult,
Mr.. Morton, whose name has been
mentioned for all manner of places
tho Treasury, the English mission, the
mission to Franoe-not wishing to
make himself ridiculous if he were
not named at all, accepted it in mo.
ment Of hesitation. This became ru.
mored about Washington, and so led
to good deal of excitement among
the stalwart branch of the party. Mr..
Morton became so annoyed that he
emphatically withdrew his acceptance,
and so the famous Cabinet was all bro
ken up again. The time was now get
ting short, and at last after months of
incubation everything bad to be done
over again, and at the eleventh hour it
was patched up and thrown together
in the marvellous shape in which we
SEQ it, sent to the Senate and con-
frmed.
MORE GARFIELD DICKERING.
During all this time Senator Conk-
ling expressed a sincere desire to Mr.. |
Garfield and bis friends to make the |
administration success, offering to do |
everything in his power to aid him.
Finally, an interview was brought
about. One Sunday night a New
York Congressman came to Mr. Conk-
ling with the message that the Presi-
dent was anxious to see and confer
with him about important matters al
iecting the administration. Mr.. Conk.
ling agreed to 90 and keep his promise.
The New York appointments were
mentioned by President Garfield, who
said he was very anxious about GER
tain places and would like to have his
ideas on the subject, Among other
Offices mentioned was that held by In
ternal Revenue Collector Weber, whose
place he was anxious to give to Judge
Robertson. Ho desired to know what
Mr. Conkling thought ofit. Mr.. Conk.
ling said it was a matter to be seri.
ously considered. There were no
charges against Mr.. Weber. He was
German; the German Republicans
were very important and the removal
might offend them; in fact, he pre-.
ferred not to express an opinion on the
subject. The President then said -
"Mr. Conklng, | am extremely anx.
ious that you and your friends should
agree upon some projet by which |
can get in the Independents. He said
he wished Senator Conklng would
consult with Mr. Arthur, Mr.. Platt,
Governor Cornell and other prominent
gentlemen belonging to the party and
draw up some plan which would ena-
bic him to dispose OF the whole matter
with the least injury TO the public ser.
vice, and at the same time with as
much satisfaction as possible to the
gentlemen interested" After some
further consideration Mr. Conkling
agreed to propose plan or number
OF plans for him, any one Of which he
might adopt under certain contingen.
cies. Under No. he might do so and
so, and under No there would be
another line of policy. Mr.. Conkling
then asked him if he cared TO do any.
thing in regard to the New York Gus.
tom House,
THE NEW YORK CUSTOM HOUSE.
The President replied ho did not
that he had been considering the mat
ter and bad arrived at the conclusion
that the best thing to do was to allow