Evening journal., 1913-05-03
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
When Gen. James Was Of
fered COlIeCtOrShip of
Port Of N. Y.
BY Holland.

BY Holland.
Some years ago the late r. c. Nc
Cormick who was very influential in
Republican politics in Colorado, and
who was an intimate personal and
political friend of President Ruther-
ford b. Hayes, was chatting with a
few of his friends at Washington
when IL apparently occurred to him
that the time had come when he
could tell piece of unrecorded poll
tical history associated with the adj
ministration OF Hayes
you will all remember" said Mr..
Mccormick that President Hayes
removed Chester A. Arthur from the
post OF collector Of the port of New
York, and at the same time removed
AlOnzo r. Cornell from the post of
naval officer and also General George
II. 2. Sharpe from the post of sur
voyor of port These distinguished
Republicans we're summarily removed
as was alleged, for the good of the
service.
This action had some extraordin-
airy political consequences. II made
General Arthur the Republican can
didate for Vicc-president three years
later from which Office he went TO the
Presidency because of the death of
President Garfield II made AlonzO
B. Cornell. the Republican candidate
for Governor of New York two years
later Mr. Cornell was elected II
made General Sharpe. who was on the
staff of General George II. Meade at
the Battle of Gettysburg. speaker OF
the lower house of the New York
Legislature.
1T became apparent TO the presi-
dent, as his administration at Wash
ington advanced. that the removal Of
these Republicans might be followed
by serious factional troubles in the
Republican party, especially in New
York State. The President was, there
fore, anxious TO appoint as collector
of the port of New York some distin-
guished Republican who would not be
Objectionable either to administra-
tiOn Republicans or to any faction.
For that reason. President Hayes first
appointed Theodore Roosevelt, father
OF Colonel Roosevelt, who has become
so prominent in Republican politics."
The appointment OF Theodore
Roosevelt, senior. failed of condrma-
ton. President Hayes was good
deal embarrassed because he couldn't
hit upon just the man he wanted
for this Office. Finally il was sug-
gested to him that he appoint
Thomas l.. James, at that time post
master of New York city. The Presi-
dent was told that Mr. James was
very friendly with General Arthur
and Senator Roscoe Conkling. and
that nc was widely known as the
first man to institute civil service
principles in prominent government
Office, as the post office of New York
was
81 was summoned to the White
House by President Hayes and he
asked me If would communicate
with Mr.. James. the postmaster of
New York, and find out whether he
would be willing to accept the posi-
tion as Collector of the Ports.
81 sent General Jones a commune
cation marked strictly confidential
I sent it from the Treasury Depart
ment at Washington. / can remem-
ber the precise: language used:
Would il be agreeable to you to be
transferred from the postofiice to the
custom house? In other words,
would you accept the position Of Col
leclol or the iOflt flcdSe answer
as soon as possible
81 have always thought that had Mr.
James accepted this offer the Repub-
lican party would have been spared
factional difficulties He asked me.
however, to say to the President that
in view of the fact that he had been
for several years the confidential
deputy Of General Arthur aud. fur
thermore, that he owed his appoint
ment as postmaster to the kkindly re-
concentrations of General Arthur and
Senator Roscoe Conkling. he could
not consider the appointment of col
lector of the port of New York
81 am certain that President Hayes
fully recognized the feeling which led
Mr. James to decline the offer. and
yet the President was greatly disap-
pointed when his offer was refused.
! think that. aside from myself and
the secretary of the treasury, John
Sherman. and, of course, the Presi-
dent, nobody except Mr. James ever
knew that the offer of the collector
ship had been made known to him. I"
Copyright. 1913, by f. J. Edwards.