Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-03-07
POLITICAL "REMINISCENCES.
broke Faith with President
Garfield.


One of the features of Ida VI. Tarbells
tariff article in the March American
Magazine. is a story which presents GER
tain aspects of James G.. Baine's verac-
ty 1t comes in as part of Miss Tar
bells lively narrative OF the fight in
Grants time between high protectionsts
and tariff reformers. over the reduction
Of war duties. Following are some of
the men and events, referred to in Miss
Tarbcll's spirited article: Horace Greeley,
Sunset" cox Horace White, Henry G..
Carey, David A. Wells. "Pigiron" Kelley,
Senator Allison, carl Schurz, John Sher-
man, the salt monopoly, the fortunes
made in iron, the ironical nomination OF
Greeley, protectors great victory in
Congress, and the panic of 70.
In 1870 Mr.. Blaine was n candidate for
reelection as speaker. Unless he could
appease the tariff reformers there was
danger of their uniting with the demo-
Gratis to defeat him. Accordingly he ask
ed the four most influential reformers to
meet him secretly in New York. The
four were William r. Allison, Horace
White. Charles Nordhoff, and General
t3rnkerhof. There was n long discus
sion. ending In Il proposition from Mr..
Blaine that If the reformers would per-
init him to be reelected speaker he would
permit them to name the chairman OF the
ways and means committee, and give
them n majority on it, The proposition
was accepted. and Mr.. Blaine was asked
to appoint Mr.. Garfield.
There was no reason TO suppose that
Mr. Blaine would not keep his promise
Nevertheless the suspicion that he was
slippery in politics was not uncommon
and the Free Trade League concluded
to send General Brnkerhoff to Washing
ton to see that the arrangement was
carried out.
The rest OF the story Is told as fol
lows by Miss 1arbel:
las the days went on and the appoint
ments promised were not made Genera
Brinkerhoff felt more and more uneasy
/ but said nothing. Finally one day as
he was on the floor of the House, MIR
Blaine sent a page to him asking hin
for an Interview.
80 He then called some one to the
chair says General Brinkerhoff, and as
he went out of the south door I went
out of the north door, ana went arounC
and met him. He took me down to the
basement and into room he called his
den. He then locked the door and went
to n cupboard and brought out some re
Investments, and we sat down at a little
| table
After a while he told me he wanted
| to talk with me about the ways ant
means committee. He took a slip o.
paper from a drawer and wrote dow
nine names and then turned it arounC
to me to read. I saw that he kept hi,
| finger on tho paper. and that he did no
intend to let me take it away and so
| took little time to study It's makeup
ana get 1t clearly in my memory l saw
ut a glarce that he was not carryinl
ont his agreement, because DAVIS wa,
at the head as chairman and not Gar
| field. | saw also as ! looked over tn,
list that a majority of the committe,
were not revenue reform men, although
it was a combination calculated TO de
ceive any one not fully posted on indi
vidual records.
" There was only four men on hi!
| list who were not protectiorists. anC
fter discussing the matter a while, h,
said, This is not hnality by an,
means, 1t is simply tentative and ! vii
make the committee so that it will b.
| satisfactory. He repeated the wor,
tentative two or three times, but
made up my mind at once that a way
and means committee satisfactory t
the revenue reform people would neve
be made by NJ elaine. and so We partet
after an hours talk, with the under
standing that he would see me again
! soon
THAT evering General Blinkerhot
met Garfield by appointment. You ar
not to be chairman of the Ways AM
Means Committed he told him. TIL
protectionists will be in majority o.
it,
You are wrOrS Garfield said, MI
Blaine has already written me assurln
me of my appointment
" Let me see the letter. said the gen
erAl. Garficld's face fell. He had no
the letter. Mr. Blaine has asked that it h
returned because life was uncertain. 'Yo
will not be appointed General Brinker
hoff reiterated. Garfield walked the foo
for a few minutes, and then stoppira
said: General Bl!nkerhoff. If Mr.. Blain
does not appoint me chairman of tn
ways and means committee he Is tn
beast of men He was not appointed
but few days later Mr.. Dawes was