, 1891-11-06
UNWRITTEN HISTORY.
Blaine's Reciprocity Ideas
While in Garfeld's Cabinet.
Why Roscoe Coukling Dotted
His Senatorial Toga.
Republican Disturbances That
Have Never Been Healed.

Blaine IN GarheIa's Administration.
CHICAGO. Nov. 5.-The Tribune will
print tie following tomorrow: A Tribune
reporter met Col. A. Z. Conger, the
Ohio member of the Republican national
committee. in the city. and while discuss
ing the principle OF reciprocity, Col. Con
ger said: Let me give you a little Incl
Dent which occurred during Garield's
administrator that l happened to know.
There is 4 little bit of unwritten history
in connection with it and it will do no
harm to give it at this time. 1t shows
that reciprocity was to be the great policy
to be developed in Garfield's admistration
and his great secretary of state was I'M
mistakablv its author.
Il happened to arrive in Washington
on an early morning train the day Senator
Conkling resigned his seat in the United
States senate. Upon nv arrival the first
person | met was Hon. Emory Storrs of
Chicago, a close friend of Senator
Conkling's. l remarked to Mr.. Storrs
You are an early riser He replied
LEO, L hdNC bctu tOO huCu uibluTDtu 70
Sleep He then told me that he had
been with Senator Conkling till long after
midnight. The senator, as is well known,
was greatly displeased with the appoint
ment OF Mr.. Robertson as collector of the
port of New York and proposed to resign
his seat in the senate that dav. and that
a dissension in our party and perhaps a
disaster would follow. We took break
fast together and discussed the possibility
of a reconciliation or harmonlzing OF the
differences.
ut was agreed that | should call upon
the president at once and lay the situa-
ton before him. | Immediately pro-
oeeded to the white house, met Garfield
and Marshal Henry and made known nv
mission President Garfield requested
me to have Mr.. Storrs see Senator Conk
ling at once and assure him that he Gar
held) had no personal feeling il the mat
ter, and meant no d~isrespect to the sena-
tor in his appointment. and stood ready
to carry out any wish OF the SENATOR that
was fair and reasonable. except he could
not recall the appointment of Senator
Robertson. He would be glad to have
Mr.. Storrs see the senator and bring any
suggestions Re might have to offer con-
cernIng the appointment of his friends to
other positions.
Il returned to the hotel and reported
to Mr.. Storrs the result of my interview
with the president. Mr.. Storrs seemed
we'll pleased with the assurances gwen,
aud said he would see Senator Conklinp
at once and believed he could get him tC
reconsider his determination to resign,
and l should return to the white house
and ioform the president he would set
the senator Immediately. 1 returned t.
the president and we waited for the It'd
iugs from Mr.. Storrs, but none came
Finally Mr.. Brown. the presidents pri
vate secretary. came In and handed the
president a telegram. 1t was from the
capitol announcing that Senator Ccnkling
had resigned his seat.
Il shall never forget the look upon
Garfeld's face when he read the telegram,
He handed it to me and said: 1t Is up
the die is cast. Senator Conkliug has re
signed, and the consequences, whatever
thev may be, must rest on him. Nothinl
further can be done now | remarked
to the president: I am very sorry at the
turn matters have taken. l am fearful
the ~stalwart Republicans will side with Mr.
Conkling and it might create a split il
the party and defeat your denomination.
Now mark his reply. Putting his hanC
upon my shoulder, President Garfield
said: Mr.. Conger. don't be alarmed
We shall develop a policy during my ad
ministration which shall make the Repub
licau party more popular with the people
of this country than it has ever been sine.
the day of its BIRTH.
I'VE parted, and | never saw pool
Garfield again. His assassination came
soon after. Now. as to the policy oil
which he spoke. [ visited Washington
several months after President Arthur
had taken his seat. | think Blaine was
working upon his book. | met Maj. Nc
klnley, and We went together to call and
pay our respects to Blaine. We found
him at his house and had a pleasant chat
with him. During this conversation
Blaine took up and discussed the proposed
pan American congress, which he said
would have been held and the project
carried out under Garield's administra.
ton, and expressed great sorrow and dis.
appointment at the unforeseen calamity
which prevented it.
he then went on to demonstrate the
great advantages to this country under
the proposed policy. He discussed the
policy OF reciprocity coupled with pro,
lection ard the benefits that would accrue
to the American people, and especial,
Aaboiihk mtu. ana
farmers. How it would provide an
additional market for American cereals,
beef, pork, farm machinery, ETC., being
largely identified and connected with the
business of manufacturing American agri-
cultural machinery. | was quick to
catch every word Blaine uttered during
the conversation. | saw in it a policy that
would put In motion the Wheels of nearly
every manufacturing establishment in the
United States.
'That would give employment to the
great mass of American %workIngmen
that would further the interests of til,
American farmer. and the last words Gar
field had spoken to me touching the non
ularity Of the policy he would deyelo,
during his administration flashed acros,
my mind. | have no doubt If Garfield
had lived the same policy which Blain,
has now naugurated under Presldepl
Harrison would have been fully carried
out by MIN under President Garfield. l,
is this wonderful practical far SEEING
Craftsmanship that has gwen Blaine such
q strong hold in the hearts OF the Ameri'