CLEVELAND, GROVER, President. Autograph letter signed ("Grover Cleveland") as President, to Judge D. Cady Herrick, [Washington, D.C.], 28 August 1894. 3 pages, 8vo, marked "Personal" on page 1, on Executive Mansion stationery, with imprinted envelope addressed in Cleveland's hand. President Cleveland, known for his strong advocacy of government reform, declines to appoint a controversial candidate: "I leave early tomorrow morning for a much needed vacation. I have turned the Mastman [?] appointment over and over again in my mind, but I feel that if it were made it would become a source of embarrassment to all of us including the appointee. It is mindless for me to refer to the circumstances which lead some good people...to think that his appointment...would be inexpedient to say the least of it. I suppose of course the New York Senators would oppose his confirmation, and if they did it would certainly be defeated and we would be accused of doing this thing which perpetrated party strife and discord. Can we not find some place...in New York which would serve his purpose -- say something worth $3,000 or so per annum? Such an appointment we could make without the interposition of the Senate caucus. I honestly think it would be better all around..."

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CLEVELAND, GROVER, President. Autograph letter signed ("Grover Cleveland") as President, to Judge D. Cady Herrick, [Washington, D.C.], 28 August 1894. 3 pages, 8vo, marked "Personal" on page 1, on Executive Mansion stationery, with imprinted envelope addressed in Cleveland's hand. President Cleveland, known for his strong advocacy of government reform, declines to appoint a controversial candidate: "I leave early tomorrow morning for a much needed vacation. I have turned the Mastman [?] appointment over and over again in my mind, but I feel that if it were made it would become a source of embarrassment to all of us including the appointee. It is mindless for me to refer to the circumstances which lead some good people...to think that his appointment...would be inexpedient to say the least of it. I suppose of course the New York Senators would oppose his confirmation, and if they did it would certainly be defeated and we would be accused of doing this thing which perpetrated party strife and discord. Can we not find some place...in New York which would serve his purpose -- say something worth $3,000 or so per annum? Such an appointment we could make without the interposition of the Senate caucus. I honestly think it would be better all around..."