New-York tribune., 1895-02-15
"CAPTCREDn BY THE BOSS.
MIR. PLATTs EFFORTS IN THE ANTIMA-
CHINE REPUBLICAN RANKS.

HE GETS HIS FRIENDS TO DO EXACTLY WHAT
HIS OPPONENTS WANTED TO HAVE DONE.
Mr. Platt tried to break the terrihc force OF
Mr. Brookfeld's appointment in two ways hrst
by charging the Mayor with bad faith, ana
secondly by giving out that he had captureu
the Ant-Machine Republican organization lor
his friend. Mr. Lauterbach. AS MS renec'iohS
upon Mayor Strong have been CONSIDERED III
another place ii is only necessary TO reier mere
70 his .capture" of that vigorous young po
utical body which compelled a genuine reor-
ranization of the party in this county, and later
ON forced the old machine to accept the nomi-
nees of the Committee of Seventy despite the
scher1ing of Mr.. Platt to a straight Repub
lican local ticket when he found that he could
not obtain pledges from Colonel Strong.
II is well known that ever since Mr.. Platt made
that disgraceful alliance with the Patterson
Gibbs gang the BrOokicld element Of the regular
County Committee and an overwhelming ma
jority of the Anti-Machine organization have
been working together in harmony. Their ANAL
gamatOn was only q question of time. When
Mr. Brookfed was defeated number Of the
strongest men in the regular committee. includ-
ing Cornelius ~ Bliss and General Thomas. Were
disposed to withdraw and form new organiza-
tion. taking the Anti-Machine forces as the basis
of it. But after due consideration this was
deemed unwise. Mr.. Brooknelds strength was
absolute. 1t did not rest upon promises of pat
ronage il was not dependent upon the ebb and
flow Of his political fortunes. The men who
rallied around his standard were actuated by
sense of principle lot appetite for spoils.
Moreover "A change OF a dozen votes would de-
feat his adversary. and this change was bound
to come unless Mayor Strong surrendered to
hcl
there was not the slightest danger Of such
misfortune so instead of Withdrawing they de-
cded to remain in the old organization and fight
for control Having decided to do this. the next
step was 70 strengthen themselves by getting the
Milholland people inside with them.
This, it was expected, would be difficult task.
since the old district leaders would naturally op-
pose the introduction Of d force hve-siXths or
which unalterably opposed to them. II was
decided. however. to fight the thing out on con-
stitutional lines in the regular County Commit
tee. Certain districts were selected in which test
cases would be made, and one Of the ablest
lawyers in the Committee OF Seventy agreed to
assume charge Of the work. These preparations
were made unknown TO the Platt contingent in
the Anti-Machine camp. This contingent is usu-
ally represented by Otto Irving Wise. who. like
his friend Gruber. Of the XXIld District. has
Gently idllen NlCtlln 10 f'ldli "litS. Nv
posing that the original plan, involving the for
nation Of a new organization. was TO he carried
out undertook to get majority of tho Anti
Machine Executive Committee to agree 10 90 In
with the regulars thinking that by 50 doing he
would perform brilliant service for his
Master He evidently made Patt take this view
of the matter for the Boss began to send for the
Anti-Machine district leaders last week and load
them down with promises Of Office. few
listened to him. but the majority remained loval.
The committee consists Of two members from
each of the thirty Assembly districts. and here
is how they stood after Mr.. Platt and his ennis
saries had done their b.st to win them over:
The Ist. I'D and lid districts are solid In op-
position to Platt. one member Of the lNth.
Dixon sided with Wise but the District Com
mittee Immediately repudiated him. Steibling.
Of the Vth District who was appointed state
Auctioneer at Mr. Milholand's request. went
over to Platt but the With With. With. INth
Xth XIth. XIIth, XlIIth. XINth and XVIII
declined Mr. Platts advances one leader 81 the
XVIII wavered. The XNlth and NNllh fc-
mained firm. There Is no oreaniZaion worm
mentioning In the XVlllth. in the XlHth Hyers.
who is trying to get some legislation at Albany
for his street-sprtnkling business. went over 10
Platt. SO ga Graham; bat General La Grange"
one Of the abest men in the Organization Tc-
mained to his colors The XNth is anti
Platt. The XXIst is Wises district. one man
in Tammany's interests on Election Day natu-
rally Joined hands with Piatt. The XAIlld Is
against boss rule. The XXlNth Is divided. The
XXVth has no use for TiOga politics. The
XVIII is supposed 10 be divided. and the
XXVIIth is likewise. The provisional organiza-
ton I'm the XXNIIIth and XXIHth are opposed
to Platt; the XXXth Is or the fence. or was until
the afternoon papers came out yesterday
IL will be seen from this rccapiuation that out
Of sixty-fve members Of the committee Mr Platt
has fourteen a little over One-iifth. When II IL
remembered that he was supposed To have the
entire State patronage at his disposal. while no
one could promise anything on the other SIDE. ms
missionary efforts cannot be considered as among
his conspicuously successful labors.
The fact is he was badly advised. His hench-
mon meant we'll but thsy did not know what
Was going on and when they found out yestcr-
day that what they proposed to DO was exactIy
what the majority had already decided 10 nave
done their confusion can better be imagined
than described Resolutions euogistlc of Plat
and condemnatory Of his enemies had b"en pre-
nared. hut az minorities do not ruie III Inc
state club Mr. Wise withheld his literary enorts
and begged to be put on the committee 10 ar
ranpe for consolidation. His request was good
,atIredlv granted by General La Grange, VINO
drau the resolutions whereupon MT wise, WIN
baracteristic assurance. proclaimed victory TOT
Platt. - , ,,,, ~, tho Anti
Machine Republicans