New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-12-17
RISE AND FALLOF DON II. DICKINSON
HIS JNFLU ENCE ATTHE WHITE HOUSE GONE
MICHIGAN CONGRt SSMEN NOW AHEAD.


HIS INFLUENCE ATTHE WHITE HOUSE GONE
MICHIGAN CONGRt SSMEN NOW AHEAD.
,v,o. TIRE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT or THE TRIBUNE
WAsHINGToN Dec. 16-Six months ago the
Federal patronage in Michigan dispensed upon the
suggc.tion and endaiiOn OF single MARION NJ
Dickiuson OF Detroit His power was absolute his in
uence with the President paramount He held Tue tate
NJ avery Democratic politician in the State in his hands.
and made or Unmate them as he saw ht' No MlchlSah
nomination left the White House without Brat nav
ing peen submitted his scrutiny; political award
was made without his approval. He was apoliucal
Boss" pure and simple. To-day it seems doubtful
whether he could the appointment even OF single
postmaster The rise and fall of this clever pehtlcia1
forms one OF the interesting chapters in Michigan
politics. He came into National prominence only upon
the accession Of Mr. cleveland to power Until then
had his party Chairman OF the State central
Committee and had been chosen to represent the Mch
can Democracy on the National COMMITTEES. In Doth
capacities he displayed and energy The manage
ment OF campaign in the State left entirely In Ills
hands gusned alike for brllancy ana DARING
1t made him Important FACTOR in the politics OF MS
State the fall OF 1854, when Detroit deleSatioh
was sent to Buffalo to Mr. Cleveland. no was APP
pointed one OF It's members II was his hrst meeting
with the future President Mr. Cleve and was much -
pressed the OF his visitor He liked his snort
businessllke OF expressing himself A"oVe an
he admired in hun the apparent hesitation with winch he
yentureI give advice Or make Suggestions III Ihis
respect ne was unlike all the other callers who
tnron ,ed Mr. Cevends quarters that Gould not help
but leave a favorable erosion upon the Governors
mind. Mr.. Dickinson conscious OF this AMI lie lei'
Buffalo to return his home with the seeds OF ambition
deeply planted in his breast The 4th OF March iOund
him promptly at hand in Washington. He called at the
White House whnit wentyfour hours after his arrival
II the political wseacres OF he.town at loss at
first 10 account his presence here they were not left
I'm doubt anl uncertainty long The effect OF MI DlcKln
sons visit was felt at once appointment either Of
his friends those whom he thought wise to appeaso
MONTGOMERY was made Commissioner of Patents;
Iathrop Minister Russia; Powers judge OF the SUI
meme Court of Utah; Swineord. Governor OF Alaska
Bancroft Collector of Customs at Port Huron watson
Collector Grand Haven; and half do1en OF more oi
important post offices filled upon his HngSe7tohs'
Mr. DicAtnsOns influence with the President got 10 DC
the talk OF the town He never came t" Washington
without securing place for OF his friends His sue
cess became a byword OF the politicians His political
star WAS In the ascendancy; tina, was evident
Ii all these transactions the members OF the Michigan
Congressional delegation we're entirely anu oOmpIeteB
ignored by the President. To their recommendations not
the slightest attention was paid. Their "Reminiscences
with the President not the slightest effect IL they
wanted an appointment in their district it had 10
through tbs hands OF Mr. Dickinson. Congressman
Carleton FOR instance mad candidate Tor tue Collector
ship at Por. Huron, his homo lie had the ehtire
Michigan delegation to support him III MS Efforts IL
proved Of no avail Dickinson carried away the prlze
and the place was given to W. l.. Bancroft Congress
man Comstock backed TOO, by the entire delegation,
ne.t tried his luck ia having friend OF his appointed
Collector at Grand Haven. He Jared no better than
Carleton Dickinson stepped in at the last moment ana
secured the oce for d. c. Watson For t9e pace Oh the
SUI RENE Court OF Utah, and Tor the Goverhorshp Oh
Alaska the delegation had united upon two Candidates
They presented the names to the President He looked
at them put them away his drawer aud appointed o.
w Powers ana A. p. swlneiOri, both upon the recon-
incubation or Mr.. Dickinson. When the delesaton
wished to secure appointments for Postmasters they
were similarly unsuccessful 1t was always DicKinSoh
who stood ia the way OF their plans
The appointment OF LOhr"p as Minister 10 RUSSIA nAS
something Of history attached ito. too Dickinson
WAS out diving with the President when the latter In
course OF conversation hapI ened to mention the name
OF Lothrop. ~why not appoint him to >. 'he RUSSIAN
President were sure OF his accepting ana thc hlch
gan deiegaton would approve lny 1noI , d
In due time received reply RON man ACCEPTING the
Presidents offer Without further troubling hlmsei
ahont the delegation Mr. Dickinson went To the White
House aud the appointment was hhsily ueciuea upon.
With the commission IN his pocket the Michigan boss
called meeting members of the deiegat"h "t the
Natoual Hotel III TINS city lie ANNOUNCED " theih tat
the President would appoint LOthrOp II tDey cOud agree
mon recommending biul But" added hc, there 10
no to lose. There are candidates ro1 oel STATES
In the field. We must ACT at once Tue congressman
taken uuawares, consented cried @uurral Tor Mlchl-
gan ami drank tho future Minister'S health ia WINE at
Mr. DcEnsOns expense, Wnio Hat &c o n,c i,,,m"
laughed his at the Hsplay OF so much INN"
In The realization OF Dcknsons dreams OF political al
yancememt. Heretofore Loihrop had always received
nomination for United States senator
nv the Democrats OF the Michigan Legislature was
DcknsOD's hope that he should secure IL Ia Lotnops
absence More than tha he uld noI expect ~ W pe an
empty honor merely. On the contrary, lie hoped ny
iudcous use OF the Federal patronage To carry the eS
lsture next year Blaine carried rue State ny snal
majority only. reasoned; why should not Tue Iemo-
Graf. win m 1851 And couldn't the Legislature DC
carried IN INTEREST and his election 10 the United
Stale thereby be seGuredt Tue scheme promised
vel Int the Congressional delegation discovered H.
DckusOus course had made bitter enemy OF ever
member OF II. They determined W break HIM Inc
recvris OF his candidates aced ana apparently
with good effect Charges were nled at the me 1oeo
They reflect seriously upon the new ludHe mo Same
was the or Bancroft Here, TOO, men OF INC
best standing support the charges.
What filled tue Inrasure OF DcknsOns guilt, however
An The President, II Is believed was inc as
covery that Powers, as delegate to the chicago Co
about tue nomination OF Hendrlcks In.t sIon nian
should recommended TO MN ior PVl'oai Po
fern, nj Inv Mr. Dickinson, the President o0uld not iOf
GET lie Suddenly was found willing 10 listen 10 the COM
piants of the Michigan Congressman lie ackn9wienged
TO one o. them he had gone TOO Iar thdt MT Dioh
insOu had had too much power anu IN ~ he hai noI
welded judicOusly The congressman Pr, n a
opport unity and represented 10 tue it, and ,t II
insOn breaking the party IN the oItLo anu ..a
had been thoroughly disOrganleu 0y MS oeinSh o'i
and that change OF policy was absolutely psident
1t from complete disintegratlon' Iho nnT,cen
listened atcntivcly, but said n0JIn3 IL 10 ,not -
however that neither the name OF Powers nol
Bancroft that OF watson. against Whoi =. a.
likewise been fled, has sent 10 tue Srnate ~ is
also noticed that ~ Dickinson has not darkehea Tue
door OF the hite House since August last ana thdt
none OF his FIR ends have been apUOutei since, 49,,
The Michigan members look EopeIu. Iuey tnnh m, . y,
S carry Tue day fS o peksoS They say they
would "a State tnan sec him elected lheIo
can be no doubt about that Iher halreu OF te & sor
Don NJ. Dickinson and almost AS II ns vauthg alhOtoh
hal reached itself aud he himself had eompassed
bis political ruin.
INCIDENTS IN SOCIETY,"