Evening journal., 1910-08-31
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
A Political Enigma That May
Never be Solved
By Holland.

There is probably only one man
now living who is able TO give au-
thoritatively the name OF the RepuD-
lican who persuaded President Gar
field, in March. 1881, to nominate
Judge William H. Robertson collector
of the port Of New York-a nomina-
tion that brought about the dramatic
joint resignation of Roscoe Conkling
and Thomas c. Platt from the United
States Senate. and, in the opinion Of
many, the defeat of James G. Blaine
as the Republican presidential nomi-
nee in 1884 The one man is J. Stan
ley Brown. who was private secretary
to President GARFIELD, and who mar
ried the Presidents only daughter Mr.
Brown, however, will. never tell, un-
less posthumously He regards him
self as under obligations to reveal
none Of the secret history Of the Car
field administration.
/ have been asked many times who
It was that recommended to Garfield
the appointment Of Judge Robertson,
and could only say that in Washing
ton. at the time the appointment was
made, no one was found. excepting
MI Brown, who could answer the
question. Yet It is p. p.obable that the
late John II. Starin, who was in Con-
gress with Garfield and was a close
friend of the latter. knew; and 1
base this statement on a CONVERSE
ton / had with Mr. Starin several
years after Garhelds death.
Mr. Starin,' | said, did you ever
know that il was suggested to Pfesi-
dent Garfield. after the designations
OF Senators Conkling and Platt and
the confirmation by the Senate ol
Judge Robertson as collector of the
port of New York, that an ideal way
out bf the difficulty would have been
the appointment OF you as the collec-
tor of the port of New York and the
nomination of Judge Robertson as
United States district attorney?'
mo. / never heard that" Mr.. Starir
replied Garfield and l were alway.
warm personal friends. My seat
when I was in Congress, was next tC
his When ! found that General
Grant could not be nominated for
President In 1880, l was very much
pleased when General Garfield was
But / never heard that anybody had
said to him what you now repeat te
me-"
Well" | replied, President Gar
Geld was told that if he had appointed
you collector of the port the entire
factional trouble between the Stall
warts and the Half breeds would have
ended, and when he heard this he was
silent for a moment, and then re-
Piled i never thought of Starin;
l wish had"
That was an extraordinary, | be-
lieve unequaled. irony of fate said
Mr.. Stain "See all the consequences
il has led to. For one thing, It un-
~doubtedly paved the way for the cleo
ton of Grover Cleveland as President
Il have sometimes heard it said
that General Garfield was persuaded
% Blaine to nominate Judge Robert
son for collector Blaine / know, fell
very grateful to Robertson. because
Robertson, through his leadership OF
the bolt IN the New York delegation
at the convention Of 1880, prevented
the nomination of Grant
But If Blaine did urge that nomina
tion il was a fatal mistake for hin
to make. You may remember that =
though there were several incldent
which caused Blaine to lose the cleo
toral vote of the state of New Yorl
in 1854. yet the chief cause Of his de
feat was the knitting Of him by tn
/ friends Of Senator Conkllns IN IN
| Utica New York; district.
These friends were firmly persuad
ed that IL was Blaine who induce
Garfield to nominate Robertson 70
collector of the port They bide
their time, and when Blaine becam
the Republican candidate for Presi
! dent. they determined to show thei
resentment at the polls. Had Blain
received the normal Republican vot
in Oneida county. New York, he woul
have obtained the electoral vote
New York state Therefore, in tn
nomination Of Judge Robertson fo
collector of the port lay the res
cause for the defeat of Blaine fo
President in 1SS4--and ! happen
know that Judge Robertson was an
bilious solely to be appointed Unite
States district attorney, an ottic
without much political power"
And ]. Stanley Brown is the onl
living man who knows whether or NJ
IL be true that Blaine persuaded Ca
field to nominate Judge Robertson f
collector Of the port Of New York.
Copyright. 1910. by Z. J. Edward
All Rights Reserved.)
To.morrOw Mr.. Edwards will te
of "a gfunIo Annpol That tot SSO