The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-04-25

the 1Juhsiil men were Gc4csttct. A Ac
I party was demoralized and TIlden was
elected Governor II was very generally
said that Conkling permitted his party
to suffer defeat in 1874 and 1873 as pun
ishment for discarding his leadership,
but in 1876 the Convention adopted the
( unit rule and made him It's choice for the
Presidential nomination. He Lad en-
tirely recovered his grip on the party in
the Sate. George William Curtis, who
4 had been opposed to Conkling for sever
/ al years, made strenuous endeavor TO
beat him in the State campaign Of 1871
but he failed in every particular. Il was
at that convention that CoDkling pre-
vented the passage of resolutions affirm
! ing the title of Hayes to the Presidency.
: RIDING TO FALL
From the latter part Of Grants second
term TO 1850 the third term was agitated.
and Mr.. Conkling advocated il from the
start. In 1850, although his own name
was backed with considerable strength
for the nomination, be led the famoGs
Jos delegates who persistently vcsed
for nomination of Grant. ltwas Sensa-
tionaI struggle, and resulted in s,am-
pede for Garfield in which the ftitl.ful
S06 did not join
1t has been generally believed that Mr.
Garfield took both Blaine and Conkiing
into consultation during the campaign,
and arranged plan reconciliation by
which the party was to be united and
the administration conducted for the in
terests of the whole organization.
Thomas C.. Piatt was elected to the Sen
ate As Conkling's colleague on the under
standing that he would support the ad
ministration in its appointments Al
most the first batch Of narles sent 10 the
Senate for confirmation included politi-
cal enemies of Conkling's Platt stuck
to his agreement for while and voted
for confirmation, but Mr.. Conkling re-
treated TO the lobby. Finally the name
Of Robertson was sent in for the COllec-
torship Of New York. This was the last
stray, and both Conkling and Piatt re-
signed II is said on cool authority that
Mr.. Conkling cared very little personally
for patronage; that be made his fight
against Garfield as matter Of principle
He was an answering advocate Of party
responsibility in the conduct Of the Gov
ernmeni, and believed that out Of that
system grew naturally the plan of dele
eating the patronage Of States 10 their re-
spective Senators. The New York Legis-
lature was strongly pro-Conkling at the
time Of the resignation, and for one day
few doubted that both he eand Platt would
be triumphantly reelected. The situa-
ton changed color rapidly, however, and
Mr. Conkling had TO contend not only
against the Blaine men but against the
desertion Of his friends. Governor Cor
nell refused to assist him IN the canvass
for re-election. and many members ofthe
Assembly dared not support him because
their districts were opposed to such
action. Such, however, was the strength
of the Conkling or stalwartH faction
that a struggle of more than six weeks
duration ensued before Lapham and
Miller were elected in place of ConkIing
and Platt
His LAST YEARS.
S-ro. 40. t,,,,n A. C.,IFs.,., L. ~.
appeared before the public as a politician.
Fer years there have been recurring ri
mOrs that he was about to enter the field
again, but he has not done So II hap
pened that just at the time Of his resign
alton from the Senate 4 personal friend
failed in business Mr. Conkling had
indorsed many Of his notes, and with the
failure went every dollar that the Sena-
tor had accumulated II was not much,
for Mr.. Conkling was never soiled by
jobberry, and had only his salary and
what little income as lawyer he could
gain while in public lie. Bu; he had to
begin life over again. He Opened law
office in this city an,l business rolled
iu Ii is said that in two years he made
more money than he had made in all his
previous career.
Since be settled here he has lived most
of the time at New York Club, his wife
remaining at her home in Utica. A
difference between Mr. and Mrs. Conk-
Ting arose out of the marriage Of their
only daughter several years ago. Mr.
Conkling violently opposed the match,
and would not 20 to the wedding. Ex-
Governor Seymour gave the bride away,
and Mr.. Conkling persisted in his atti-
tlde of dispieasure.
Mr.. Conkling was an ardent admirer
OF fine horses and athletic sports. He
was z good amateur boxer. and many
stories are told of his bouts with his
friends, out the most famous, about
meeting with Jem Mace he has denied.
He was member ofthe Manhattan Club
as well as of the New York Club.