Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-26
DAWES WANTED \ I PEACE
Isl 'dj
He Tried to consiliate Gar
field and e g.,0ahkling.
tnss son
HEADED. COMMITTEE
WHICH HEARD BOTH SIDES OF
THAT FAMoUs1coNTRovERsY.
Death Of Former Senator Recalls
Warm Scene in oArHeld's Apart
ments at Riggs House.
HEADED A.pQMMITTEE

WARM scene In 04fue1d'S apart
ments at Riggs House.
The recent death Of former United States
Senator Henry L. Dawes at his home in
Pittsfeld, Mass, brings to the minds OF
older Westinghouse. and to some few
men now serving in Congress. the days that
this grand old man. for such he was,
was power In national legislation and In
the councils Of the republican party.
Dawes was the successor of Charles
Sumner In the Senate, and his ability and
honesty and integrity made him recognized
as a leader in that body. as he had been
for years in the House of Representatives.
His services in the House extended from
several years before the civil war through
out that great conflict and during nearly
decade Of the period Of reconstruction.
His death, preceding only short while
the forthcoming retirement from public life
Of the veteran statesman from Nevada,
Senator John P: Jones. recalls particularly
the part both these men took in the effort
that was made to patch UP the differences
in the republican party that were brought
about by President Garfieid's ignoring of
Senator Conkling in the distribution of fed
eral patronage In New York, and which
seriously threatened the disruption Of the
party.
Member Of Consultation Committee.
Dawes and Jones were members Of the
committee Of Cancellation, consisting of five
men representing different attitudes to
the two factions, who were appointed. to
try and fetch about harmony. Rollins of
New Hampshire was another member.
The mere rumor that Garfield intended
naming James g. Blaine as Secretary of
State in his cabinet reused Conkling's ire.
Blaine and conkling had long been openly
writer of the time put 1t. beginning in
empty trifes, had grown by .ncessant fan
ming until It menaced the party with fatal
schism.' Tried and wise friends Of both
besought Blaine not to accept the portfolio.
Senator Dawes was one Of these. Some
years afterward Mr.. Dawes said:
II warned Mr.. Blaine that If he entered
the cabinet with the intent or hope of cir
cumventing his rival 1t would be fatal to
him and to the administration of Garfield;
and expressed the opinion that 1t would be
impossible for him to keep the peace II he
took the Office. He replied with frankness.
and, have no doubt with entire sincerity.
that 1t would be his purpose If he accepted
the office to ignore allfpast differences and
50 deport himself in itsas TO enforce recon-
ciliation. or III
HE said also that,ihe, could not agree
with me. even II the, effect should prove
otherwise. that he should flor that reason
which VI he fet to admns
ter the foreign office on. the broad and
grand scale he did atterWard undertake.
but was not permitted to perfect; I fore;
him to remain in the Senate. But he deter
mined otherwise and accepted the position"
What course the Affairs Of government
might have taken hadsthe adyice Of Dawes
ed field for speculation, Garfield would have
lived and served out his term; and-well. 1t
is idle to speculate as to What would have
been the ultimate result. ~
=, How, Gonkhng. RisWed It. 5oi l,a;.
Conkling looked upon ,Bfsiaaine;s promotion
as nothing but a deliberate attempt to hui
initiate himself, and his friends acohcurred
in this view. Garfield. said a,s.writer of
that period. "of whose great brain power
political sagactty formed no part. could not
be made to see In the opposition anything
but an attempt by dictation to trench upon
his constitutional prerogatives in the choice
of his own councillors and all Blaine men
agreed with him." -
The offer Of the post Of Secretary OF the
Treasury to Charles J. Folger of New York,
not only without consulting Conkling, but
against Conkftngs Recommendation of Mr..
Morton, tended to change things from bad
to worse. Folger declined the portfolio, but
this did not pacify ConkIng. No man In
the cabinet represented Conkling whereas
he and his friends thought that on account
of his great service in the campaign. "all
New York appointments at least should be
filed by him from among his friends" Gar
field undoubtedly Influenced by Blaine.
would not consent to such an arrangement.
In the spring OF 1881, before the inaugur-
anS in w ACCORD
ling. learned that Mr.. James had been Sc
lected for the position Of Postmaster Cen
eral. Up to this time "the two New York
senator's had received assurances from the
Observation-Disclosures that tina aNnnra etafa
to be favored with the portfolio Of the
Treasury Department, which was regarded
as a moro digniied and more influential
position In every respect"
When Plat heard Of Garfeld's change Of
mind he went at once to John Chamber
Inns Hotel. where he found Vice President
elect Arthur and Senator Conlsling at break
fast, Plat broke the news to them as they
sat at the breakfast table. Arthur and
Conkling stopped eating. They put on their
coats and hats. and with Platt repaired to
the Riggs House, where Garfield had rooms.
In Garheld's Room at tho Riggs.
Garfield received the trio without delay.
For over an hour Conkling stormed up and
down the room. He openly charged Gar
field with treachery to bis friends In New
York and accused. him Of being false to his
party. Garfield sat on the side of the bed
and listened in silence to'the trade; Arthur
and Platt subsequently. declared that, for
invective. sarcasm and impassioned elo-
quence. this was the speech, Of Conkiing's
life -
Within less than a. month after Garfield
was inaugurated. Conklings dearest foe,"'
Robertson, was nominated by the President
as collector of customs Of the port Of New
York, the incumbent, E. A. Merritt, being
nominated about the same time for the post
Of consul general at London. Both APP
pointments were opposed by Conkling and
Plat Conkling's fire grew into frenzy:
Sober republicans maiweled at the chasm
widening In the party.
Conkiing went befogs the committee Of
Cancellation to recount htSr wrongs. MT.
Dawes, who was ohair{napI -pf the commit
tee, of this meeting. afterMard said:
"Conkling on that ocsasioR surpassed him
self In all those elemenM Of oratorical !,
He continued for two Iovrs and a half to
play with consummateo skM upon all the
strings known to the orator. and through all
the notes from the lowest to the highest
which the great mastersb command. and
concluded in loftyr anostrophe to the