STORY OF THE MISUNDERSTANDING BETWEEN GARFIELD AND CONKLING The Garfield Administration, as I have said, started out under most favorable auspices.

Mr.Conkling took an active part in the Senate as a champion and spokesman of the administration.

He seemed to have taken it for granted, that,--although his bitter enemy, Mr.Blaine, was Secretary of State,--his own influence with the administration would be potential.
In conversation with his personal friends he insisted that this was a part of the agreement that had been entered into at the famous Mentor Conference, about which so much had been said and published.

If it were true that Mr.Conkling's control of the Federal patronage in New York in the event of Republican success was a part of that agreement, it transpired that Mr.Blaine had sufficient influence with the President to bring about its repudiation.
It is a fact well known that the President was anxious to avoid a break with Senator Conkling.

Judge W.H.Robertson, who was a candidate for the Collectorship of the port of New York was strongly supported by Mr.
Blaine.