Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-09
PLATT AND HIS PULL
Unable to Overcome Warner Miller's
Schemes to Get Revenge.
FASSETT MADE THE COLLECTOR
Much Against the Will and Desire Of the
Administration.
HOW THE MILLER IDEA WAS ACTED ON

sociates on the Platt ticket has occupied
the politicians since election day. The
detection of Warner Miller's friends, the
slashing course pursued by James j. Belden,
and the conduct of Henry G. Burleigh,
Titus Sheard, George B. Sloan, and their
satellites were fully understood when the
ceived at Republican headquarters on elec-
tion night. Until these returns began to
come in there was rejoicing When their
import was fully understood there was bad
language. The Platt people had been taken
in and done for BY the Hungry Joes" and
the "Grand Central Petes" of the Repub-
lican party of the State.
Just why the Platt people had put any
confidence in the halfbreeds is beyond the
comprehension of many. This revolt was
practically planned from the hour that
President Harrison arrived in Washington
to be inaugurated. Warner Miller had
been defeated for Governor. He believed
that he had stood in the breach, and, al
though he had fallen "outside the breast
works" he nevertheless thought that his
old colleague in the Senate, Benjamin
Harrison, should give him place either in
the Cabinet or one of equal national renown.
Miller's Repugnance to Platt-
The President thought otherwise, and
Miller learned, or thought he had learned,
that Thomas c. Platt represented the Ad-
ministration in New York State. He be-
lieved that Platt had cut him in the guber-
material fight, in order to aid the election of
Harrison
Plat and his friends have denied this en-
phatically, time and time again. 1t is
charged that Miller in that race disagreed
with Platt and all of the shrewd thinkers in
the Republican party by his speeches and
atti ude on the liquor question. The Miller
idea that Platt had obtained all the federal
patronage in New York State under the
Harrison Administration cannot be SUBJ
sIantiated.
j. Sloat Fassett was Platt's candidate for
Collector The President declined to ap-
point him, saving that he was too young for
the place Colonel Joel B. Erhardt was
Platt's second choice. He was practically
forced upon Platt. Surveyor Lyon also was
practically forced upon Platt. So was Naval
Officer Willis, and so also was Appraiser Mar
velle w. Cooper. In neither of these appoint
ments did Platt obtain his first choice. The
only appointment which can be considered
right-down Platt appointment is that of
Postmaster Cornelius Van Cott. President
Harrison went further than this, and re-
fused to appoint Platt Secretary of the
Treasury.
Disastrous Results Of Harrison's Work.
The result of his policy in practically
ignoring Platt was disastrous. He did not |
satisfy Platt or his friends, and he had |
snubbed outright Miller and his friends. |
Great friction followed these appointments |
There is not a merchant in this town, DEM |
ocrat or Republican, who will not say-if |
he will tell the truth-that under such |
policy the administration of federal affairs |
in this city to business men gave small sat |
isfaction. 1t was turmoil and trouble all |
the way through. Finally Collector Err |
hardt sent in his resignation to Washing
ton. He would not be dictated to by Platt.
Then Fassett got the place.
Going back to the hour when the Presi-
dent refused to appoint Fassett Collector, it
is known that the Platt wing of the party
determined at that hour to nominate Fas-
sett for Governor in 1891. Step by step he
was put forward as the bright young cham
pion of the Republican party in the State.
One of these steps consisted in the Platt in
vestigation of the Democratic party in New
York City. Senator Francis Hendricks,
now Collector, was Chairman of the Gas
sett" Investigating Committee, but Senator
Fassett was put forward as the big man of
the committee to attack the Tammany
tiger
NIiller's Friends Jealous of Fassett.
The Miller people. it would appear,
thought that Fassett was gaining altogether
too much prominence. They decided to get
together and attempt to stem the tide. On
December IA, 1890, there was great gather
ing of Miller's friends in the Windsor
Hotel. Platt was not invited to the confer
ence, and neither was a single friend of his
present. 1t was decided at that conference
to issue a manifesto against Platt, the Re
publican boss of the State The manifesto
was to be against his management of Repub-
lican affairs. The manifesto was drawn up,
and was to have been circulated through the
State. James J. Belden, though, counseled
a different course, and the manifesto was
The Miller people at that conference
came out openly and said they were not
partial to Fassett because of his close rela-
tions with Platt. Ex-senator Platt and his
friends knew all about the conference at the
but they were not disturbed.
Ex-senator Miller talked freely with re-
porters about the situation. 1t was an open
attack of the Miller men on Platt and his
friends.
PIatt Not at All Disturbed.
Platt at that time gave expression to sar-
castle remarks on the conferences He was
not disturbed by them. They ended with
,ut the adoption of any specific lines of i
policy to be adopted by the Miller party. {
The winter passed, and spring came, and i
was ush cred in, and those confer -,
.nces at the Windsor were forgotten. All
he Republicans in the Platt camp had but !
,ne song, and that was of the beautiful har-
nonv existing in the Republican party in :
he State. The boom for Fassett was ap- ]
hat it was prearranged.
The Miller men and the Belden men said 6
lever word. In fact, they all praised v
Eassett to the skies. They landed him as
he young champion who was to defeat the
Democracy of New York State. But any, c
'odv who knows the inside history of the e
rochester convention knows that this was v
he line of policy agreed upon at the Wind n
or Hotel conferences. The Miller men G
Eere to boom Fassett and then stab him. 0
hen came the question of selecting the G
andidate for Lieutenant Governor George !
,loan, it is emphatically stated, promised Il
ast spring if Fassett was nominated to run
s Lieutenant Governor on the ticket. But
loan now declined, so did General Wads-
-orth.
Iadsworth and Sloan Clearly Switched
1t is beyond dispute that Wadsworth and
loan were warned off from the ticket bv e
,urleigh and Belden and the other anti p
'latt Republicans. o
All this is preliminary to the story of the O
asst week of the campaign. The treachery ii
f the Miller men was made plain after a
IL L Il