The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1893-06-10
BLAINEANDCONKLING
THE NEW YORK Ex-SENATOR'S STO-
RY OF THE LIFELONG FEuD.

of an Estrangement That Meant Much to
American History.
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 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 alb
surd that a man who had been a lawyer
all his life, and public man. should
have taken offense at Mr.. Blaine's speech
calling him turkey gobbler. etc. It
WAS something could not comprehend.
Mr. Conkling replied: 1t is just as ab-
surd to me to take it that way as it is to
you. You know | have practiced law
all my life. If lawyers permitted the
animosities Of public trials to warp their
nsibilitjes, We would be in fight with
all the world. The true cause Of the
quarrel between Mr. Blaine and myself
is that MIR. Blaine took an unfair advan-
tage Of me in the house Of representa-
tives to reflect upon my personal integ-
rity.'
"ln the discussion growing out of the
discontin ding of the office of provost
marshal general Mr.. Blaine rose to q
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 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 heso lost control OF himself under
the,lnpuise of 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
dor The question Of personal privilege
Mr.. Blaine used was personal attack
| upon my integrity. He has character
lied me as man who has accepted en-
pioylnent 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 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
q 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 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 | 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 to take step which could he 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 a fee that might be questioned
On my return to Washington the check
OF Secretary Stanton was reduced to
$500 Even then was timid about az
cepting it, but Stanton said: by God!
| know what services are worth have
been u 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 mean ad-
vantage. and determined never to speak
to him again.
MIR. Conkling told me. continued Mr..
Gebhard, that Mr.. Stevens said to him,
TIL attend to this for you. Mr.. Conkling.
aud will callfor a acommittee 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.. Gpnkling from the alleged
Irregularities, then it was that he recog-
nized the fine hand OF Mr.. Blaine or his
friends ia the successful attempt to frus-
trate the purposes for which the com
mittee was appointed
Il .bir. Conkling told me that he 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 4 shall
never speak TO the man again or recos
nize him till he. III N public i place ax
the honse at srepresant makes an
apology for the assault he lnade ulxn
me ut that time
4 Several attempts were made 10 recon.
cile Mr.. C0nkling and Nj Elaine. but
Mr. Conklng always said: WI hen Mr.
Blaine gets mp III congress- and takes
back this charge, then | viii be prepared
"a meet him, and nntil he does it there 4
will never speak u him again. SiIbse-
guently dnring the Elaine campaign of
lSo4. Conkling told me. | have received
30 invitation to. Il dinner III which Mr.
BlAine is 81 he present wonder what
the getters up Of tlliat dinner take ME for. h
[ nm 4 Reptlb blicAil. and I believe III the
success Df NY lls hut there u one