Evening journal., 1893-03-28
BLAINEANDCONKLING
THE NEW YORK Ex-sENAToR's sTo-
RY OF THE LIFELONG FEUD.

Colonel Edward Gebhard, lawyer in
the Mutual Life Insurance building, said
that he thought the true reason for the
bitter feeling between Roscoe Conkling
and James G Blaine had never been
printed He said that during Mr.. Conk-
ling's life in New York city he frequently
met the great Republican statesman
from Utica. and on several occasions
they talked about his difference with Mr..
Blaine Colonel Gebhard said:
"Conkling used to come up to see me.
We were intimate friends, and one after
noon | told him that would like to get
at the bottom Of the estrangement be-
tween Mr.. Blaine and himself told
Mr. Conkling that it seemed to me abb
surd that man who had been lawyer
all his life. and public man, should
have taken oifense at Mr.. Blaine's speech
calling him a turkey gobpler. etc. 1t
was something could Spt comprehend.
Mr. Conkling replied; IT is just as abb
surd to me to take it that way as it is to
you. You know ! have practiced law
all my life. II lawyers permitted the
animosities of public trials to warp their
sensibilities, we would be in fght with
all the world. The true cause Of the
quarrel between Mr.. Blaine and myself
is that Mr.. Elaine took an unfair advan-
tage Of me 10 the house of representa-
tives TO reflect upon my personal integ-
rity.
"In the discussion growing out of the
disseminating of the Office of provost
marshal general Mr.. Blaine rose to a
question of personal privilege Mr..
Conkling told me that he did not pay
much attention to Mr. Blaine's speech
until he heard his name mentioned.
Then, after listening. he found Blaine
was making a personal assault, foreign
to the matter Of personal privilege and
Conkling said he listened, and the more
he listened the more he was amazed. and
then he became angry. Conkling said
that he so lost control Of himself under
the impulse of the moment that be. went
TO his friend Thad Stevens, and said.
Mr.. Stevens. you have heard what
Mr. Blaine has just snid What shall
do9 The question Of personal privilege
Mr. Blaine used was q personal attack
upon my integrity He has character
lied me as man who has accepted en-
ployment from the government while
was a member Of congress, and while in
that employment had received fees paid
to me by Secretary Stanton. and that the
fees embraced pay for services which
had been Illegally rendered by me to the
government Of the United States in do
ing some work in the western part of the
state This work included the investi-
cation of certain bounty frauds which
had taken place in Elmira, and the sec
retary came to me and employed me to
get at the root Of the trouble. devoted
a great deal Of time 10 the business, and
the upshot was that the government re-
covered, through my efforts, many thou
sands of dollars Upon my return TO
Washington Secretary Stanton sent for
me and offered $4,000 in payment for
my services. which | refused to accept
] said to him at that time that If was
to receive anything ! preferred TO ar
range the price myself, and at all events
] would not accept such a sum.
Pending the discussion between Sec
retary Stanton and myself l went to
Utica and talked over the matter with
Governor Seymour and Judge Denio,
chief judge Of the court of appeals, both
Democrats. | told them that did not
want 10 take a step which could be used
against me in any way. did not want
to make a show Of purity that would be
ridiculous. and did not care about ac-
cepting fee that might be questioned
On my return to Washington the check
Of Secretary Stanton was reduced to
$500 Even then was timid about ac-
cepting il. but Stanton said; "By Godi
know what services are worth have
been lawyer all my life, and this money
you have got to take" did take the
money. felt that | had earned it, and
when Mr. Blaine referred to this in the
house felt that he had taken a mean ad-
vantage. and determined never to speak
to him again.
"Mr Conkling told me, " continued Mr.
Gebhard. "that Mr. Stevens said 10 him,
I'll attend to this for you, Mr.. Conkling,
and will call for committee of inquiry.
"A committee was appointed for the
purpose Of investigating and reporting,
and when it became evident that the re-
port Of the committee would entirely
exonerate Mr.. Conkling from the alleged
irregularities. then it was that he recog-
nized the fine hand of Mr. Blaine or his
friends in the successful attempt tofrus-
trate the purposes for which the com
mittee was appointed.
Mr. Conkling told me that be never
spoke to Mr.. Blaine from that time; that
all the charges that Blaine had brought
against him were groundless. That is
the cause for my feeling against Mr.
Blaine. said Mr. Conkling, and shall
never speak TO the man again or recog-
nize him till he, in as public a place as
the house Of representatives, makes an
apology for the assault be made upon
me at that time.
Several attempts were made TO recon-
oile Mr. Conkling and Mr. Blaine. but
Mr.. Conkling always said: When Mr.
Blaine gets up in congress and takes
back this charge, then / will be prepared
10 meet him. and until he does it there /
l. l.