The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-07-19
THE GARFIELD NOMINATION.
Interview with Wharton Barker, the Man
Who Suggested It-COrrespondenee
Between Him and Garfield.
Philadelphia Press.

united that the management OF Inc Garllelu
campaign at Chicago before and after the
convention of June, 1880, was wholly in his
hands.
''The oft-repeated charges" he added, that
the late President Garfield was not
true to the Hon. John Sherman l know to be
absolutely false. But as some day propose
TO write history of the movement which
led to Garfelds nomination and election, L
ran to-day only produce copy of connected
memoranda prepared by me eighteen months
ago, but never published"
The memoranda referred to comprise a
batch of correspondence, forming complete
narrative OF the events that occurred prior
to June 1880 These indicate almost con-
cusively that the movement to bring Gen.
Garfield to the front as the Republican can
didate for the presidency had its origin in
Philadelphia, and was brought about at the
suggestion and through the influence of
Wharton Barker. The movement first mani
tested itself as early as May 1879 in the edi-
torial columns OF the Penn Monthly, a peri
odical controlled by Barker. 1t was not I'M
til Dec. 49, 1879, however, that Mr.. Barker
directly opened the question OF Gen. Gar
fields possible candidacy. On that date he
addressed letter to the General himself and
after personal conference with him early in
January $780, active steps were taken tor inn
mediate organization Under date of Feb 9
1880, Mr. Barker wrote to Gen. Garfield, stat
ing, among other things:
THE opposition to you here year or two
since was very great, under the belief that
You were free trader; but your letter to me-
called out bv short article in the Penn
Monthly, giving reasons why General Grant
would not do, and why you would do. has
changed the opposition into support In a
word that letter of yours stating how you
han ,t1ay af noolz M.
hands, and those of such men as l saw fit to
place it, has worked the change"
Mr.. Barker, on April 49, addressed a letter
to the late President, in which he said.
"At my office, this morning, had con-
ference with the Hon. Wayne MacVeagh and
Mr.. James McManes. which believe will re-
suit in public declaration on the part of
Mr., McManes, the whole Philadelphia dele
cation and of many country delegates TO the
Chicago convention. This move, am quite
sure. will end the Grant movement the coun-
try over and so far will be great cain The
move will at first aid Mr.. Blaine; but | be-
lieve | understand how to move so as to kill
him, andat the Chicago convention l hope
the nomination will go as we want to have
it."
In reply to this, General Garfield said:
1T is becoming every day more apparent
that tine friends of the leading presidential
candidates are becoming embittered against
each other, to such an extent that whichever
of the three may be nominated there would
he much hostility of feeling in the conduct of
the campaign. 1t will be most unfortunate
ii we go into the campaign handicapped by
the animosities of the leading. politicians"
On May 10 Mr. Mechanics received this note
from Mr. Barker;
81 want TO see you before noon, if possible
You can make a move in Illinois that will
without doubt destroy Grants chances, and
make your voice almost supreme at Chicago
LET mi know UV1 I
you. | shall be at my office all day"
On July IL, after the Chicago convention,
Genera, Garfield wrote as follows to Mr..
Barker
''More than a month has now passed since
the Chicago nominations, and on the whole
/ think things are looking as well as we can
expect in view of the great disappointment
many of our friends felt in failing to receive
their choice. l think, however, that the
party is settling down to earnest work, with
many elements in our favor that have rarely
worked in harmony. 1t will be a close
struggle, and we have a fighting chance to
win. We will need all the wisdom and eff
fort of our best men to make it successful. !"
On Oct. II General Garfield wrote again,
saying:
Next to defeat, the most dangerous thing
is partial victory. The victory in Ohio and
Indiana was not partial in so far as those
States were concerned but it can only be
utilized by pushing the enemy at every con-
tested point Now is the favorable moment
to ask for further exertion, and l hope you
will not relax any of the fine energy you
have displayed hitherto until the contest
is ended
General Garfield again wrote to Mr. Barker.
on Jan. 4, 1881, as follows
Yours of the LIST inst, received. l note
what you say in reference to the sena torial
conflict now pending in Pennsylvania. Amy
animation or pretense from any quarter that
l have taken part is without the least founda-
ton. The very essence of good government
requires the free action of the people and
their representatives in their election of rep
resentatives and senators. The visit of SEN
ator Cameron here had no reference to that
subject. If | an quoted by anyone as hav-
ing expressed any purpose to interfere he
has done me wrong. Please tell me to what
you allude when you say dangerous prom
Uses have been made with seeming author
ity?"
Mr.. Barker wrote on Jan. 10: "In answer
TO your question, l have to inform you that
Senator Cameron ON his return from Mem
tor, began taking an active part i'll the
senatorial campaign. 1t was then given
out that he had been called to Mentor;
that it was matter of choice for him wheth-
er he accepted for himself or one of his
friends seat i'll your cabinet; that voters
need expect nothing from Washington Tor
themselves and their friends for the old dis
trihution of patronage was to be revived,
unless they gave their votes for the Cameron
nominee
The last letter of the batch is from Gen
eral Garfield, on Jan. 49, 1881. In this he
says:
"The report to which you refer is abso-
lutely without foundation. The gentleman
named came here of his own accord, on BUSH
ness not at all connected with either of the
topics to which the report referred. | am
quite confident he could not have authorized
any such report The cause of sound poll
tics everywhere requires the utmost freedom
of action in regard to the choice of persons
to hold office, whether to be senators or men,
bers OF the cabinet"