Evening journal., 1913-01-28
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
How Garfield Secured His
Postmaster General
BY HonsnG

Probably the most informal, un-
conventional and onhand selection
by President-elect Of his Cabinet
was the manner in which General
James A. Garfield organized his. part
Of it only few hours before his in
auguration.
General Garheld's selection for the
postmaster generalship and the man
ner in which he offered this Cabinet
position to the gentleman whom he
finally selected are characteristic OF
all Of his Cabinet appointments eX-
cepting that of James G. Blaine. Gen
oral Garfield determined soon after
he was nominated for President that
i'm case he were elected he should ask
Mr. Blaine TO become Secretary of
State.
On the evening of the second of
March, 1881, Thomas J.. James, who
at that time was postmaster of New
York city. received a telegram from
Whitelaw Reid i'm which Mr. James
was asked to go from New York to
Washington by the first train, and
upon his arrival Immediately, no
matter how late at night 1t might be,
to call upon MIR. Reid at the Airing
ton Hotel.
Mr.. James was not able to leave
New York until i'm time to catch an
earlier train than that which left at
midnight He arrived i'm Washington
shortly after six o'clock. He was
driven Immediately to the Arlington
Hotel The proprietor OF that hotel
was a longtime friend of his and he
met Mr.. James al the door He said
that Mr. Reid had asked him TO bring
Mr.. James to his room, no matter
what hour he arrived.
SO 7 ann going to- heed Mr.. Reeds
request and take you to his room
now, although ] think he is abed, -
said the proprietor. Mr.. Roessle.
Several rather loud raps on the
door were necessary before response
came from within. The door was
then opened. Mr. Reid stood there
clad in mathrobe. He admitted Mr..
James and. having greeted him, crawl
ed back into bed again.
Then he said: 81 have sent for
YOU. Mr. James. because General Gar
field Is very anxious to see you this
morning and he would like to see you
as early as possible. What time is
/ il now?"
1T is little after z o'clock Mr..
James replied 81 should like to take
bath and put on some clean linen
and then. after breakfast, ! will read
lily 90 with you"
Put on your clean linen here, said
Mr. Reid. "and while you are doing
that I viii dress, and we will break
fast together
Their toilets having been hastily
made, these two men went together TO
breakfast At half post eight they
were ready to start to meet General
! Garfield. who was staying al the old
! Riggs House. On the way to the
Riggs House Mr. Reid carefully alb
| stained from saying anything which
would furnish Mr. James a hint OF
what General Garfelds purpose was
I'm sending for him.
When they called upon General
Garfield they found him alone. He
had just had "A hasty breakfast in his
room.
Mr. James, said tho President
4 elect, "we have not met believe
since the time when We had brief
chat in my room at Chicago immed-
ately after my nomination"
There was a brief talk Of an infoT-
nal nature aud then General Garfield
in the most informal manner and yet
with real dignity, said; MIR, James
/ 7 have sent for YOU to tender YOU q
place in my cabinet as postmaster
general 7 hope that you are ready
TO accept this offer now II you dc
that, You can aid me i'm other Of mJ
cabinet plans
81 am ready 20 accept This tender
f.Nl 4. Ia
the same spirit In which Il Is made
Furthermore. J SINCERELY thank yot
for the compliment which the offer o.
this high Office carries"
Thereup0n Mr. Reid, who had stood
a little in the background. came for
ward and said. MIR. James, YOU
appointment Will be credited to New
York State. Now. in case there
should come any serious disagree
ment between General Garfield aftei
he is inaugurated. and leading Re
publicans of New York State. where
would you stand? General CARTEL,
should know this
III ! were postmaster general
should remain loyal 10 the Presi
dent, or else I would instantly re
sign and relieve him from embarrass
ment"
General Garfield then said, "Tha
Is all that I want 10 know" And II
this informal way the postmaster gen
eralship was rendered to Thomas l.
James.
Copyright. 1913. by r. J. Edwards
All rights reserved)
Tomorrow Mr. Edwards will tel
"HOW Some Valuable Revolution