The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-03-22
Garfield Knew.

From the n. ]. SIN.
One very interesting fact appeared in the
testimony heard on Saturday by the Springer
committee. When the tabulated summary OF
the expedited Star routes, showing just where
the plunder went, was exhibited to Gen. Car
field at the White House, he expressed sur
prise. 1t was in April or May, 1881, that
Gen. Garfield was aStonished by the revela-
ton of Dorsey's wickedness Yet that same
tabulated statement had been seen and eX-
amined by Gen. Garfield year earlier, while
he was still member of the House of Repre-,
sentatives and before his election as President.
1t seems, then, that Gen. Garfield knew all
about Dorsey's wickedness when he was lean
ing on Dorsey for support during the canvass OF
1880, when he was looking to Dorsey for
help in closing the breach between the two
wings of the party, and when he was turning
to Dorsey for advice as to the makeup OF his
Cabinet.
The late President was already in the pos
session of the facts about the Star route plum
der when he telegraphed from Mentor to
Dorsey, at Cleveland, in September, 1880:
Call OH me whenever You can notwithstanding
with your campaign work
He had already seen and studied the table
of the ninety-three expedited routes when he
wrote, later in the same month:
~ rely greatly on your calm cquipoise, which
has shown itself 90 often and so well hitherto
Garfield already knew the exact extent OF
the operations of the Dorsey combination
when he wrote to the Senator in October,
1880, Just after the Indiana election:
II especially congratulate you upon your mastcrful
management of the campaign, and the thorough
and incidents of the fight. Let Inc counsel you to
take some much rest and save yourself fol-
the final struggle soon TO come on. We shall need
all our powers during the last TWO weeks OF the con-
but just now so to bed and sleep two or three
days and when you sufficiently rested come
here and make me a visit or better still, come here
and sleep. Swain joins me i'll kindest regards
Garfield already had read in cold figures
the story of the Star route plumber when he
wrote to Senator Dorsey:
81 want you to know how absolutely rely on
your earnest desire to do the best for the cause and
how eager am to aid your efforts
He knew all about the expedited routes
when he wrote, in January, 1881, regretting
that he could not attend the Dorsey banquet
at Delmonico's:
DEAR SENATOR; am glad you are to be compli-
mented ty such gentlemen. l wish it were possible
for me to be present but cannot
Finally, when Garfield and Dorsey parted
company ON March 8, 1881, with expressions
of mutual esteem, the President was not less
well informed ON the subject of Dorsey's con
nection with the Star route business than he
Il
heroic resolve to probe the ulcer to the bot
tom. The parting was on the morning of the
day when the names of the new Cabinet were
sent to the Senate. The incident has been
described by Dorsey himself. He had been
advising Garfield not to nominate James and
Macy eagh:
."General,' said to him. is there way to pre-
vent this mistake-mistake that know viii wreck
| your
| beat KIN W. with emotion-Steye my mind is made
mn I've got TO do It. wouldn't hurt your feelings
! for the world but must l cannot help myself
| There was something in his wearied lace that
| touched me, and said, patting him on the back
! Go ahead old man. know you believe you are
right. God bless you and your work"
There is one man living who, in all proba'
bility, could go upon the stand and give tc
the Springer committee the secret of the Stal
route prosecutions. He was member o.
Garfield Cabinet, but he was not Postmaster
General nor Attorney General. Nor Is he
likely to present himself before the committee
in order to communicate the information which
he possesses.