Daily globe., 1883-07-30
GARFIELD'S TREACHERY TO sHRR
MAN.
More Light on the IntrigWes that Pre-
ceded the Republican Contention oj
1880.

More Light on the IftrigWes that Pre-
| ceded the Republican Contention OF
| 1880.
New York Sun.
WASHINGTON, July 26.-"I never could
understand" said Senator Sherman to a
friend, not long ago, "why GarfeId's dis
trict, the nineteenth Ohio, went against me
and for Blaine in $780,"
Possibly the senator really understood
the matter more clearly than he was
willing to admit. Certainly in the light
of recent revelations he can see that the
election of Blaine delegates from the dis
trict which was represented and bossed by
| Sherman's chief spokesman at Chicago
was part of the plan of treachery which
was consummated in the national conven-
tion.
Garfield was at the head of the state
delegation from Ohio, instructed for
Sherman and pledged to him. Garfield
was chosen to make the nominating speech
| for Sherman in the convention. His in
| fiuence was politically omnipotent in his
own district; yet when the convention of
that district was held to elect delegates to
| the Chicago convention, controlled by
Garfield's friends and confidential advisers.
| it declared in favor of Blaine, and elected
delegates who were bitterly opposed to
Sherman, and who would not vote for him
under any circumstances!
Gen. Garfield was one of the owners of
the Ravenna Republican-Demo lead
ing Republican paper of the district, and
its editor was one of his most intimate
friends. It opposed Sherman with great
| vigor throughout the canvass, supported
Blaine, but declared that its first choice
for the nomination at Chicago was Gen.
Garfield.
The Warren Tribune, another leading
Republican paper Of the Nineteenth dis
trict, and supporter of Garfield, had a
leading editorial in its issue of April IL.
1880, on 'Gen. Garfield and the presiden-
cy," in which it was argued at length that
the Grant, Blaine, and Sherman factions
would kill of each others candidates, and
that the result would be the nomination of
Gen. Garfield. Its line of thought was al
wost identical with that of Gen. Garfeld's
private letter, written three days after
wards april 20), to Wharton Barker, of
Philadelphia. In that letter. as quoted by
Mr.. Barkey, Gen Garfield said:
ut is becoming every day more appar-
ent that the friends of the leading presi-
Dental candidates are becoming embitter-
ed against each other to such an extent
that, whichever of the three may be nomi-
mated, there would be much hostility of
feeling in the conduct of the campaign. It
will be most unfortunate if we go into the
contest handicapped by the animosity of
the leading politicians. shall be glad to
see you on your arrival in Washington"
For some months previous, according to
Mr.. Barker's testimony, he and Gen. Gar
field had been in correspondence in regard
to secret movement to nominate Garfield,
and in Barker's letter, to which Garfield
replied as above, the scheming PhiIa.
delphia manager detailed his plan to beat
Grant.
This move, am quite sure, will end
the Grant movement the country over, and
so far will be great gain; the move will
at first aid Mr.. Blaine, but I believe 1
understand how to move so as to kill him.
and at the Chicago convention I hope the
nomination will go as we want to have
it."
In another letter Mr.. Barker depIored
the firm attitude of Mr.. Sherman, and ex-
pressed fear that the candidate for whom
Gen. Garfield was professedly working
might stand in the way of Garfeld's nomi-
nation.
Thus, by evidence furnished by GarfeIds
own intimate and trusted friends, it is
shown that, while he was ostensibIy lead
ing the movement for Mr.. Sherman, he
was in secret correspondence with person
al friends who were scheming for Sher-
mans defeat. Can the senator continue
to wonder why Garfeld's district went
against him?
When Garfield became president, he
professed great regard for Senator Sher-
man and consulted him in regard to his
political policy. On the evening before
Robertson's nomination was sent to the
senate, President Garfield, accompanied
by Gen. Swain, called at Senator Sher-
mans residence and asked his advice in
regard to the New York collectorship.
The senator strongly advised him not to
remove Merritt, not to appoint Robertson.
Garfield, in response to the senator's earn
est and urgent representation of the fatal
impolicy of nominating Robertson, assured
him that the nomination would not be
made. Next day, when the nomination of |
Robertson was sent to the senate. the |
astonishment of Arthur and Conkling was |
no greater than that of Sherman.
Afterward, in speaking of it to a friend, |
the senator said: ''The nomination of |
Robertson was the fatal mistake of Gar |
fields life and it was Rlaine;s inHuanoo