The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-12-27

less visit to Mentor, when he told the
president-elect that New York wanted
the secretaryship Of the treasury or
nothing, Garfleld's telegram to Judge
Folger offering him the attorney gem
eralship, sent surreptitiously while
Conkling was on his way back to New
York; the offer Of the attorney general
ship to William III. Vanderbilt for Ell
lott f. Shepard: the prefer of the sec
retaryship of the navy to Levi P. Nor
ton. which he tentatively accepted and
afterward rejected-all OF these tended
to inf1ame rather than quiet the bitter
ness of the senior senator from the
| state Of New York. 1t should be borne
in mind that during the campaign, In
order to induce Gov. Morton to raise
money, Gen. Garfield had distinctively
| offered that gentleman the choice of
the secretaryship of the treasury, the
management of a proposed syndicate
for funding the debt, the ministry to
England, or the ministry to France.
These facts all came out in the Herald
! and We're fully substantiated, tending
to show that there had been pledges
Of patronage made while the election
was in doubt
NEW YORK CUSTOM HOUSE.
One Of the greatest points Of conten-
ton between the two factions was the
collectorship at the port Of New York.
This position was held by Gen. E. A.
Merritt. sro
Senator Conkling one Sunday night
In April was asked by a New York con-
gresham to go to the White house and
see the president. There had been
many interviews between Conkling,
Platt and the president on the subject
OF the New York patronage. The presi-
dent had repeatedly said that he would
not make any appointments without
consulting with the New York organi-
cation. On this Sunday night Presi-
dent Garfield told Senator Conkhng. so
Conkling always contended, that he
would do nothing about the custom
house without consulting Senators
Conkling and Plat, Vice President Ar
thur and Gov. Cornell.
The president on the following Tues
day sent batch of appointments to
the senate. They were practically all
reappointments. and consisted of Stew
art L. Woodford and A. W. Tenney to
be district attorneys of the Southern
and Eastern districts, respectively; C.
d. MacDougall and Louis F. Payn to
be marshals Of the Northern and
Southern districts, respectively, and
John Tyler to be collector of customs
at Buffalo. This was very pleasing to
the New York machine Conkling be-
l1eved that at last his efforts to have
the New York senators consulted on
patronage had been successful.
But on the following day the presi-
dent threw bombshell into the senate
by appointing William; H. Robertson
collector in place of E. A. Merritt. who
In turn was made consul general to
London.
BLAINE'S INTERVENTION.
This appointment Of Judge Robertson
was regarded as an act Of open hostility
| TO the New York machine. twas look.
ed upon by Conkling and Platt as de-
hoerate effort to build up the half
breeds, by which name the administra-
| ton Republicans were known. and to
tear down the stalwarts The machine
contended that the half-breeds must
have nothing. 1t became known very
cary IN the controversy that the ap-
po1nSment of Judge Robertson was due
entirely to the influence Of Secretary Oh
State Blaine. Mr.. Blaine was i'll on the
| Sunday night Mr.. Conkling had called
on the president. Learning of the in
tervlew, he at once Mastered to the
White house and insisted that the
| promise which had been made to dr.
nothing about the collectorship unit
Conklfng and his friends had been con.
suited be not kept. Blaine continued
to insist on this point, and it is a fac
that the nomination of Judge Robert
son was made without any intimatior
from the president to the New Yorl
senators that he had decided to make
it, ,-
A deadlock in the senate ensued
Strenuous efforts were made to Undue,
the president to withdraw the nomina.
ton Of Judge Robertson. Feeling raj
high in New York, as we'll as in Wash
ington. The president could not Sc
cure the confirmation of any of his an
pointments. He was apparently power
less to do anything Time dragged
along and not one could see the set
Element of the difficulty in sight Fl
nally Senator Plat, who had mad,
business sacrifices in New York to go t.
the senate, became hopeless Of accom-
plishing anything for the Republican
organization, and, as he afterward pu
it, sick Of the whole business" Their
was quite q business boom at the time
and as he was far from rich man
he yearned to get back to private life
where he could do something towart
making provision for his family.
PLATT SUGGESTS RESIGNING.
1t was from him that the origina
suggestion of resigning from the sen
ate came. He desired to resign sinpl,
because the squabble over patronag
had made him heartily weary Of tia
senatorship. And he thought Of re
s-;x- -,
comfort and not as a blow at the pres
ident.
When he first talked it over witt
Senator Conkling, Mr.. Conkling en-
deavored to dissuade him, and aske,
him to hold on in the hope Of a chang
coming in the situation.
Ten days later Senator Conkling ha'
another interview with Senator Plat
and asked him if he was still of tn
same opinion about leaving the senate
''I am" said Plat, "Idon't think cal
accomplish anything here. I want t
get back to my business"
well, if you resign, said Conkllne
ST will resign, too"
It soon after became the fixed de
termination of the New York sena
tors to resign should all efforts to Sc
cure the withdrawal Of Robertson
nomination fail. Postmaster Genera
Thomas L. James also consented t
Will lHSlIl, LIS III CliAS71i
from the cabinet would have greatl
added to the sensation Of the day
Mr.. James, however, went to Presiden
Garfield with the news that he con
| templated resigning, and the presiden
easily talked him out of it.
The designations were presented t
the senate on Monday, May 16. t
but one man in the state had the In
tention of the senators to resign bee
communicated. He was Louis F. Payr
of Columbia county who had serve