The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1893-03-14

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 q 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 nsed 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 estrangelnent be-
tween Mr.. Blaine and himself told
Mr.. Conkling that ii seemed to me alb
surd that a man who had been a>lawyer
all his life and public man. should
have taken offense at MIR Elaine's speech
calling him a turkey gobbler. etc. II
was something could not comprehend
Mr.. Conkling replied 1t is Just as ab-
surd to me 10 take II that way as 1t Is tc
you You know have practiced law
all my life. II lawyers permitted the
animosities OF public trials to warp their
sensi bilities, we would be in fight with
all the world The true cause of the
quarrel between Mr. Blaine and myself
10 that Mr. Blaine took an unfair advan-
tage Of me in the house OF representa-.
tives to reflect upon my personal integ-
rity
''ln tho discussion growing ont Of the
disseminating of the office of provost
marshal general Mr. Blaine rose to
question of personal privilege Mr.
Conkling told me that he did not pay
mnch attention to MIR. Blaines speech
until he heard his name mentioned
Then. after listening, he found Blaine
was making personal assault, foreign
to the matter Of personal privilege and
alien TO the subject under discussion
Conkling said he listened. and the more
he listened the more he was amazed. and
then he became angry Conkling said
that he 80 lost control of himself under
the impulse Ut the moment that he went
to his friend Thad Stevens. and said
Mr.. Stevens. you have heard what
Mr. Blaine has just said What shall
doS The question Of personal privilt &c
MIR. Blaine used was personal attack
upon my integrity He has character.
ized me as man who has accepted elm.
ployment from the government while
was 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 whicA
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 MI the rs,ot of the trouble devoted
O great deal OF time to 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 il 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 | went to
Utica and talked over the matter with
chief Judge of the court of appeals, both
Democrats | told, them that did not
want to take step which could be used
against me in any way did not want
to make 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 aboutac
cepting it. but Stanton said: by Goil
know what services are worth. have
been a lawyer all my life, and this money
you have got to take" | did take the
money felt that had earned it, and
when MIR. Blaine referred to this in the
house felt that he had taken mean ad-
vantage. md determined never to speak
TO him again
MIR. Conkling told me. continued Mr.
Gebhard. that Mr. Stevens said to him,
I'll attend 70 thisfor you. Mr.. Conkling,
and will call for acoinnittee OF inquiry. =
"A committee was appointed for the
purpose of investigating and reporting.
and when ii oecame evident that the re-
port OF the COMMITTEES wonld en- .irely
exonerate Mr. Conkling from the alleged
irregularities, then 1t was that he recog-
nized the fine hand of Mr. Blaine or his
f,-inv,y1o u, fha cr,ffpsSffrl ntfen,nf ~ fr7,c