Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-06-07
IN. Y. Cor. Chicago Tribune

N Y. Cor. Chicago Tribune.1
The following chapter of the inside history
of Conkling and Platt's designations is told
here: When the resignation of Conkling was
prepared, 1t was accompanied by a mamoran-
dunn of arrangement to the following effect:
If, in the opinion of Gov. Cornell, the resigna-
tion, under the circumstances, was wise and
polite, and there was no doubt of his triumph.
al return, then his resignation was to be sent
to the legislature simultaneously with the
notice to the secretary of the United States
Senate. Should no doubt arise or obstacle
present itself, there would be no need Of any
communication by telegraph or other
wise between the governor and Mr.. COnk-
ling, and, consequently, no evidence of
collusion between them could subsequently be
adduced. On the other hand, should there be
any good reason why it would not be safe or
polite to send in the resignations-for every
word here written applies also to the resigna-
tion of Mr.. Platt-Mr. Conkling was to be
notified in time, and the designations consii-
cred as unwritteo, AID new plans or methods
devised.
THESE DOCUMENTS
were intrusted to special messenger, more or
less (probably less) in the confidence of Mr..
Conkling, who left Washington Saturday
evening with instructions to proceed directly
to Albany. He arrived here on Sunday morn
ing, and it soon became whispered about that
Mr.. Conkling's confidential messenger was in
town, en- route to the State capital, and was
the bearer of highly important dispatches He
was called upon and accepted the hospitality
of certain of Mr.. Conkling's friends, and, later
on in the day, of some of his political enemies,
for they were call jolly good fellows"
IN A WORD,
instead of doing his masters bidding, and
carrying out his instructions to the letter,
he permitted himself to think for Mr.. Conk-
ling, to argue with himself that delay of a
few hours more or less would make no differ
ence, and, as long as he delivered his dispatch
es to the governor before the legislature met
on Monday evening, the object of his mission
would be accomplished. Sunday, therefore,
was spent in conviviality, and Sunday night
Many were the devices resorted to, to extract
from him the secret of his mission, but even
while under the influence of wine, he did moi
divulge it. He was even permitted to win
several hundred dollars
ATPOKER,
| in the hope that it would put him in confid-
ing mood. The most that could be drawn out
of him was: ono, boys, l can't tell you what
| it is, but you can rely upon it that l carry in
my pocket from Senator Conkling to Governor
Cornell that which, in less than forty eight
| hours, will create greater sensation than
anything which has ever occurred in the histo-
| ry of the Republican party" The rest of the
| story may be briefly told. He missed the
Sunday night train for Albany, and, conse-
quently, did nat reach there until about 2:3C
| O'Clock the f01IOlvi afternoon
IN THE MEANTIME,
Senator Conkling, not hearing anything from
Gov. Cornell, and supposing that the arrange.
| ment had been made in the memorandum &C.
| companying the resignation was perfectly un.
stood, and that everything was all right, per.
| mitted the notification to the Secretary of the
! United States Senate to 60 in. As soon as Mr.
| Conkling's messenger arrived at ALBANY, hf
was hurried into the executive presence, and
| it was not until the dispatches had been open
| ed and read that his terrible mistake of yield
| ing to the attractions of the metropolis was
| discovered. An informal caucus was
HASTILY ORGANIZED,
but only forty Republican members could be
| gathered together-not enough by half, ever
if they all pledged themselves, to secure Mr.
| Conkling's return. Then, again, they were
entirely in the dark as to what was the proper
course to pursue in such an emergency, and
consequently, the caucus was dissolved with
an injunction of secrecy placed upon each gen
tleman present. The subsequent development.
are still too fresh in the public memory to re-
Qure repetition. Suffice it to say that the fact.
as above stated prove that Mr.. Conkling's res
ignatlon was not originally rendered to Gov
Cornell absolutely and Internationally, an(
that, upon convivial gathering and seduct
i've game of poker played by his messenger il
New York, hinged his political destiny.