The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1918-02-11

there was of it, was, politically, the
stormiest in history. Within two
months after his inauguration a fac
tional row, comparable only in fierce
ness with that of 1912, broke in the
Republican party. The members OF
one faction we're known as "Stal-
warts" the members OF the other as
Half Breeds" Garfield was a Half
Breed" Roscoe Conkling, Senator
from New York, was the leader of the
"Stalwarts." The row ended his po-
litical career. We traced our Hard
SHELF Republicanism straight back.
Father was a "Stalwart' and was
greatly disappointed in Garfield. We
have always carried the impression
that Garfield was weak sister," and
that impression probably is due to the
lpaternal influence. He had been TAX
en- on as compromise candidate after
the "old guard found itself unable to
nominate Gen. U. S. Grant for a third
term.
The news of Garfield's assassina-
ton came to Grigsby City by way of
the mail carrier who traversed the
overland route between Grigsby City
and Usage Mission. The town had
no railroads then and Usage Mission
was the nearest point boasting a tele-
graph station. The President was
shot at $3.50 o'clock Saturday morn
ing. The carrier came in with the
news at o'clock in the afternoon.
We had gone with father to Grigsby
City to do the weekly trading, and dis.
seminated the news as widely as pos
sible on our way to the paternal roof
tree five miles southwest of town.
Still, there were lot of people in the
neighborhood who didn't know the
President had been shot until the fol-
, lowing Tuesday. 1t may be that
some of them haven't heard it vet.
But those who attended the Fourth of
July celebration in Usage Mission on
Monday brought the news home. and
by Tuesday night it was an open Sc
cret in which nearly everybody
shared.
President Garfeld's family consist.
ed OF wife and five children, four
boys and one girl. His wife's name
was Lucretia, Congress voted her a
pension of $4,000 year in the SEES
sion of 1882 The Garfield bows were
Harry w., James R., Irwin and
Abram. Harry and the well known
Jimmy" were grown at the time. IT.
win was II and Abram 8. Irwin seems
TO have been the cutup of the family
His pet recreation was that of USING
the corridors of the White House for
a roller skating rink. Harry and
Jimmy" have managed, one way OF
another, to keep their heads above
the horizon But Irwin and Abraham
disappeared after the family left he
White House and have never since
appeared in the newspapers. Molly
Garfield, who came between the two
sections of boys, afterwards BARRED
J, Stanley Browne, who had been her
fathers private secretary. The day
OF the tragedy Mr.. Browne paced Ut
and down the corridors Of the White
House chewing the end of an unlight
ed cigar. Chester A. Arthur, who, as
Vice President, succeeded the mar
tyred President, was over six feet tai
and wore side whiskers. He Is said
TO nave been the best dressed and
most Immediately groomed Presi
dent in history.
Memory is CALLED and tickle Jade
we can't remember what a musica
comedy was about the morning fol
lowing its presentation. We forgot
to order coal for three days in success
sion last week But we remember al,
about the Garfields.