Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-09-05
PLATT is In LINE
The Ex-senator Grants a
Long Interview,
EXPLAINING HIS POSITION
He Was Disappointed az Minneapolis,
Bur VIII Turn IN Lake Republican
and Work for Success.

j visited ex-senator lnOnlas < Platt
al the Oriental. Manhattan Beach, yes
terday and invited hIm TO talk politics.
l told him that wanted him To talk
politics aud that wanted to print II IN
the Herald. lie hesitated moment,
as II thinking over the expedieney of
saying anything, but finally he replied:
"All right; suppose it is fair and
proper that | should say something. |
suspect the questions you have IN mind
10 ask me, and so, considering that per-
haps u is suitable for me TO say some
thing. shall talk frankly and clearly
on It."
Reminded of Minneapolis.
'You talked that way just before the
Minneapolis convention" l ventured
- remark.
"Well, yes, so did, ;" the senator re-
Piled. 80 l did, nor have l any
thing TO take back, nor anything to re-
greet | did then what thought was
my duty TO the republicans. OF New
York and of the country | am going TO
do what | think is my duty now. We
live III y land where the majority rules.
must rule, and Is going to rule every
time. The majority did not agree with
me at Minneapolis. | did my best to
defeat the president, but he had more
votes than the other candidates, and
that settled II. Now he is the nominee
OF the republican party. | am d re-
publican.
Always Republican.
| was a republican In 1855; | have
been Il republican every hour of every
day from then until this minute; never
falteriug IN my support of republican
principles and republican candidates.
no matter whether the candidates were
men OF my choice or not. The aims
and policies OF parties In this country
have got TO undergo a wonderful
change before | shall be anything else
than a republican"
Senator Platt paused a moment, and
during the pause ! suggested that, ney-
ertheless, he had been rather quiet
since the Minneapolis convention and,
perhaps, source of some solictude
among the presidents friends. Sir.
Platt smiled, and said:
''lt is the weather. It has been pref
ty hot, you know" Then he went on
more seriously. Eyes, | have been
quiet, though l shall not fatter myself
with the idea that / have been a source
of much sollcltude.
Confesses disappointment.
'It would be the shallowest kind OF
pretense for me to clam that | was
not greatly disappointed by the result
at Minneapolis; i don't get over
such q disappointment IN twenty
four hours, and L confess there has
been in my mind a grave question
whether IT was my duty u go into this
campaign with the activity / have
usually put forth. | don't know that
there mas been a man IN this state and
perhaps IN the whole country who has
been more roundly and indecenty
abused than |. In so far as this comes
from democratic and mugwump
sources, the common enemy, i expect
il and am ready for it; but when |
spend day and night in the service of
the republican party, doing what
can to promote the success of It's prln-
ciples and candidates without thought
or hope or expectation of reward or
office, 1t IS hard that | should take
from republicans what even demo-
Gratis ought TO be ashamed to gave me.
His Doubts Dispelled.
Doubts were raised in my mind after
the Minneapolis convention how far my
services were required by those who
seemed then 10 be IN charge of Mr.
Harrlson's campaign. l heard that
some persons We're representing To him
that all the mlsfortunes the republican
party had ever undergone IN the state
8 -, l.. - 4.
rectly TO me, and that It would be good
politics for him to let II be understood
that he wished 10 have nothing to do
with bosses. Certainly ] bad no desire
TO obtrude myself upon the president,
nor TO force myself into the conduct of
his campaign If | was not wanted. AS
it has proved, | was simply Over-sensi-
tive. But If man must have faults,
that one among them is easily for
gwen"
Conversation with the President.
There was another pause mere, and ]
filed It with the question, $50 you
valted?"
"Yes. / waited. | waited 10 hear
| from President Harrison. Some peo.
| pie sad I waited To hear from him 8
request to take Office; that / waited to
| make a sOrdld bargain; that | stood
/ Ike a road agent holding up coach.
! These were lies, and they were among
/ the mesnest and most Irritating, and
most foul. and most hurtful lies have
I ever had TO endure. At all events Il
was indicated TO me that the president
would be glad to see me. - went tc
see hIm as an American citizen should
who has received such intimstion. lie
received me cordially.
wul DO Their Duty
Wont YOU give me some idea Of the
! conversation, ! asked.
"it was not talk on petty personal
/ issues" the senator replied. "The
presidents remarks were those Of A
broad minded. fsir-minded sensible
man, Who had the right view Of the
dignity Of his Office a view that Amer
icsu people admire and sustsiu. Much
Z was said of ms forthcoming letter ol
+ acceptance and of the manner and
methods ln which he proposed 20 treai
TIE issues between the n8rties vs.
went ever the more important puhg
questions such "a tire tariff. fn
( ance and the fall elections. and
( the manner ln which our urn
T cpies and these questions should
+ be placed before people. We talked o'
F the state Of New York and ~ tne con
diuon = the republican partv here oi
What VS. necessary ~ hr.ng oat "a full
strergth ansI to render 10 most effective
on erUou 6sV
VIE voal friends throughout tns
state support she national tckst a.
heart y a. vou Witf