The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-07-24
The Conference Between Garfield and COnk
ling Preceding the appointment of
Collector Robertson.
The --latest and Only "Authentic"
Version of What Was Said.
The Members of the Hill Investigating Com
mittee to Continue the Taking of
Testimony ut Chicago.
MIR. RoBERTsoN's APPOINTMENT.
Another Authentic" Report of the Confer
ence Between Garfield and COnkliDg.

MIR. ROBERTSON'S APPOINTMENT.
Another "Authentic" Report of the Confer
ence Between Garfield and Conkling.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, July 23.-The publication of
the dorsey Budget" and the recent inter-
view with Governor Foster have again turned
public attention to the Garfeld-Conkling
controversy. The following version of the
conference between President Garfield and
Senator Conkling preceding the appoint
ment of Mr. Robertson as collector OF the
port of New York, is furnished by an init
mate acquaintance OF Mr.. Conkling, who
at the time was in position enabling him to
be certain of the accuracy of his statements.
He makes the following statement;
II was with Mr.. Conkling daily" he said,
during this period and know what he
did, said and thought almost as
well as he does himself He
called at the White House on Sunday after
noon by appointment, as has been stated, 3
o'clock being the hour, if my memory serves
me right. The President gave directions
that no cards be brought him, and the Sen
| ator and himself had a talk lasting two or
three hours. They met one another with
| the greatest apparent frankness, canvassing
| the situation and exchan ying views with the
II
est amiability. There was not jar, or an
unpleasant word spoken during the inter
view. The President told his visitor who he
| intended to appoint in New York, calling up
the district attorneyships and marshalships
| first Conkling put in good words for Wood
ford Tenney, Payne and McDougall, stating
what he thought of them, but
offering no suggestions whatever. The
| President spoke of Judge Robertson in con-
nection with the Office of district attorney
Il ~. IL I IL.
| this appointment would be a good one
| Robertson he observed, has never prac-
ticed before the courts He was judge of one
of the inferior courts for time, but that was
all. If the matter were left to him | doubt
| if he would care to accept the office. think
he would realize his unfitness for the office
"The President said he would have to pro-
vide for representatives of the New Workers
who had voted for him at Chicago, putting it
as delcately as he could, we'll knowing it
would not be pleasant for Conkling and
his colleague, but acting as though he
wanted to make them feel it as little as
possible. Conkling met him fairly and
squarely, saying he expected it, and should
not object; that he felt that such move was
inevitable etc.
'"The President then asked him what place
he could suggest that would be acceptable to
Robertson, to which he replied that there
were bureau positions open to him in Wash
ington that would be suitable. He also men
/ toned the consul-generalship at Montreal.
The President said nothing further on that
| branch of the subject.
when it came to the custom house, the
President said he was not yet ready to dis
pose of that matter. and that he would not
be ready for some time. Right here is where
accounts of what then transpired differ.
Conkling told me that the Pres-
dent, at this stage of the conference
| made the explicit statement that
he would do nothing whatever in the collec-
torship matter without first consulting the
| New York senators, repeating the pledge
| two or three times. in order to make himself
clearly understood, and with the evident
purpose of putting his visitors mind at rest
| The President always insisted that he did not
make this pledge; but his confdants have
made conflicting statements as to what he
| really did say. The custom-house question
was called up by the query from Mr. Conk-
| ling, What are you going to do about the
custom-house? He did not say When are
| you going to clean out the custom house"
THE President said, towards the close of
the interview that he thought OF removing
Mr.. Weber, collector of internal revenue for
the Brooklyn district Mr. Conkling
advised him to go slow, so
who felt that the office belonged to them,
and suggested that he provide another place
for Weber before making the change pro-
posed. The President accepted the sugges-
| tion, and asked Mr. Conkling to give him the
benefit of his advice relative to the disposi-
ton of other places in New York.
| Il would much rather leave that matter
with General Arthur" replied Mr.. Conkling
HE knows the men better than l do, and l
will be well satisfied to leave the business to
him entirely"
1.-The President thereupon begged him to
consult with General Arthur, and prepare a
| project. 1 recollect the word employed very
well, project striking me as being somewhat
unusual He also asked Mr.. Conkling to
write to his friends in New York, and
to do what he could toward
restoration of good feeling and
harmony. This Mr.. Conkling promised to
do, and the two separated with mutual ex-
preston OF regard Mr.. Conklng left the
White House feeling perfectly satisfied that
the breach had been healed.
"On the Tuesday following the first batch
of New York nominations was sent in, and
the next day Robertson's name was sent to
the Senate. At the very moment the name
was announced Mr.. Conklng was at his desk
writing the harmonizing letters to his New
| York friends that the President had asked
him to write. That was the first intimation
| he had received that Robertson was thought
of in connection with the place.
"There are many other details in connec-
ton with the interview and the events i'm
mediateiy Preceding and following it, but l
have given you the salient points, and l be-
| lieve the narrative to be absolutely correct"