The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-03-24

sioie bargain which he had heard was
consummated at the conference in New
York and which he had determined TO
hentlon 10 Garfield. Il have heard. Cen
eral said he, "and from what in any
other case would be deemed sufficient
authority, that at the conference in New
York you promised TO make Mr. So and
30 Secretary of the Treasury, and this
Delng the case. of course that Office is
also pre-empted."
Conkling said he made this remark to
test the truth of the rumor, as he could
scarcely credit the report and thought the
promise must have been implied from a
conversation and not from a positive
agreement But, to his surprise, Mr.
Garfield replied. mo, l did not promise
to make him secretary of the treasury.
said l would make him secretary of the
treasury or minister to- manning a certain
COURT. Senator Conkling was careful to
say that the person named as the bene-
nciary in this agreement could not have
been party to such a bargain and, in
his opinion, was entirely ignorant of it,
put omit the name fearing that injus-
tice might be done. even with this expla-
nation
According to Conkling, Mr. Garfield
spoke OF this matter as If il were nothing
remarkable, showing to me-" he con-
tlnued, that here was President of the
United States who either did not know or
character was a felony under the statute"
Mr.. Conkling said he sat for some time
silent after the Presidents reply think
ing what he had better do or say
whether he ought not to call the latters
attention to what might give rise to Sc
rious tmputations on his honor should the
1acts become known, but he finally conclu-
ded to say nothing From Conkling's
manner while relating this episode l am
satlsned that he was unable to conceal his
irritation Ito call it by no stronger name)
from the keen eyes of Garfield, and that
while the subsequent conversation was, In
form very friendly, the impression re-
manned with Garfield that Conkling was
not, and would not be. his friend. The
latter left, however. with the impression
that GARFIELD was anxious that he should
have a potent voice in the selection of
the New York member of the cabinet, and
he agreed to return home and consult
with his friends regarding the person to
be so honored. His parting with the
President was as cordial as his meeting,
and all in all he was pleased with the re-
suit of his visit
The next morning his train met the
western express at Syracuse Q think il
was) and alighting to take a little exer-
else, he was hailed by a passenger on
the outbound train and looking up
he saw Judge Folger. He asked Folger
where he was going, and was astounded
to hear that the latter was bound for
Mentor in obedience to a summons from
the President-elect. There was no time for
a detailed explanation, and the trains
passed on, with Conkling in state of
perpleNity that can easily be imagined.
At the interview with Garfield it was un-
derstood Judge Folger received an offer
OF cabinet position, which he declined
after consultation with his New York
friends.
GARFIELD had given me reason to be-
lieve," said Mr.. Conkling, that 1 was to
be the influential factor in determining
who, if anybody. should represent New
York in the cabinet. He had not men
toned FolgerS name. and yet | could
see, that even while he was making his
profuse offers to me, he was arranging
to consult Judge Folger to offer him a
place perhaps. and had summoned him
to Mentor, probably while / myself was
his guest" q think ConkEng said he af-
forwards learned that the telegram to
Folger was sent while he was in Gar
fields house.) l hoped for some
explanation he continued but
it never came and was soon
convinced by other acts, that
while fiattering, he was Intentionally de-
ceiving me, and that l had nothing to ex-
pect from him. When the cabinet was
made up Thomas L. James of New York
became Postmaster General"
1t is to be hoped that this discussion
will bring out the motives that actu-
ated Garfield in changing his attitude
towards Conkling, for 1 have always be-
lived he did change it, and at the time
of Conkling's visit he was sincere in his
offers of friendship. 1 suspect that some
thing in Conkling's manner induced him
to believe that a fight with the New York
giant was inevitable and that he then de-
termined to deal directly with those in
New York that he might wish to sum
mon to his assistance, thus Gripping Conx-
ling, destroying his power and disinter-
grating his forces. But whatever the
cause when the Senate convened in extra
session the battle was on in earnest
The events which succeeded were in
the highest sense dramatic, and the DOW
erful arraignment of the President by Mr.
Conkling as he paced back and forth in
that little room at the Delevan, impressed
itself most forcibly upon my mind He
referred to the fact that congress was
coordinate branch of the government.
and, in theory at least, superior to the
threats or Establishments of the executive.
The Senate was part of the appointing
power. equally concerned and equally re-
sponsibe to the people for those selected
for Office. committee of republican SEN
ators waited upon the President and re-
quested him in the interest of harmony
withdraw the nomination of Robertson
for collector of the port of New York. Re
marking upon this interview, Conkling
said that after refusing to do so, Gar
field declared that he did not propose to
have senators ''prancing" around him and
would know pretty soon who his friends
were. Then turning to his secretary, he
said as if addressing him alone And [
tell you that those who fight me in this
business will need an introduction to get
in here after this"
I was amused at Conk!ng's report o .
his interview with Logan after the visit
of the committee to the President.
stalwart of the stalwarts Logan had
stood by Conkling from the outset: but
he had been having a hard fight in Him
DIS and the future did not look very
promising. HE came TO me-" said Conk-
ling. with a very weary look and said,
"Conkling, I'll stand by you until hi
freezes over if you say so. But it won't
do you any good. The Senate is GO
ing to back down and the question
is whether l am going to stand around
outside and have my shins kicked for
four years.
Conklng answered in his grand way.
General. as you say. II would proba bly,
do no good, and in such case every
man must decide for himself as every man