Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-06-24
WHY CONKLING RESIGNED.
Fresh Chspter In tho History Of the Late
Administration How Gen. Garfield
Saved His Party In Ohio and Indiana.

Administration How Gen. Garfield
Saved His Party In Ohio and Indiana.
[Chicago News.]
TO the Editor: In recent issue of the
Chicago EUe7aing Journal found para
graph calling upon Mr.. Conkling to give
the country the true reasons for his res
lgnation. AS l am conversant with all
Of the facts perhaps l can crafty Gov.
curiosity.
l was present at the Chicago conven-
ton in 1880, and took an active part
did not vote for Gen. Grants nomination,
and subsequently at the election did not
vote for Gen. Garfield. So trust what
shall say will not be regarded as stall
wart assault upon the memory of thelate
president.
Some of the hitherto unpublished facts
of history are these: In the early fall of
1880 the country was startled by the an
that the fusion ticket had
been elected in Maine. Almost unlver-
sal Generalization took hold upon the
Republican party; a stampede was
threatened; odds upon Hancock's cleo
ton was offered, and grew larger day by
day. Gen. Garfield naturally sought
some means for checking the panic. All
eyes turned toward Ohio and Indiana,
and every one agreed that the loss of
these States in the October election
meant the certain defeat of the party in
November.
AS they had every reason to expect,
the national Republican committee found
that the disaster in Maine played havoc
with their finances. The capitalists and
great moneyed corporations of the coun-
try have but one plank in their political !
platform, viz: resolution to always
support the winning side. When the
fortunes of the Democracy began to rise
and the Republicans to fall, contribu-
lions to Gov. Jewell's committee grew
scarce, and serious inconvenience for the
lack of funds was threatened.
1t was Gen. Garfield who hit upon the
plan that saved the party. After making
a contract with Levi P. Morton to give
him cabinet office or foreign mission
if the house of Morton, Bliss g. Co.
would start the subscription with some
thing handsome, he called in Whitelaw
Reid and arranged scheme for securing
help from Jay Gould and his fellow-mag-
mates of Wall street.
Upon the statute books was q law
passed by the Forty-fifth congress in
April, 1878. 1t was popularity called the
Thurman bill, and it provided for the es-
adjustment of sinking fund by the
Pacific railway for the purpose of ex-
tingulshing their Indebtedness to the
government. This act was contested by
the corporations, and the decision of the
supreme court was regarded by them
with great concern. Fortunately for
Gen. Garfeld's plan, he, as member of
the lower house, had opposed the BILL
had attacked it's constitutionality, and had
stepped INTO corridor while the vote
was beng taken, so that his name did
not appear upon the roll.
1t was very easy therefore for HIM to
commission Whitelaw Reid to say to Mr..
Gould that if purse could be raised tc-
help the party in Ohio and Indiana, he
would cheerfully. when elected president,
appoint to the vacancy on the supreme
bench judge who would vote the Thur
man act unconstitutional. Such prop
osition did not involve any sacrifice of
principles on his part.
Mr.. Gould was content enough to make
the trade, but he had had so much
trouble with politicians that he had come
to the conclusion to always demand that
such matters be put in writing; not that
he doubted that Gen. Garfield was gen.
tleman of honor and would faithfully
keep his word, but there was so many
misunderstanding IN this life, if he
would just jot it down in little memo
randum letter it might be better. He
(Mr. Gould) was perfectly willing to
make Whitelaw Reid custodian Of the
letter. He didn't care about that,
So Gen. Garfield wrote the letter,
Whitelaw Reid put tin his vault, Mr..
Gould raised the purse, and Ohio and In
diana were saved. 1t has been said that
the sum was $3.50, 900, and that Secretary
Dorsey pocketed all but $50, 900, but that
is probably false.
Nine days after the Inauguration Presi-
dent Garfield made good his promise by
sending the name Of Justice Stanley
Matthews to the senate.
About the same time, on Sunday in
March, 1881, the president sent an invi-
tation to Senator Conkling to call at the
White house. AS to what transpired at
that meeting | have no doubt as was
informed from the lips of the
principals. Gen. Garfield expressed
to the senator in almost evtravagant
terms his kindly feeling and his desire
for thorough accord In their labors for
the party and the country. Mr.. Conkling
responded with an equally earnest wish
for the largest success for the new adj
m;nistratiOn.
"And now,' finally calculated the
president, 81 want to recognize you, and
want your advice regarding the New
York appointments"
''You misunderstood me-" replied the
senator 81 have no requests of that
character to make. During my career of
public service l have never, save perhaps
in one instance, sought the appointment
of friend to office. In that case an old
gentleman of Utica secured the indorse-
ment of almost every citizen of the city,
Democrat as well as Republican, for
minor position in the consular depart
ment, and l added my signature to the
request
"Well," said the president, eff you do
not care to suggest appointments, will
you do me the favor to carry message
to the vice president and Senator Platt?
Will you say to them that l am very
much pushed just now-the mob is
about me. If they will collect all their
papers and hold them for brief period,
| will then send for them, and shall be
very glad to observe their wishes"
When Senator Conkling left the execu-
tive mansion. he called upon Vice Presi-