The record-union., 1891-11-06
Republic.
Special to the REcoRD-USrox.

special TO the REcoRD-UNIoN.
CHICAGO, Nov. 5.-The Tribune will
print the following tomorrow: A
Tribune reporter met A. l.. Conger, an
Ohio member of the Republican National
Committee, in this city, and while dis
cussing the principle of reciprocity, Colo
mel Conger said: "Let me give you a
little incident which occurred during
Carfield's administration that I hap
pened to know. There is a little bit of
unwritten history in connection with it,
and it viii do no harm to give it all at
this time. 1t shows that reciprocity was
to be the great policy to be developed in
Garfield's administration, and his great
Secretary of State was Enthusiastically its
author. / happened to arrive in Washing
ton on an early morning train the day
Senator Conkling resigned his seat in the
United States Senate. Upon my arrival
the first person 1 met was Hon. Emory
Storrs of Chicago. a close friend of Sena-
tor Conklipg. [ remarked to Mr.. Storrs:
on are an early riser?' He replied ::
Yes, l have been too much disturbed to
Sleep
HE then told me that he had been
with Senator Conkling till long after
midnight; that the Senator, as is we'll
known, was greatly displease0 with the
appointment of Mr.. Robertson as Col
lector of the Port Of New York, and pro-
posed to resign his seat in the Senate that
day, and that diSsension In our party
and perhaps disaster would follow. We
took breakfast together, and discussed
the possibility of reconciliation or har-
monizing of the differences. 1t was
agreed that [ should call upon the Presi-
dent at once and lay the situation before
him. | Immediately proceeded to the
White House, met Garfield and Marshall
Henry, and made known my mission,
President Garfield requested me to have
Mr.. Storrs see Senator Conkling at once
and assure him that he (Garfield] had no
personal feeling in the matter, meant no
disrespect to the Senator in the appoint
ment, and stood ready to carry out any
wish OF the Senator's that was fair and
reasonable, except that he could not re-
call the appointment of Senator Robert
son. He would be glad to have Mr..
Storrs see the Senator, and bring any sug-
gcStions he might have to offer concern
ing the appointment of his friends to
other positions. / returned to the hotel
and reported to Mr.. Storrs the result of
my interview with the President. Mr..
Storrs seemed well pleased with the as
surances given, and said he would see
Senator Conkling at once and believed
=,
minatlon to resign, and l should return
to the White House and inform the Presi-
dent that he would see the Senator i'm
mediately.
Il returned to the President, and we
waited for tidings from Mr.. Storrs; but
none came. Finally, Mr. Brown, the
Presidents Private Secretary, came in.
and handed the President a telegram. It
was from the Capitol, announcing that
Senator CoDkling had resigned his seat. |
Shall never forget the look upon Gar
fields face when he read the telegram.
lie handed it to me, and said: 1T is up.
The die is cast. Senator Conkling has
resigned, and the consequences, what
ever they may be, must rest with him.
Nothing further can be done now.'
= remarked 10 the President that was
very sorry at the turn matters had taken
] was fearful the stalwart Republicans
would side with Mr.. Conkling, and it
might create split in the party and de-
feat his denomination. Now, mark his
reply. Putting his hand upon my shouI-
der, President Garfield said 'Mr. Con-
ger, don't be alarmed. We shall develop
policy during my administration which
will make the Republican party more
popular with the people of this country
than 1t ever has been since the day of its
BIRTH We parted, and | never saw poor
Garfield again. His assassination came
soon after.
Now as to the policy about which he
spoke. l visited Washington several
months after President Arthur had taken
hisseat. think Blaine was working upon
his book. l met Major Mckinley, and
we went together to call and nav our
respects to Blaine. We found him at his
house, and had pleasant chat with him.
During this conversation Blaine took up
and discussed the proposed Pan-Ameri-
lean Congress, which he said would have
been held and the project carried out
under the Garfield administration, and
expressed great sorrow and disappoint-
ment at the unforeseen calamity which
prevented it. He then went on to DEM
onstrate the great advantages to this
country under the proposed policy He
discussed the policy of reciprocity,
coupled with protection, and the benefits
that would accrue to the American peo-
pie, and especially our manufacturers.
laboring men and farmers; how it would
provide an additional market for Ameri-
can cereals, beef, pork, farm machinery,
etc.
Being largely identified and con-
nected with the business of manufactur-
ing agricultural machinery, was quick
TO catch every word Blaine uttered dur
ing the conversation. / saw in it a policy
that would put in motion the wheels of
nearly every manufacturing establish
ment of the United States; that would
give employment to the great mass of
American wor<ingmen; that would fur
ther theinterests of the American farmer
and the last words Garfield had spoken
to me touching the popularity of a policy
he would develop during his administra-
ton flashed across my mind. l have no
doubt if Garfield had lived the same
policy which Blaine has now inaugurated
under President Harrison would have
been fully carried out by him under
President Garfield. 1t is this wonderful,
practical, far-seeing craftsmanship that
has given Blaine such strong hold in
the hearts of the American people. almost
irrespective of party. He is to-day a
million votes stronger than his party