The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1881-04-28
It is said that HAYES never lost a


wink of sleep while president"
notwithstanding the manner of his
election, but Garfield takes all his
troubles to bed with him, and is
getting thin. A correspondent says:
"What Garfield needs most is a
confidential friend in the Cabinet
to whom he can unburden himself,
and who will advise him to do that
which is for the best interests of the
Republican party; not only advise
him, but show him. He needs a man
like Charley Foster in his Cabinet,
and Charley Foster will go there the
first change that is made. Foster Is
a man of the world, and knows all
the ways and weaknesses of our
public men. Garfield is a child in
his ignorance of men. While he is
great among his books and his the
cries, he only see n side of men.
He can't fathom their motives. His
selection of Jim Blaine to be Secre.
tary of State illustrates this. Gar
field has courage, but he. is afraid of
Conkiing. The same correspondent,
who has his information direct from
a party who received it from Cover
nor Foster. tells whyand how Char
ley did not get into the Cabinet:
When Conkling visited Mentor
Garfield told him plainly that he
meant to recognize the anti Conkling
faction in New York state by giving
Judge Robertson agood Office. Gov
ernor Foster and others who were
called into consultation at Mentor
with myself warned the President
elect that his plan was impracticable,
and would get his administration
into hot water at the outset, but he
persisted. In accordance with this
idea, however he called Conkling to
Mentor to have him name a Cabinet
officer. Conkling named Morton
for the Treasury portfolio. When
Garfield reached Washington he sent
for Morton and told him that as he
was engaged in mercantile pursuits
it would not be1awful to appointhi
Secretary ofthe Treasury; but that
as Morton had been Secretary of the
Finance Committees, and had raised
the money that Had been used in the
campaign, he felt like recognizing
and rewarding his services, and off
cred him the Navy portfolio. This
delighted Morton, who said he would
perfer the Navy, because then he
could continue his business. This
was inauguration day, and Morton
left Garfield in excellent humor
The Cabinet was then made up and
Charley Foster was ION the slate for
Postmaster General. When Conk.
ling, however, who is the prince Of
hell,raisers, heard of the change, he
became furious. Morton came te
Garfield the next morning, worm out
and disguised, and said: "Mr. Presi
dent, l have been bedeviled and
bounded and badgered all night by
the New York men, until 1 am com.
PEELED to decline the Navy portfolio
1 would like some recognition" and
Garfield then promised him the
French mission. This sudden AND
unexpected declination compelled 6
rearrangement of the Cabinet slate
Governor Foster was put down fol
the Interior Department in order
that the Post Office Department
might go to a New York man. Gar.
field sent for Governor Foster and
told him what he had done. Foster
was chagrined, but not surprised,
In the shutting of the cards shat he
saw going IN he was prepared to ex.
pect any thing or nothing. He i'm.
mediately told Garfield that he would
not take the Interior Department,
and that if he could not go into the
Cabinet as the head of the Postoffice
Department he did not care to go
into it at all. So Foster was dropped
as a Cabinet possibility, much to
Garfeld's regret, 1 think, by this
time, for he would have been q safe
adviser, and kept the administration
off of the breakers.