Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-12-21
DRAMATIC RESULTS
BY John T. Boifeuillet

stormy sailing.
The Denny situation makes it timely for
me to remark that some of the most spec
tacular contests in the political history of
the American government, with far-reaching
effects and dramatic results, have been in
connection with appointments to the collec-
torship of several of the leading ports in
this country.
Some of these appointments have caused
suicide, defeat of presidents and senators OF
the United States, and provoked other dire
consequences.
There were bitter strife and contention
over the appointment of collector Of the port
of New York while Lincoln was president.
The Republican quarrel eXha "sted him, and
he decided not to name resident of New
York city, and selected a confidential friend,
Mr.. King, who resided in another county.
King did not wish the place, although it car
ried income of one hundred thousand dol
lars per annum, but at the insistence of Lin
coin and others, he accepted. The patronage
attached to the Office was enormous and Col
lector King had no rest day or night, at his
office or his home, from the hungry hordes
of seekers for the multitude of appointments.
He suffered nervous collapse. His health
completely broke dom under the strain of
the annoyance. One day he bought two bags
of shot, placed them in his pockets, got on
Jersey City ferry boat, and when no observ-
ers were nigh, he quietly glided into the wa
ter, and was drowned. The body was recov
cred and buried with honors.
Lost Grant Third Term
General Benjamin F. Butler, of New Or
leans notoriety had powerful and sinister
influence over President Grant and in COM
pliance with the wishes of Butler, the presi-
dent appointed William A. Simmons collector
of the port of Boston. President Grant did
not consult the two senators from Massa-
chusetts, nor did he confer with any of the
Massachusetts congressman, except Butler, re-
garding the appointment. His action was
bitterly resented by the Massachusetts Re-
publicans in and out of congress. 1t reused
a storm of dspleasure and indignation.
The eminent Senator George F. Hoar says
in his highly interesting Autobiography of
Seventy Years" But for the appointment of
Simmons as principal federal officer in Mas
s&chusett,, l think ske would have support
ed Grant for third term and his nomination
at Chicago would have been certain. 49,.
No personal respect for General Grant could
induce the Massachusetts Republicans to run
the risk of having again a president who was
subjected to influence like Buffers"
Why Arthur Failed '3a
Here is another instance of the appoint
ment of the collector of the port of Boston
costing president the pleasure and honor
of succeeding himself in the White House:
Ignoring the protests of the two senators
from Massachusetts and her representatives
in congress, President Arthur appointed Ro-
land WOrthington to the collectorship of the
port OF Boston, as the successor of Collector
Beard, who had made splendid official, and
was endorsed by the business men and 9TH
crs of Boston for reappointmert 1 cave
read that Arthur appointed Worthington at
the request of Benjamin u. Butler in ex-
change for Buffers support in the coming
contest for the presidential nomination,
President Arthur being a candidate to sue
coed himself.
High authorities say that had not Arthur
favored Butler by appointing Worthington
the Massachusetts delegation the nominal
ing convention would have supported Arthur
III MS ambition to be renominated, where's
1t ardently opposed him and greatly con-
tributed to his defeat.
Senator InsoIent to President
1t will be remem Dered that the imperial
Senator Roscoe Conkling was the leader in
the herculean and historic effort to renomi-
nate 2 ssldent Grant for a third term Ju. eI
William H. Robertson, of the New York dele
cation, at the convention, aroused Conklng's
anger by opposing Grant and supporting Gar
field. All know that Grant was defeated and
Garfield won the nomination and election
When President Grant nominated Judge
Robertson for collector of the port of New
York Senator Conkling became furious, and
1mperiously and almost insultngIy demanded
of Garfield that he not insist on the appoint
ment Conkling had fiery interview with
the president at the White House I state
on the authority of Senator Hoar that Presi-
dent Garfield told him that Conkling's be-
havior in the interview was so insolent that
1t was difficult for him to control himself and
keep from ordering Conkling from his pres
ence y
Wanted to Destroy Him
The subsequent story is well known. De-
spite the opposition of Senator Conkling and
his Me- Too" Senator Plat, the senate con-
hrmed Robertsons nomination for the COL
lectorship. President Garfield thus gave the
"Courtesy of the Senate" system 2 blow that
was heard around the world. His prime
purpose and desire were to destroy Conk-
hng's prestige and break down his power.
and in this he succeeded
Conkllng and Platt resigned from the SEN
ate and appealed to the New York legislature
TO V1ndlcate them by an immediate re-elec-
ton. They fully expected to obtain it's ap-
proVal OF their action, but eetly to their
surprise and chagrin they were defeated.
Conkling retired to private life, but in 1896
Platt was elected to the senate and re-elect-
ed in 1902
James G. Blaine said that Plat "has
strong common sense and quick judgment
OF men,. He exhibited neither of these
qualities in resigning as senator with Conk-
ling, and expecting the legislature to re-elect
him.
The Speaker Was Ignored
Inc celebrated Thomas Bracket Reed
Wnen speaker OF the. national house of rep
reSentatives, once had difference with Presi-
dent Mckinley over the collectorship of the
port OF Portland, in Reeds home state of
Maine. Reed was exceedingly anxious for
the appointment of warm friend but Nc
hlnley denied the speakers request, and
named man unfriendy to Reed Suisse
quently, when Reed was discussing the mat
ter, he remarked that he had only two known
Republican enemies in Maine and Mckinley
pardoned one of them out of the penitentiary,