The Dawson journal., 1883-11-15
WASHINGTON LETTER.
rom our Regular Correspondence

w A0hi1NoiON, OctOo6T ~, 1000.
Ohio is still rife in the minds and
mouths of the politicians at the Capi-
tol. The wonder as to the real caus-
es for defeat has not abated among
Republicans here. Positive assur-
ances were had from Governor Fos-
ter, "Sir William the Ram" (the Hon.
William Lawrence, first Comptroll-
er of the Treasury, and other party
leaders that matters were sailing
beautifully at the Buckeye, and that
the majority would lie fully 10000
After those sanguine assurances.
one is met at every political corner
with such questions as : "How could
Foster have made such a mistaken"
"W hat was thereal cause for defeat ?"
But there has been a dearth of an
swers. A prominent Republican,
who has recently held an important
Federal Office in Ohio, said to me the
other day in answer to the above
question "I'll tell you what did it.
Three weeks before the election the
State would have gone Republican,
had vote been taken then. Just at
that time, however, story was put
into circulation to the effect that if
Ohio went Republican this year Gov
ernor Foster was to go on the Presi-
dental ticket with Mr.. Arthur in
1884; that this arrangement had
been made at the white House dur
ing Fosters last visit there. When
the story became well circulated -
continued the Ohio man, ''Garfeld's
friends became more than indignant
They svore no such trade should be
carried out with their assistance, and
their ardor in the canvass cooled at
once. They had not forgotten" he
said, chow Garfeld's friends bave
been treated by this Administration !;
how they have been turned out one
by one where they could be found,
until to-day no Garfield man holds
any place of Importance in the whole
country. They believe there was
something of truth in the story, and
determined to make the eonsumma-
ton of such scheme impossible,
even if they had to let the Demo-
Gratis carry the State. This is what
did it, "said the speaker, ''although
there were other reasons for dissat-
isfaction. We could get no help
from any quarter. The President,
who might have aided us had he
cared to, was off galivanting. Not a
member Of the Cabinet was in the
city for weeks"
find a generally injured feeling
prevalent among Ohio Republicans
here as to this apparent Indifference
of the President to the success of the
party 10 the Ohio elections. But
there is good deal of human nature
IN Mr. Arthur, and argument advanc-
ed tor his Indifference is that, for him
to feei any deep interest in State cleo
ton in which Republican success
meant the advancement of Mr.. Sher-
man, would argue that he was either
more or less than human. The re-
suit was the President went a fish
ing, and let the factions in Ohio take
their own course.
The next fishing excursion Of Mr..
Arthur will probably be to the
streams Of the Louisville fisherman,
and he will use one of the finest fish.
ing rods ever manufactured in the
United States, in connection with the
jeweled silver reel presented to him
upon the occasion of his visit to Lou
lsvllle last summer. The reason for
this IS that last week Governor Proc
tor Knott and delegation of Ken
tuckians called at the White House
and, with formaities very informal,
conveyed to the President a witty
and complimentary message and a
fishing rod eight feet in length from
it's rosewood butt to lancewood
tip, In the butt, is emblazoned on
silver: "Chester A. Arthur" An invi
tation was also extended 10 make the
first cast with the new rod in The
Louisville streams. The President
was pleased. So was the delegation.
And then Governor Knott and Mr..
Arthur spun some of their best fish
stories.
The President continues to while
away his time very pleasantly in his
cottage on the hill at Soldiers Home,
and he reveries or tie recommended
ions of his coming message in the
smoke Of his after-dinner cigar. He
drives into the city about noon every
day, and periodical Cabinet meetings
are held, at which no work of impor-
lance transpires. Mr.. Arthur is a
man who improves greatly on &C