The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-11-24
CAIALtSE CONKLlNG.
Tho Dapllc'ty of lsoscoe-fightng Blaine
behind Ills Hack. aI5

.H."4I a. ~ ..."Inr.sIN ID
". !. Cor. Qtihe Phtla. Ssu.
George G. Gorham attempts to deny the
truth Of the interview with him by Mr..
Hart, editor Of the Wheeling 1SrELLt.
cEScEn, in which Gorham wasmade TO say
that last Junc he came from Mr.. Conkling
md was In Chicago TO say that Conkling
desired the nomination Of Blaine. Cor
|llan's reputation for trutf.telling Is not so
high that Mr.. Hart needs much support
for his statement, but I can say that before
MIR. llart's story was published u gentle.
man In New York who stood with, his
shoulder at the wheel night and day! dur.
ine the national campaign told me this
story:
ton when We vert surprised BY George
Gori,am walking iii. Tic brought letters to
| Mr.. Blaine's managers. Among other let
tiers that he had was ono that | saw from
Roscoe Conkling, saying that he desired
TO defeat the nomination Of Chester a.
Arthur, and that, whilc he was not spcci.
ally DESTROYS Of it, the nomination OF Mr..
blaine would be acceptable to him. Much
surprise and distrust OF Gorham was felt.
hut when he brought John +. Smyth, OF
Albany, Conkling's friend, the former in.
suratlce commissioner, over whose up.
pointmcnt the quarrel among New York
Republicans first came to n head, resulting
first, blythe way, In Charles Emory Smith
leaving Albany for your State, and when
Smyth and Gori,am went to work to assist
us by pointing out the weak spots in Ar
thurs canvass and by personal appeals tc
his delegates, then sc thought Conk'
ling was with us, and VIC admitted Gorhau
and Smyth to all the inner Blaine Gnu
%cusses. After Blaine's nomination Smyth,
on Conkling's' behalf, promised that the
latter would take an active part in the
campaign. The committees were organ
lied, the campaign Ind well begun, bi,
nothing had been heard from Conkling
On behalf OF the Republican managers, !,
well known Stalwart was deputcd to sound
for Conkling'a intentions. The answer
camo back that II the request came frou
Mr.. iiainr-irimseif Conkiing would speak
hut lie wanted to know from Mr.. Blnin,
personally If twas his desire TINT Conklin.
should speal, Tor him. Mr.. Blaine's friend.
urged him to write to Conkling but he re-
fused, and it is my belief that Conklinl
wanted the letter to use 10 lampoon Blnint
with, and that he adopted the plan at Cor
hams suggestion, taking the idea from the
Star Route tactics OF Brady Will
Garfield. After Mr.. Blaine's refusa
nothing was heard from !Conkling,
but shortly uiterward it was All
nounced that George G. t;orlam auG
John +. Smyth had been visiting Buffalo
A few days later the New York Graphic
announced that George G. Gori,am sale
he was going to vote for Cleveland. A
friend OF mine told me that James D
Warren, the leader OF the New York
Stalwarts, went to Coukliug and asket
him to take part in the campaign, and he
replied: ii am over $4,000 in debt. Ny
time is not my own. 1t belongs to my
creditors. All that | can DO and every
thing that ! can make is theirs until my
debts are paid You have seen how the
Democrats have paid $4,000 OF his debts
and tits my belief that they intend, il
possible, to make him Senator and paS
him Tor that, too. II they do Aot why
should the New York World, the nov
recognized national organ, boom Conk'
ling in double loaded editorials? Take
my word for it, il there ever was a Cat
aline inthe Republican party his name il
Conkling."