Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-06-24
DOMESTIC.
Tho Situation AT Albany.

DOMESTIC.
The Situation af Albany.
ALBANY, June 23j.-In Joint Convention
to-day the following is the result of the ballot
for Senator in place of Conkling: Combined
vote-Whee!er SO, Potter So, Conkling 80,
Cornell l, Lsphsm l, Folger l, Geo. NJ.
Hoskins 1. No choice.
The second vote to fill Platt's place was:
Depew 80, Keraan SO, Platt q, Cornell s,
Wheeler l, Crowley s, Lapham 4, Tremaine
l. No choice.
The third vote to fill Conklins's place was:
Wheeler 30, Potter %, Conkling 81, Lapham
II Hastings ,. Folger l.
The fourth vote to fill Platt's vacancy
stood Aston changed from Platt to Hos
kins. Depew %, Herman SO. Plat -, Cor
nell Z, Crowley q, Lspham g.
The Convention then adjourned.
THE BRIBERY INoUIRY-DAvENPoRT DEPosEs.
John l. Davenport testified. He said
have read Senator Strahan's statement re-
fscting on myself and President Garfield.
received permission from the President to
state what took place between us. Mr.. Knox
and Postmaster. General James also granted
permission for me to state the talk had with
them. l went to Washington in May on a
legal case. At breakfast at the Willard
House, the names of Hugh Gardner and Col
onel Erhardt were mentioned in connection
with the Marshalship. After breakfast |
went to the White House with the Postmas.
ter General, and the President asked who
would be good man for the Marshalship of
New York. | said couidn'ttell. He asked
about Knox | said it would be an excellent
appointment. He asked me to see Knox at
the Arlington. l did so, but Knox insisted
that he world not give up his profession
for the position. Then Gardner's and
Erhardt's names were again mentioned,
and l suggested Strahan. / went back
to the White House and suggested
his name to the President but he did not
know Strahan. After talking awhile, sent
that telegram to Strahan, and met him at the
club. | asked him if | could use his name
for Marshal Strahan said, DO you know
whether Conkling or Platt are to be candi-
dates? = said, mo- He said, Where
are you in this fght?" 1 said, with the
President" He said he did not know
whether either would be candidate, but he
did not want to tie embarrassed; could the
offer be held open until after the Senatorial
fight? l said, i must have an immediate
answer" OF course he would be expected to
oppose Conkling and Platt. He then wanted
to consult with Judge Gordon and then an.
swer in the morning, which he did, and the
answer was that he couldn't accept. Knox
telegraphed me that night to suggest some
body else il Straham wouldn'e accept.
1 met Senator Strahan at 8 o'clock the next
morning, as agreed, and he told me he
thought he could not accept; but fearing
that the dispatch would not reach him.
telegraphed again, saying that Senator
Strahan could not accept. [ received dis
patch from Knox, saying that under the cir
cumstaGces he would allow his mans to he
used. That was all / had to do with the
matter.
Mr.. Bsngs-You had communic alton
with Strahan about his appointment as Mar
sinai
Dsvenport--It was my own opinion that
Strahan could have the office if he would
take it.
Bangs-Are you at liberty to state the con-
versation you had with the President about
the United States Senatorial contest here?
Answer am.
Question-Whas was said?
Ale simply asked me IL knew anything
about whether CJnkling and Platt were to
be candidates.
Q-Did he express a strong desire that
they should be reelected?
Ale did not. He has expressed no wish
OF desire upon this Senatorial question. |
had no authority from the President to off sr
the United States Marshalship to Strahan.
| acted IN the matter simply as the request
of Knox. L believed that Strahan's name
would be confirmed if Knox recommended
him.
Q.-The Pcesident asked who is Strahan,
VIII, n you mentioned his name?
Ayes; he thought 1 meant John II.
Sta in. of New York. | had no further con-
yer alton with him
Q-Do you remember saying anything to
S.rahan about his name b-ing preferred to
others for the Office of Marshal?
Al don't remember Strahan said 20
me, :" In case | accept the nomination, it will
be expected of me TO support parties other
than Conkling and Plat ?" l answered, Il
presume So" ] did not suppose, when |
met him at the Union League Club-roorn
that night, that he was friendly to Conkling
and Plat; knew be voted against the latter
in the caucus last winter
CD you remember asking S!rahan If
Gardner was a Conkling man?
Al never asked him any such question.
3ir. kuox is n very warm friend Of Mr.
Arthur. | thought from Knox's manner
that he desired to please Arthur and that
the President did not desire that any act Of
his should be construed as meaning to make
war ON Conkling. From the party standing
Of Gardner he would have some influence
over Strahan. Do not know as Gardner YVES
mentioned with this fact in view. am con-
hdent that Knox asked me to see Strahan.
ard urge this position upon him. | told
Strehan that his name had been mentioned
for the position. Strahsn asked me if Conk.
ling and Plat would be candidates-if | had
heard of it in Washington. l told him l had
rot heard any such thing and thought they
would not be candidates. The request to let
the matter lay over till tomorrow came from
Strahsn solely. It did not come from
me. It was Strahan who said Gardner
should not be spoken TO about the
matter. 1t was my suggestion that the
matter should he kept private and confden-
tial. | am not able to account for the dis
patch which appeared in the World on this
subject. About three or four lines Of the dis
patch were correct. That was that be had
been offered place and declined it. That is
to say, BIZ inference it was true. The fact |
was that he had been asked if he would &C
eept the place If rendered him.
Brooks-Strahan in his testimony said that
you said, " am with the President in this |
fight, and lam authorized to ask you if You |
will accept the AIarshalshipif rendered" Did !
yJu say this?
A-Not exactly in those words.
brooks Were yeu authorized to make the |
tender of this ofceg
Ayes. sir-by Mr.. Knox. The Presi- |
dent, IN speaking 20 me about the Marshal |
ship, said, - You know more about this Office |
than any man in New York. Now. who |
would be good man for it?r That was the |
way the matter was introduced. The man l |
recommended was not appointed. Ihaye had |
no requests made to me TO secure offices for !
anyone except poor man in the Government |
printing Office. l may have conveyed to |
Strahan the idea that if he would give me an |
affirmative answer he could have the appoint |
ment. That was after my interview with the |
President, and | knew Knox did not want |
the Office
To Bangs-I know many of President Gar
fields nominations were confirmed, and l |
thinl; Senator Strahan's would have beer.
A. w. Hickman, member of the Assembly |
from Erie county. testified that he had CON.
yersaiion with Bradley on the Sth of June.
before he made his charge in the House He |
spoke about his voting. spoke to him
about c. ii. Russel's change of vote, and
told him it would be good for him and his
constituents If he would make a t
similar statement. He said he was
going to quit voting for Conkline
aud Platt, and vote for Cornell and Rogers. |
/ sm sure he did not Fay he would vote for
Depsw. Have heard great deal of talk
about members selling their votes prior to
this Investigation. 1t has been seriously said
that the votes of members could be bought
with money, but cannot say who said it. !
really Thought Bradley would vote for Cor
II = n 4 IL