Evening journal., 1915-04-12
New News Of Yesterday
The President Who United
His Party
By Holland.
By Holland.

Three or four weeks before the Re-
publican national convention of 1884
met. an arrangement was made with
President Arthur for me to spend an
evening with him when he would re-
view for me, for publication. what he
regarded as the chief events in his
administration. The arrangement was
made by President Arthurs friend of
many years, Col. George Bliss. Both
Arthur and Bliss we're members of
the staff of the war governor of New
York. r. d. Morgan. and IL was that
service that they gained their
military titles. The friendship which
Mas established between Col. Bliss and
President Arthur was both personal
and political. 1t was a loyal friend
slip and one characterized by the
willingness of each to give confidence
tc the other.
A few hours before my meeting with
President Arthur. I chatted an hour
or two with Col. Bliss in the reading
room Of the old Arlington Hotel at
Washington. Col. Bliss was in a
reminiscent and reflective mood. He
said that President Arthur would have
TO wait until a new generation came
upon the field before there could be
good understanding of what he accom-
plished
His chief triumph" said Col Bliss,
Lies in the fact that the Republican
party has been substantially reunited
during his administration and this is
due to Arthur's rare qualities as an
expert politician.
Il often wonder how the Republican
party managed TO win in 1850. No one
is a greater admirer Of President
Hayes than I. yet ! think notwith-
standing an impression which pre-
vailed that Hayes was a very clever
politician the contrary was the case. !
think he bundered in two or three
instances and l don't now refer 20 his
removal of Gen. Arthur from the col
lectorship of New York City. although
there is no question but that was a
blunder. and Hayes must have thought
of il many times after Arthur went
TO the White House as President.
Hayes could have done two things
which would have greatly strengthen
e6 the party and himself. but he re-
fused TO do either of them.
There had been a good deal OF
trouble in Maine and il had created
some jealousies which in part eX-
planned some of the Democratic
triumps in that State in the latter
half of Hayes administration. These
, jealousies would have been removed
if Hayes had listened TO a suggestion
I made him by James G. Blaine. II
( Hayes had appointed William p. Frye.
then a member of the House. to his
Cabinet as Blaine recommended and,
in fact. urged Hayes to do. II is al
most certain that the Republican dis
affection in Maine could have been
avoided. Hayes declined to offer
Frye a Cabinet place.
"Then, again. the Republican party
would have been spared a good deal OF
! It's factional trouble If Hayes had
! listened 10 the recommendation of the
leaders of the party in Pennsylvania.
\ PENNSYLVANIA wanted Hayes to appoint
/ Senator Don Cameron United States
\ Minister to Great Britain. He wouldn't
| listen to the recommendation and
thereby gave great oflense TO many
\ Pennsylvania Republicans. or course
| il was only by the narrowest and
4 quickest turn Of affairs that the Re
/ publicans captured the Presidency
through the election of Cen Garfield
1 But the party was in bad shape and
the beginning of trouble with Garfield
was only a continuation of factional
| troubles which had been due chiefly
in my opinion. TO lack of good poll
tical Judgment on the part of Hayes
4 "Now the party is substantially
United and this. in my opinion. is one
of the chief achievements of Arthur
I although it will take years for tho
country TO recognize it,"