Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-04-04
The Embarrassment to Him of the
Present Faetional Fight.
CLAIMS OF PLATT and STRONG MEN
The Governor Pursues a Middle
Course. Seeking Harmony.
POSSIBLE EFFECT OF A BREAK

Governor Morton is the enc feature of the
republican row in New York commanding
sympathy as well as keen interest among
politicians here. An excellent man, by gen.
eral admission. and very capable one;
elected by an Overwhelming majority upon
a platform of specifications and anxious to
see every promise made by his party re-
Deemed he yet finds himself at the outset
of his administration between two hot
factional fires, and, as a result, in some
measure unable to follow lines of his own
choosing. On the one side are the followers
of Mr.. Platt demanding one thing. and on
the other the followers of Mayor Strong
demanding the other thing. Agreement be-
tween the two factions seems impossible.
Consultation, mediation, everything has
been tried to no purpose. Mr.. Piatt holds
out, and Mayor Strong holds out, and SO
far Governor Morton has been left with
the bag to hold.
What Both Sides Say.
The situation is conceded to be trying.
The followers of Mr.. Plat insist that Gov.
Morton owes his nomination and conse-
quently his election to him. 1t was Mr..
Platt, according to them, who made the
Morton organization throughout the state
last year. and put to rest the dozen or more
little gubernatorial booms that then were
Morton was Mr.. Platt's candidate, and
swept the deck with ease There is no at
tempted foreclosure, but now and then a
note of complaint is heard from the Platt
camp. The feeling seems to exist there
that the governor is not helping Mr.. Platt
as he should, that with the governors ac-
tive aid the Platt cause would easily tri-
umph. The followers of Mayor Strong re-
pudiate all this. The nomination and cleo
ton of Mr. Morton were a part, they claim,
of the general movement in New York last
year, which demanded a new order of
things under a new leadership. Mr.. Nor
ton would have been elected governor, and
Mr.. Strong mayor, they assert, if Mr.. Platt
had taken prolonged sleep or gone on a
trip to Europe. The result at the polls was
an uprising of the people, which Eo one
man caused directed.
The followers of Mayor Strong insist that
Gov. Morton owes Mr.. Platt nothing. The
governors DUTY, as they think. is to stand
by the spirit of the movement which put
him into office, and also by the men who
were invested with official responsibilities
at the same time. The natural union is
ana the reform mayor, and unless this is
formed the full fruits of last November's s
victory will never be gathered
Holding "a Middle Course.
Gov. Morton has been holding a middle
course between the two factions. He is in
communication with both, and so far as is
proper advises both. He is working for har-
mony. though far without success He
tones down the Piatt assaults on Strong
and the Strong assaults on Platt. He rec
ogniZes the good qualities of both men, as
also the fact that unless the warfare ceases
the party will be irreparably injured in the
state. With Strong machine in operation
in the city and Platt machine in opera
ton in the country counties, republican
ruin would Seem to be all but guaranteed
There are different interpretations put
upon Gov. Morton's attitude. For one
ching, he is charged with an ambition to be
President. This is quoted to explain his
dis.nclination to break outright with Mr..
Piatt, while refusing to go all lengths with
him. He is afraid, it is said. of Mr.. Platts
power with the old machine. Nothing that
Gov. Morton has said is quoted in justifica-
ton OF this charge, and it is thought to
rest solely upon suggestions that grew out
of the present personnel of the New York
republican leadership.
Gov. Morrison as a Leader.
Gov Morton is now the most prominent
leader in his party at home He is, in fact,
the sole survivor of the old leaders con-
sidered available for action. Mr. Evarts
has permanently retired from politics. Mr..
Hiscock was never considered a presiden-
tial quantity. Warner Miller is occupied
with his interests in the Nicaragua canal.
Chauncey DepeW, it is said, is now con-
vinced that the country will not go to a
great railroad office for candidate for the
presidency The younger men have not as
yet sufficiently developed. Sloat Fassett
and Congressman WadSworth and Payne
are promising, bur without 4 national fol-
lowing.
Mr.. Morton is at the head. Like good
wine, he has been improving with age. He
has gone from one great Office to another,
ard has served in all with equal distinction
and success. His friends believe that not
withstanding his present embarrassments,
and regardless of what the final issue NAV
be between Mr.. Platt and Mayor Strong.
he will win fresh and conspicuous honors
as governor of New York. The task they
think, is pat to his hand. The demand is
for a level-headed man of business, who
will straighten out tangles in the states
affairs. Mr. Morton is, first of all, bus
mess man, and when he gets fairly to work
the effect, It is predicted. will be speedily
observed. This, his friends say, is the full
scope of his present purposes and desires.
He wants to meet the expectations of the
people who elected him governor. The rest
he is willing shall develop along lines
natural in the circumstances.
Effect of IL Break With Plntt.
Some old campaigners are of the opinion
that If Mr.. Piatt should break with Gov
e,nor Morton it would make presidential
race for the governor impossible. This is
predicted upon the proposition that Mr..
Platt, as manager of the old organization
in the state. could prevent the selection of
Morton delegates to the national -conven-
ton. This view, however, does not COM
mend itself to everybody. 1t is thought to
make Mr.. Platt too potent in a national
sense. 1t seems to put the issue in Mr.
Flats hands. AS many of Mr.. Morton's
friends view the matter, the question for
the national convention to decide. If it
should take that turn, will be the general
approval in New York of Mr.. Morton and
not Mr. Platts approval. Has he made
good governor? Are the people satisfied
with his course? Then, if New York is to
be recognized the Morton men believe that
will ha nina tod hat f1,nr
the state delegation may be supporting
him not. Mr.. Platt. if he wants to ride,
will be obliged to get up on the band
wagon.
Meanwhile the talk continues that Mr..
Platt is for Reed: that the New York dele
CATION, If he can control it, will support
the Maine candidate; that Governor Nor
ten, by making common cause with Mr..
Platt, could hope only to become his sec
ond choice for President; and much more
of the same speculative character. No
theory seems to be barred.