The Washington herald., 1914-04-22
HISTORY BUILDERS.
The True Story of a Cabinet Appoint
ment.
Written Expressly for The Herald.
By DIR. Z. j. EDWARDS.

ment.
Written Expressly for The Herald.
By DIR. 4. J. EDWARDS.
On the eighty-thlrG birthday Of Gen.
Thomas l.. James, formerly Postmaster
General In the administrations Of Presi-
dents Garfield and Arthur. he was invited
to be the guest of some 20 Of his friends
at a luncheon. In the course of the In
formal speeches over the coffee and ci-
gars, one Of his hosts spoke Of the man
ner In which Gen. James was selected by
Gen. Garfield for the office of Postmas-
ter General in the late February Of 1881.
II recommended to Senator Roscoe
Conkling that he cause Gen. Garfield to
be informed that IL he were to appoint
Gen. Thomas l.. James Postmaster GEN
eral that nomination would be acceptable
to all factions OF the Republican party"
he said.
This ancedote was not consistent with
something which l learned some years
ago respecting the appointment Of Gen.
James as Postmaster General. had
convenient opportunity on the following
day to ask him II he were willing to tell
me the story, with a view of its publica-
ton.
II don't see now that 1t will do any
10 ltli NItn.
tion OF me as Postmaster General re-
piled Mr.. James. There was one feature
Of it which 1 never fully understood.
have never spoken of IL before for pub
Iication.
Some time early in January, 1881.
Clarkson Mott Potter called upon me at
my office in the post-office building in
New York City. He asked me IL We
could be alone for a few moments. Mr..
Potter was a friend OF long standing. He
was distinguished lawyer. chairman of
the famous Potter committee which was
appointed to investigate certain Of the
election methods in the campaign OF 1876.
Although a Democrat, very intimate per-
sonal relations were established between
Mr.. Potter and Gen. Garfield, who was a
fellow-member with Potter on the Ways
and Means Committee in 1881. I may say
incidentally that many of the closest
friendships which Gen. Garfield made
were with Democrats.
One day Mr.. Potter said to me- I want
YOU to promise to say nothing TO a IIv-
ing soul. not even within your own fam
lily. of what I am about TO tell you
gave the promise. for ! knew Mr.. Potter
well enough 10 be sure he would not ask
anything unreasonable. He then said:
You are going to be appointed Postmas-
nothing OF this to any one Go right on
about your business as postmaster OF
New York, exactly as you would do il
Garheld's Cabinet had all been organ
lied
Il thought II a little strange that a
Democrat should bring me this informa-
tion. and ! didn't place much reliance
upon II. Late in February. Mr. Potter
called again and said: You have be-
haved splendidly. There hasn't been a
whisper OF you in connection with the
Postmaster Generalship. All ask Of
you is to say nothing until YOU hear. di-
rectly or indirectly. from Gen. Garfield
himself
ON the first Of March. I was sum
moRed to Washington to meet Gen. Gar
field, snd ! went over on the night train
The following morning ! called upon him
at the Riggs House. He was very cor
dial In a moment he said: I am going
TO nominate you for Postmaster General.
! want you to promise me you will ac-
cept- ! presume you have had an in
timation Of this
Il told him that had. and that had
been Obliged TO see Mr.. Blaine. whom
had already called upon.
II am glad you did Garfield replied.
You have had a talk with him. That is
all right Now ! want you to promise
me that YOU will go back to New York
Immediately and say nothing TO any one
until YOU hear from me again
II went back to New York by the next
train. and the following day I was sum-
moned to Washington. never knew
who IL was who first recommended me TO
Gen. Garfield for the Postmaster Cen
eralship. although Mr.. Potter once inti-
mated to me that I was Garheld's first
choice for that post. Now you have the
true story"
'Copyr,Eh'. 1915 by Dr. p Edwards All nights
reserved