Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-08-25
CONKLING CAUGHT.
As Jay Gould's Lawyer He IrieS ~
Force Governer Cornell into INC
Endorsement Of a Franc.
Failing in Which He Uses the Io"oA
OF Arthur's Administration 10 oi"e"
Him Out Of Politics.

LOAA3 <hd uot bC
fishes the following rs q dispsieh nun
Albany: L,;
The charges tina. Senator CouAnI Z
attempted, for personal reasons, 10 Pei. -
Governor Cornell to sign the Eless1eo -,
road tax bill, and failing, nov seeks :e
ated by a reveugeful feeling, TO deisa' ms az
nomination for governor, naturahl
chief subject offIalk among the Poll''' "a.
OF the State capital. 1t would seem .
sufficient care was not taken when tne onN
was first made to de6oe it sccursieiy' III
addition 10 the persuasion OF personM ne
political friendship, it was charged ineie wac
THE PERSUASION OF A BRIBE.
1t should be said at once that Mr.. Conk In
never attempted to bride the governor. ne
ex-senator, close as were his relations WIN
Mr.. Cornell, would never have dared 70
protier bride to the latter. That Is no' .As
charge. Mr.. ConklIng is actually accuseo
OF accepting from Jay Gould retainer ~
appear before Governor Cornell ana maht
an argument in favor of his sgning tne
Elevated railroad relief tax bill, ana nor
only of making the argument, but taxing
advantage OF twenty years frienusniP oy
urging him 10 sign it on personal grouhus
Mr.. Conkl;ng. it is said on good authorityi
twice fairly besought Mr.. Cornell 10 sign
the bill. 1t was 10 be expected that unoei
these circumstances Mr.. Conkllpgs 0Ppo-
nents should charge that Roscoe Conknngi
attorney, is aiming to have it understoou
that Roscoe Conkling, politician, can lnv2rl VAR,
ably secure executive action en- semi-hgai
matters in his favor at either washington
or Albany. Mr.. Conkling's friesds mere
holly resent the adoption of such sketcn
of their chiefs plans. They declare that ne
would not go beyond the duty Of an attor'
ney if he would appear before the governor
on any N after. 1t is
THE BRIBERY CHARGE
however, that especially rouses that indIgna'
ton. One of them said angriiy to-day: MI
Conkling has swum in too deeprraters al
Washington 10 bite at such petty bait as u
said to have been profered him At Albany
in this Elevated railroad case" Neverthe-
less Governor CornelPs friends press the
charge against Mr.. Conkling. One OF them
said to-day: "Mr. Conkling had no sooner
heard of the governors veto OF the Elevated
tax bill than he sent for The district leaders
in New York city, and told them that ar
Cornell must be defeated for denomination
Why must Mr.. Cornell be defeated Tor re-
nomination? Can Mr.. Conkling give .
reason? Has he given a Iesson1 for
twenty-five years it has been the custom OF
the political parties of this State % renomi.
nate the governor of their party faith. From
Governor Morgan down, with
THE EXCEPTION OF eovERNoE TILDEN,
(who would have been Ienominated except
for his nomination for the presidency this
has been the custom. Mr.. Conkiing propose
to break it because he did not win the suit oil
the elevated railroad companies before Gov
ernor Cornell. He proposes to array against
Mr.. Cornell the national administration with
all its political influence, his own political
influence in this State, and the railway influ.
ence. Ii Mr.. Cornell had not made a good
governor, il he had not acted solely in the
interestof the people of the State, such a
warfare would have had some appearance Of
legitimacy. But, as / said before, not the
slightest reason is given for the rejection Of
Mr.. Cornell and the breaking OF the custom
of renominating governor. This attack by
Mr.. Conkling on Governor Cornell has mol
solely a pecuniary basis. A year ago last
March the governor advised Mr.. Conkline
not to resist the confirmation Of w. H
Robertson as collector of New York, nor the
confirm alton of the other New York nomina
tions, but 10 support President Garfield Thai
was the beginning of the break between the
governor and the ex-senator. Then wher
Mr. Conkling resigned as senator the gov
ernor sent him word that he did not believe
his election as senator was possible. Thu
was
oFFENsE NUMBER TWO,
Coming TO Albany, the ex-senator fount
fault with Mr.. Cornell for not straining hi
power as governor to reflect him senator.
Mr.. Cornell was asked 70 threaten ths
rnsn,hsrs of tho LAsisl atnrs With .. veto o;
their bills if they should not vote for Mr.
Conkling. Other illegilimate extortions o
his power as governor were Suggested to Mr.
Cornell, but all those proposals he rejected
At the same time he was most loyslly sup
porting Mr., Conkling for re-elecfion. Thil
man had no just cause for complaint. Late
Mr.. Conkling became a lawyer. Psrhaps hi
wrath against Governor Cornell lsssenec
during the interval, or he Thoughts Ct TO hide
it. Anyhow, through intimate friends ht
tried to persuade the governor TO sign ths
bill exempting the Pacific Mail Steamship
Company from 100000 taxation Two O
these friends of Mr.. Conkling followed the
governor 10 Saratoga, and there attem pied Il
induce him to veto the bill. This Elevated
railroad tax bill scandal has an interesting
history. The bill as originally introduced
in the Legislature was against the interests
OF the elevated railroads. Jay Gould wa
afraid that it would pass, and it was at THU
time that he had conversation with Gov.
ernor Cornell about the bill. Afterward the
elevated railroads gained possession of the
Legislature. They could do with il what
they pleased, and they passed their own bill
Then
THE BILL REACHED GOVERNOR CORNELL,
and a warfare over it began between the city
authorities and the elevated railroads. Mr.
Gould at this time employed Mr.. Conkling
as counsel for the elevated railroads in this
special matter. The ex-senator appeared
before the governor twice on the bill |
think it was at the Fifth Avenue Hotel. in
New York, that these arguments were made.
The ex-senator presented a printed brief on
each occasion, and then occupied several
hours in conversation about the bill. He
adopted fairly beseechiDg attitude in re-
gard 10 the governors signing The bill.
Friends of Mr.. CoDklipg also approached the
governor on the subject. The governor never
promised Mr.. Gould that he would sign the
bill. Any one who has been abont the Leeis-
Iature for three years knows that Mr.. Cor
nell never promised member that he would
sign bill. He would say tina: he would
hear reasons for or against its becoming a
law, but he never would promise to sign bill.
Mr.. Conkling, as ! have said, no sooner
heard that his service as attorney for the
elevated railroads had not prevailed with
Governor Cornell than he set the m achiue at
work against Mr.. CornelT's denomination.
Mr. Conkling declares that the national adj
ministration is at his back. / have no doubt
of it. Indeed, there has been an advertise
ment for the past three months OF the fact
that Mr.. Conkling is to control the Federal
patronage in this State. just the same as he
did in
GENERAL GRANTS ADMINISTRATION.
Witness the appointment of the postmas.
ter at Utica, OF Armstrong as collector of
internal revenue for that district, and that Of
Cox as judge. Then look at the appoint
ment Of Luby and Bently in this city, and
of Pierce at Lockport, as collector CT inter
nal revenue for that district. Ali these an
pointments are SO many announcements 10
the Republican politicians of the State that
Mr.. Conkling is again in charge OF the APP
pointments. 1t can, therefore, be easily pre-
dicted that now Mr.. Conkling has given the
word for Mr.. Cornell's overthrow, that All
the Federal officials will be at work TO secure
delegates TO the State convention ssainst his
1t was intimzted TO Mr.
Cornell by Mr.. Conkling's friends at the time
he had the Elevated tax bill under consid-
Grafton, that he would be renominated if be
should sign the bill. He has vetoed it and
now all the Federal force is arrayed against
him.
Martin Van Ruren.