Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-05-10
Especial to Boston Journal
The Contest at Washington.

WASHINGTON, May s. There have been
some conferences to-day among the Senators
| the purpose of which was to consider whether
| it would be possible to adjust the difficulty
between the Senate and the President, but
| these conferences have been as fruitless as
| those which have preceded them. The only
definite suggestion that has been made is that
| the President should appoint Judge Robert
| son United States District Attorney in the
place of Mr. Woodford, withdrawn; allow
Merritt to remain as Collector until the cx-
piration of his term, and make other salts
factory provision for Woodford. 1t is said
that those who have had this scheme in con-
| temptation, have sent a request to Judge
| Robertson to come to Washington. The lat.
| ter, however, it is known to be as firm in his
| unrelenting opposition to a compromise as
| the President is. He has recently received
= telegram from a member of the admins
tration informing him that his confirmation
| is certain, and he is not disposed to surren-
der what now seems the certainty of having
the great office of Collector of the port of
New \ ork, in order to rescue Roscoe Conk-
| ling from dilemma, and it cannot be
learned that the President desires that any
| change in the programme should be made
Whatever schemes others may have, it is
now evident that the President has spoken
II.
The Administration now seems only to be
planning how best to execute the policy which
| 1t has adopted. Senators who have talked
both with the President and with members of
his cabinet say that whatever NAV be said
| as to the desires of the President to avoid a
| contest with Mr.. Conking, the contest is at
| hand, and that the President. or those who
are believed to have authority to speak for
MN, has gwen senators to understand that
those who are not with him are against him.
and that any senator who votes against Mr.
Robertson Will be considered to have cast a
vote hostile to the Administration. Several
senators say that they understand this to he
the avowed policy of the Administration. II
Is now understood to be the desire of the
Administration to secure the services of some
one to Immediately represent it in the repub
iicsn caucus and in executive sessions, and
preference Will be given to 4 senator who has
been identified with Gen. Grants rrospects
Mr. Conkling is reported to be surprised al
the tact that good many republican senators
upon whose active friendship lie had relied
now Indicate that the issue having been direct
~ made they shall support the Administration
1 ct there Is no reason why he should be sur
Prised. Those senators have been disposed
10 cooperate with Senator Conkling so far As
their own individual interests were NOT in.
vowed, out when 1t becomes evident as it now
mas, that the senators may have to choose
between the friendship of Roscoe Conkling
or the favor of the Administration. there are
a good many who will conclude that tho
PRESIDENT can be of more service to them
than MI Conkllng can. This is said to no
especially true of number of senators whose
campaign for reelection must take Mace
during the life of the present Administration.
The same reasons of alleged self-rreserya.
ton, which Conkling maintains compel him
to the course which he has adopted, NAV in
ike manner compel those he has relied upon
to support the Administration rather than
Mr. Conkling.
It IS beginning to be understood that Sem