New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-07
PLATTS STRONGEST CARD.
FEAR OF GRACE DOMINATION IN NEW
YORK POLITICS.
THE EX-Boss ATTEMPTS TO MAKE A BCGASo0
OF MAYOR sTRoNGs APPARENT LEANING
TOWARD THE STATE DEMOCRACY IN
HIS RECENT APPOINTMENTS


[BY TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUNE1 .
Albany March 6-When Thomas c. Platt tooB
account OF his political stock at the opening o
the new year he found himself In most pros
porous condition. At least he thought So never
before had his resources been so vast and varied,
for ne reckoned as among his available assets
the Governor. the State Senate, the Assembly
and its Speaker, the State Committee ana the
county machines throughout the State. including
even those in whose cities reform Mayors mao
been elected-New-York. Brooklyn, Bunaio ana
Albany-cities which had always been IN open
opposition to his rule or doubtful In their aiie-
glance To him. His control OF the state Govern
ment and the entire party machinery seemed ao-
solute and permanent. The Republican news
naners which are governed by principle were
against him; so the rank and file OF the
party. But this did not disturb him seriously.
Mr.. Patt Is a shrewd political worker ana
keen observer. but he is essentially superficial II
his work and in his observations Thoroughly
material.stc in his political beliefs. he Is 50
constituted as to be utterly unable to perceive
the tremendous practical Importance OF moral
forces. In consequence Of this defect IN MS
nature he was led to consider his position nos
only secure, but so strong as to warrant him IN
undertaking to construct a Republican machine
ON the lines OF those OF Hill and Croker. which
were destroyed by the people last November In
pursuance of this plan he placed himself in the
way OF reform.
II is not yet three months since Mr.. Piatt II
dulged in this stock-taking. but II he were to re-
,sat the operation tonight he would ind
that the shrnkage in Wall Street securities
snce the Barring failure is hardly a circuns-
stance In comparison with the way In whicn
his political fortunes have dwindled away
hac civ
whole country that he, and he alone. Is Gov.
ernor OF this State. In so doing he dealt Mr.
Plat n mortal blow The effect Of this declara-
tion was terrific The Senate can no longer be de-
nended upon; the Assembly has asserted Its In
dependence and even its Speaker Is ready at any
moment 10 get on the other side OF the fenca.
The State machine TO be sure still looks 70 NO. 10
Broadway for directions. but 1t is IN such a irieht
fully demoralized condition as TO be or nttie I'D
portance, even with such statesmen as HacKeu
and Payn In charge Of 1t. The reform Mayors OK
New-York Brooklyn Buffalo and Albany, wnom
Mr. Platt expected to control by capturing the
local machines are acting as though SUCH an IN
dividual as Platt was without corporeal exist
ence.
II is an undenable fact that Mr. Platts most
available remaining asset at the present time ~
William r. Grace. 1t is hardly too much TO say.
stantialy all that he has left with which TO hshs
the reform forces that are clamoring FOR propes
LEGISLATION and Mr.. Piatts retirement from the
position he still essays to occupy in party politics.
This Is no fanciful statement II Is entirely In ao.
cordance with the facts Without Mr.. Grace az
weapon Mr. Platts arsenal would be practically
empty. Reduce that individuals prominence -
New-York City politics; deal with him SO that no
can no longer be In the minds OF the Repuohcans
OF the State menace to the party in the metrop-
oils. and Mr. Platt passes into political BANK
ruptcy. so far as regards this Legislature
There is no question that the Republican Sena-'
tors and the Republican Assemblymen. or, at
least the overwhelming majority OF them, are
honestly favor of making creditable record.
and they fully appreciate the importance OF CIV
ing New-York City what II has asked for In the
way of remedial legislation. There is great
deal more independence in both branches or tho
Legislature than is generally supposed, or than
has been made TO appear by what has been said
regarding il. Mr.. Platt has his followers, but
there is not a corpora"s guard OF them VINO
would go with him one step beyond the iine
which could be shown TO mark the boundary or
the true interest OF the Republican party. This
WAS we'll illustrated In the case of Mr. Brook
fold Mr. Platt Il will be remembered. came up
here 10 make issue on his appointment no
tried his best to rally his forces. including the
Governor. but he failed most ANONYMOUSLY.
Even his "Od Guard" rebelled. They saw a.
once the folly OF attempting to arouse any feel.
ing over the selection for offices or Repupicahs
in good standing Perceiving this. Mr. Platt fell
back upon what many good people in New-fork
City are disposed TO look upon as scarecrow.
b,tt which is taken with more seriousness here.
This may as we'll be understood first as last. The
Republicans OF the State really disturbed at
the way in which they think Mr.. Graces hand mas
been strengthened by Mayor Strong. Ihey know
Mr. Grace and they distrust him thoroughly ~
is not too much TO say that when Brick fo"''
eroy declared at the Charities Building cohter-
ence that ne would soon trust Croker as Srace'
he voiced the sentiment which prevails among fSe-
pubucans generally. They have learned from e1-
perience that Mr. Grace is dangerous eiemen'
in politics He is far aber than Croker; anu ~
has the faculty OF using honest men anu Ie.o'a.,
movements for his purposes that makes nm, a.
least in the opinion OF rural voters, ma" ~, Nv
dreaded hundredfold more than Crokei, s,o r;tS
cannot understand why he is In such taVor WIN
Mayor Strong. 1t Is well known tnat ne was ~
consultation with Mr.. Gilroy personaiy anu
through Maurice j. Power Ior H@onsns mouth ., ravos'
election with a view to combining FORCES III iavo1
~ the nomination for Mayor OF that emhenuy
respectable hgurehead. Frederic r. Coudert Iney
also know that the reputation Oh MI: E.so' o,s ~
the Tammany Executive Committee was the sole
reason FOR Mr. Grace's retirement from the pro-
posed alliance with Tammany Iney KNOW, iut
thermore that he opposed the Committee OK
SEVENTY from the beginning and tried his best TO
make the labors OF that body terminate IN iall.
ure In order that. by having Repunncan
straight ticket OF Mr.. Platts selection In the held
he might still be enabled to make terms with the
Wicwam Ii Is n knowledge OF these facts that
nernIeyrs the representatives OF the country dis
tricts and makes them listen to Mr.. Platts coun.
sci when he advises opposition TO the New-York
Reform bills
There is really no Republican opposition worth
mentioning here to these reform measures OUT
side OF what has been stated, except that aris-
ing from honest difference OF opinion on the
Police Commission bill The Police Justices bill.
for example would have been passed long agN
In spite OF Mr. Patt II the Republican Senators
and Assemblymen had felt assured that Mr.