New-York tribune., 1895-02-15
BAD FAITH, MIR. PLATTE
.uE FACTS ABOUT HIS RELATIONS
WITH MAYOR STRONG.
errr,rAT1oN OF THE EX-sENATORs AMAZING
STATEMENT ABOUT 'PROMIsEs" SOME IN
TEREsTING INSIDE HISTORY OF

TEREsTING INSIDE HISTORY OF
THE RECENT CAMPAIGN.
Mr.. Platt's charges of bad faith against Mayor
Strong are hardly creditable to the ex-senator 9
political sagacity. Even if they were true it
was impoitic for him to make them at this
time; but as they are not true it is difficult to
see any advantage to Mr.. Platt in making them
at all. OF course. they never would have been
made except by man whose position had be-
come desperate. as is the with Mr.. Platt at
the present moment. He has been beaten Mr..
Brookhelds appointment Is the worst possible
blow that he could receive. 1t has staggered
him. FOrty-eight hours before its announcement
he told newspaper friends that such thing was
impossible. Consequently when ii came ne was
entirely unprepared for it. 1t threw him INTO
confusion and in this confusion he maze state
ments against the Mayor which no one more
than he regrets to-day
II there Is one thing about which the Mayor
has been exceedingly careful since MS elecuoh IL
is the matter Of making promises He has in
dulged in this practice most sparingy His init
mate friends men like Mr. Bliss. Mr.. Root and
Mr Brookfe,d with whom he has been on terms
OF close friendship for years. have been unable
in a single instance to obtain promise of any
kind at his hands He has kept himself absO-
lutely free and unfettered. never permitting him
self to be put in a position such Mr. Platt
would have the public believe he occupies toward
the gentleman from Tioga County. There is no
man in this state the Mayor has displayed
greater caution In dealing with than Thomas c.
Platt.
INDEPENDENCE OF MESSRS. STRONG AND
QUIGG.
But since Mr.. Platt has chosen to raise the
question. 1t may be just well to illustrate
these remarks by some incidents that have long
been familiar to those who had 10 do with the
internal workings of the recent municipal cam
pagn. Mr.. Patt. it may be remembered was
originally in favor Of straight Republican local
ticket but he pretended to sympathizc with the
efforts of the Committee of Seventy and Good
Government people for a combination against
Tammany. He could afford to do so because he
believed that Mr. Grace and Jake" Patterson
between them could prevent successful issue OF
the Committee Of Seventys deliberations. Grace
It may be remembered did his best to carry out
this contract, but failed Pending his failure
Platt espoused the candidacy of Mr.. Quigg as
the straight Republican nominee for Mayor Mr.
Ouigg remained in the field only until he saw
that a successful combination could be made
against Tammany Hall. AS soon as this was ac-
complished he went to Colonel Strong and an
nounced his withdrawal from the field in the
Coloners favor About the same time that this
step was taken Jake Patterson called at
Colonel Strongs office and requested him 10 60
down and see Mr.. Platt. Mr. Strong's answer
to this suggestion was more emphatic than ele-
CANT 'I'u see him in - first" is the language
employed on that occasion.
This message was conveyed to Mr.. Platt, who
Immediately directed Patterson to have Mr..
Quigg reconsider his withdrawal. Mr.. Quigg
a
phatic as that employed by Colonel Strong.
There was nothing for Mr.. Platt to do but to ac-
cept the inevitable He did so; that is to say.
Colonel Strong received the nomination without
ever seeing Mr.. Platt or giving him the slight
est assurance to what he might expect in
case Of the Colonel's election. Patterson and
Murray tried hard to pledge the Mayor, but he
laughed at them.
HE WAS AT LIBERTY TO MAKE SUGGES-
TIONS.
The first time that the Mayor and Mr. Plat
came together after election at the Black
River Fishing Club dinner. miscellaneous gath
ering Of politicians of both parties. 1t was pre-
sided over by Mr.. Lauterbach. The object OF it
supposed to be entirely social. but the real
purpose was disclosed when Mr. Lauterbach who
was sitting between the Mayor and Mr.. Patt.
arose leaving those two gentlemen together AT
that interview il is understood Mr.. Platt eX-
pressed desire to be consulted when Com
missioner Of Public Works appointed. The
Mayor readily granted the request. as he had 10
fifty other citizens. and when the time came Tor
making the appointment due notice was given
10 Mr. Platt Of what was to be done That Is
10 say. he told that such an appointment
under consideration and any suggestions
NJ had to make would be considered without
prejudice The reply from him did not indicate
that he cared for a consultation Of this Kind.
What he wanted was 10 name the man; but the
Mayor believing that the people had intrusted
him with this duty. declined TO have the seat or
municipal government transferred from City Hall
Square TO No. 49 Broadway.
Mr.. Platt made his followers believe that ne
had some assurances from Mayor Strong when
the Power Of Removal bill was passed by the
Legislature. They believed him: at least most
OF them did, because they did not understand
things fully. They did not understand that 1t
was to Governor Morton and not TO Mr.. Platt
that the credit belonged for the passage Of that
important measure. The simp,e fact Is that Mr.
Platt could not prevent its enactment. He held
out as long he could and he tried his best to
make terms with the Mayor, but he could not
persuade the Governor to stand up against the
party sentiment and the decent public sentiment
of the state. The Governor perceived the folly
Of such opposition, and the result was the pas
sage Of the bill Mr. Platt, as usual MADE virtue
OF necessity, hoping that the Mayor might sup
pose that he and not Governor Morton had done
it. and treat him accordingly. Unfortunately for
Mr. Platt. Colonel Strong knew all about II, for
the Governor had been to see him.
SLENDER MARGIN FOR THE BOSS.
1t will be seen from this brief review that Mr..
Platt has very slender margin upon which to
operate He placed himself squarely against the
true interests Of the party and the true interests
of the city. He has been beaten and there is
nothing for him to do but 10 wiring his
hands and shout. BAD faith" against a man
whose forty years Of upright mercantile life In
this city make such accusation the quntessence
Of righteousness.
MAYOR STRONCS DENIAL
In reference to "a long statement published
Yesterday in which T. c. Platt was quoted
as saying "that the Mayor had not kept faith
with Mr. Platt or his frerds.' Mayor Strong re-
marked
There is no truth In any such statement. | have