Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1893-03-16
nt.rsE-coSKLrNc np,soDE.
Origin of Their E~strangainent as Given
by Z. G. ar4 ,NfnEG.

~ 49,
OF James G.. Blaine" Written by his
literary associate aud longtime
friend, 7. C. Crawford, the following
interesting account is CLEANED OF
| what is known as the Blaine-Conk-
ling episode, which took place April
80, 1865, and made the New Yorker
an implacable enemy OF the late
Republican leader:
Tie occasion for a n open war
between Conkling and Blaine
occurred during a debate when the
subject Of the number Of troops
enlisted by each Northern state for
the putting down Of the rebellion
came up. In this debate Mr..
Conkling made an ali-round sweep
ing attack upon Gen. James b. Fry,
who had been a provost marshal
general in the state OF New York.
Mr.. Conkling charged Gen. Fry with
the guilty knowledge OF certain
frauds in the recruiting records for
that state, whereby the state was
given an unjust credit for soldiers
enlisted. Gen. Fry was from the
State Of Maine and a friend of Mr..
| Blaine.
Mr.. Blaine came to the rescue Of
Gen. Fry, and in turn made a counter
barge against MI. C0nkling. He
said that in a n,cvinls congress Mr..
Conkling had accepted an appoint
ment from the secretary of war as a
judge advocate and had drawn the
salary OF that place, while the
statutes of the United States for
babe any member OF congress or
federal official from drawing the
salary OF two places under the
government. Mr.. Conkling replied
to this with some heat that he was
employed as special counsel by the
war department TO prosecute these
recruiting frauds, and as special
counsel he had received his fee. Mr..
Blaine vas able to produce from the
war records a copy Of a letter from
the secretary Of war to Mr.. ConkliDg,
in which he was appointed 2 judge
advocate. TO this Mr.. Conklings
replied that this letter was a mere
form, and that in reality he was
employed as special counsel. He
made no concealment or denial Of
the fact that he had received a fee
from the government for a special
service rendered while he had at the
same time had a salary as a member
Of congress.
After Mr.. Blaine had produced
the document from the war depart
ment, Mr.. Conkling declined to
make any further explanation, and
when the speaker asked him, Docs
the gentleman from New York yield
to the gentleman from Maine?' Mr..
Conkling replied, "No sir, i do not
wish to have anything to do with
the member from Maine, not even
as much as yield him the floor"
Mr.. Blaine-All right.
Here Mr.. C0nkling said in his
deepest voice and most tragic man
ner: eff the member from Maine
had the least idea how profoundly
indifferent | am to his opinion on
this subject, Or on any subject, I
think he would hardly take the
trouble to rise and explain his
opinion, or detain the house" Mr..
Conkling added: II will mob detain
the house with an argument a. 10
whether this opinion is well or in
founded" Nr. Conkling then turned
toward Mr.. Blaine, and, glaring
upon him in the most contemptuous
possible manner, sat down and began
with an air OF cool contempt to write
, q letter as il he had dismissed .
troublesome person from further con-
sideration in his mind.
But Mr.. Blaine was never q man
who could be eontemptuously dis
missed by anyone. He flushed for a
moment under the whip OF Mr.. Conk-
iing's manner, and then, advancing
In his direction, he delivered the
only personal diatribe ever uttered
by him in congress-. He spoke ne
follows. "Mr. Speaker, it is hardly
worth while to pursue the on.
troversy further. But still the
gentleman from New York can not
get off on the technicality which he
has suggested. He says that a COM
mission Was never issued TO him. 7
understand him to admit that If >
commission had been issued to him
NJ could not have taken pay for both
offices. Now everyone knows that
those preliminary authorizations arc
the things on which half the business
arising out of the war has been done.
Men have fought at the head of
oattalions and divisions OF army
CORPS without having rece;voa ,h.,ni