Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-06-12

The anti-Mahone committee from Virginia,
headed by ex-Gov. Cameron, Gen. Groner
and ex-Representatives Brady and Libbey, had
long and very interesting interview with the
President this morning. The conference was
private one, arranged by appointment before
the usual reception hour. There was more
plain talk than has before been INDUCED in
between the President and any delegation.
Every member Of the committee was deeply in
earnest with his mission. The following ranged
themselves before the President: Gen. Groner,
Gov. Cameron, ex-Representative J, D. Brady,
Col. o. E. Hine, Hon. Lewis Mckenzie, J. II.
Rives, E. Wilkinson, A. A. Warheld, s. w.
Lynes, w. A. Pattie, Hon. J. s. Eggborn. D.
Paul Collins, W. F. Humphrey, Hon. II. Lib
hey, James A Frazier and Y. T. Brown.
GOV. cAMERoNs APPEAL.
Gov. Cameron was formally introduced to
the President as the spokesman Of the occasion,
andhe at once went right to the point of the
interview, the President listening attentively,
but giving no expression Of feeling or leaning
in his face. Gov. Cameron said that the condi-
ton Of affairs in Virginia was not a matter Of
patronage or office, but of individual
freedom. What they asked of the Presi-
dent was that he should not use
his power to perpetuate the bondage
Malone was throwing over Virginia. The COM
mittee, he said, were sent there by the same
sort of vote that nominated him at Chicago,
two-thirds Of the republican voters. They
were not seeking patronage, but there was an
inherent connection between patronage and
political power in the state, and if this power
was to be given to Malone it would be impos-
sible for them (the leading republicans Of the
state) to prevent democratic victory in the
state.
THE PRESIDENT REPLIED,
calmly, that q delegation from the other side
had waited on him yesterday, and he had told
them the same thing that he was compelled now
to say to this committee, that he did not feel
authorized, as President Of the United States,
to interfere with political quarrels in any state.
Whenever he found q divided party, he said,
his feeling was of indifference and almost of
disgust, and that those who suffered from lack
of harmony must not charge him with the
responsibility.
Governor Cameron here replied: "But. Mr..
President, if in any state you know who is re-
sponsible for the trouble and the principles Of
the republican party are at stake, will you
not feel called on not to help that responsible
party?"
General Groner broke in here to add that the
responsibility for the disastrous results that
would follow upon his aiding Malone would
not rest on the republicans of Virginia.
THE PRESIDENTS IMpARTIALIrY.
The President replied that he would not ad-
NIT any responsibility in that regard. He re-
peated that yesterday he had expressed the
same views to Mr.. Mahone's friends. He added
that he should continue to act as heretofore,
his desire being to appoint good men to every
office; that he should consider each application
on its own merits without regard to which fac
ton Endorsed the candidate.
PUBLISHED STATEMENT DENIED BY THE PRES
IDENT.
Some one then called the Presidents atten-
ton to the statement that has been published
that Assistant Postmaster-General GARRISON had
been instructed by the President not to make
any appointments in Virginia except with the
Endorsement of Mr.. Malone.
The President at once pronounced the state
ment that he had given such orders as untrue,
and added that Col. GARRISON had denied to
him having made any such statement.
General Brady, who is Of the national COM
mittee, then addressed the President, being
drawn out by the suggestion by Mr.. Harrison
that the national committee might possibly set
tie the matter. He repeated much the same
argument that had been advanced by those
who spoke before him, but the President still
held to his position.
Under the form Of polite address and argu-
ment, there was a very warm feeling shown
during the interview on the part of the commit
tee, and a calm determination on the part of the
President not to take up the cause of either
faction in Virginia