The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-07-23
THE DORSEY SENSATION.
Governor Foster Declares that the
Ex-senator Is Mistaken.
How 1t Came that Dorsey Was Made Seere-
tary of the National COmmittee-The
appointment of Judge Matthews.


Dorsey's budget and his charges that Presi-
dent Garfield acted in bad faith toward him
and others?"
''Mr. Dorsey makes some very curious
statements. If what he says about General
Garfield is true, then Garfield must have
been very full indeed of deceit. He tells of
things l certainly know nothing about, and
which filled me with aMazemeut. Among
other things he is credited with saying that
he was maze secretary of the national COM
mittee at the personal solicitation of General
Garfield, or by General Garfield. I do not
know upon what he bases that statement,
but fancy he is laboring under mistake in
that regard. This was the way he came to
be appointed; Before 1 left Ohio for New
York, in July, 1880, to attend meeting of
the national committee, which was to organ
ize for the campaign. General Garfield gave
me letter embodying his ideas of how the
committee should organize and what it
should do. This letter was to be read to the
committee or not, as | might think best |
asked that General Barnett might accompa-
ny me, and he did. 1t was understood at
that meeting that l represented General Gar
| field which was true. On the first day con-
siderable ill-feeling cropped out The Grant
| members were outspoken and emphatic in
| protesting against the election of Chandler,
| Hale, or any other pronounced Blaine man
as chairman, and the Blaine men were
| equally outspokep and emphatic i'll protest
ing against the election of Cameron, Plat,
| Logan, or any other pronounced stalwart
| to that office. There were no original
Garfield men on the committee,
members having been elected as Blaine or
Grant men. To gain time, and give members
/ an ODp0rtuuitv tn coOl down a nliTten
on organization was appointed and an adj
| journment was had until the next day. The
prospects of arriving at an amicable under
standing were gloomy, and [ was never more
discouraged in my life than when l went to
| bed that night General Jewell, you recol-
| leot, was made temporary chairman of the
committee at Chicago, and there appeared to
! be no serious objection from any quarter to
continuing him in that position, but there
was great danger OF a stubborn disagreement
over the selection OF a secretary, which meant
a continuation of the factional ill-feeling.
| Late that night, it must have been o'clock,
| General Barnett came to my room. He said:
! Foster, did it ever occur to you that Steve
Dorsey would make a splendid secretary?
| Dorsey's name had not occurred TO me before,
| out when General Barnett mentioned
it 1 said; He is just the man. 1 then
added that 1 feared he would not
| be acceptable to a certain element,
several members of the committee
| having denounced him, and said very harsh
| things about him touching his character and
| general reputation l was afraid if his name
was proposed these members might get up
| in meeting and talk out The next morning,
| however, | talked with the gentlemen who
| dsliked Dorsey, and they agreed that under
| the circumstances, Dorsey's selection might
| be the best that could be made. The Blaine
men had previously agreed upon General
Sharpe. of New York, for secretary, as a man
| who would be acceptable to StalwartS, but it
was discovered that he was not acceptable to
| them; for what reason | never learned. That
was the was the way Dorsey came to he made
| Secretary. He may have supposed that be-
cause proposed his name, and asked him to
accept the place that he was General Gar
| fields choice, but Garfield never once men
| toned his name to me in connection with
| the Office. That his selection was satisfac-
| tory to the General however, l have no
doubt. They were old friends and General
| Garfield knew his ability and genius for
work.
Now, about Garfeld's promises to Dorsey.
He may have promised Dorsey portfolio,
| but if he did do not know 1t, The General
| felt under deep obligations to him for the
part he had taken in the campaign, and have
every reason to believe he would have been
invited into the Presidents cabinet, but for
the charges preferred against him by Repub-
licans of the very highest standing and infu-
ence-charges against his character for hon
dent say repeatedly that he wished these men
and some of them have been very close to
Dorsey during his trial-fet differently
| toward Dorsey, and so let him show to Dor
sey that his services were appreciated. He
wanted to do something for Dorsey but
seemed to feel that he could not"
rs it not fact that Dorsey exaggerated
the value of his services in Indiana, and
traded upon the belief he created that he had
won victory, when in reality the State had
been thoroughly organized before he set foot
in it?'
preston abroad, but never heard Dorsey
brag about his work in Indiana. 1t is true
that General Garfield was greatly pleased
with Dorsey for the work he had done in In
diana, but do not know that Dorsey ex-
aggerated the nature of his services We all
know that the State was splendidly organ
lied, and that great credit for that organiza-
ton is due to John c. New, Colonel Dudley
and Others"
"Have you any knowledge of an alleged
bargain between Garfield, Whitelaw Reid and
Gould, for the appointment of Stanley Mat
thews to the Supreme Bench?"
Meme whatever. [ regard that story as
coid-blooded calumny. Matthews had been
appointed by President Hayes, and on ac-
count of the protracted deadlock in Con-
gress he failed OF confirmation. 1t had been
| an understood thing for long time that
Judge Matthews was to be made Judge OF
the Supreme Court, and when Garfield be-
came President he felt bound to carry out
the wishes of his predecessor. The appoint
ment of Judge Matthews was an inherited
obligation, at least that is the way General
Garfield regarded it, | feel sure"
"Do you know anything about that inter-
view between Senator Conkhng and Presi-
dent Garfield the day before Robertson's
name was sent to the Senate, or of any
pledges made by the President to Senator
Conkling?"
81 was not present at the interview, but
the President told me infinitely what occur
red there"
Twill you give me the Presidents YER
stomp
u don't know that I ought to speak Of it.