New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-02-21
THE THREE REASONS.

THE THREE RE4SONS
The claim that Mr. Thomas c. Platt who "a
not a voter in this city, has the right to control
the appointments and distribute the patronage OF
the municipal administration was never so Doidl!
stated nor the reasons therefor SO clearly set
forth as in the letter published i'll The New-lorh
Sun" of Monday from the man VINO had Ill
unfortunate ancestor in the person or the iate
Thurow Weed This writer Is understood 10
be in close relations with Mr.. Platt, anu HIS
utterances are undoubtedly inspired. 1hey ma!
be considered as Mr.. Platt's own views OF lhe
matter AS such. in existing circumstances 'hes
are interesting. In order that they may be 1uiiy
understood and not forgotten, we make sonic
extracts And first. here Is a calm statemen''
which New-York City Republicans Will 90 wen
10 consider and remember. as TO what Mr.. flat'
holds I'm the palm Of his hand and what he
might have done with it had he been so us
posed Saws the descendant of an unfortunate
ancestor:
Only turn to three months ago and consider
for a moment the situation: certain leader. or
boss" as leaders in our day are termed heiu III
the palm of his hand the Republican position 80 lar
az regarded the nomination or that party ior uie
Uavoraltv of New-York In order that this may
be perfectly conceded. let it be stated II you prefer
in negative way. and to he absolutely delhite' ASH
the question "Who supposes that II MI. Ihoihas =
"Platt had opposed in october last the NOMINATION
"of William l.. Strong for Mayor, Mr.. strong coud
"haye been nominated?' Answer: Nobody In one
sense then negatively. at least. Mr. Piatt created
Mr. strong as a power in municipal politics.
Read il carefully, New-York City Repub-
leans. That is the way in which Mr. fla't
ronrescnts that he created Mr.. Strong rs Il
power in municipal politics. 1t happens not
TO be true since Mr. Platt VIGOROUSLY dld OPP
pose Mr. Strongs nomination. But consider the
complacent assurance Of the claim Holds the
Republican position in this city lin the PAIN OF
his hand" does he? Since when? And who put
il there: The second reason is not less boldly
set forth. 1t is this:
Now. one point beyond Mr.. Plat, had he chosen
by any Of the deft but effective methods "h'cn Il.
is credited with employing. and OF wnich currei.
talk appears TO as though the posseSS,o,' va
these were an original monopoly Win MI ,'',
had he I saw employed any of his alleged piach
arts to smash Mr.. Strong at the polls. VINO oouo''
but that the smashing process WouIu "a'e Do.'
abundantly and picturesquely carrleu mo
practical accomplishment. 10 such an unahs"eiaDio
extent that Mr.. Strong would never nave oee"
eec,ad MAYOR? Answer: Nobody who knows any
thing about our municipal elections. very soo''
then Here We have Mayor who. not 70 put 'oo
fine point on 1t. owes his nomination anu nus ~
ton. negatively at least, 10 the aSOeP'eN ''N' -
the Republican party.
That too deserves careful reading. after
which il may be laid away in memory FOR future
reference if necessary. 1t needs no gloss. Sill
nlv stated. il means that Mr.. Platt had the
mower 10 defeat the candidate OF his own parry
m the polls and did not exercise H. Hence the
Mayor owes his election, and should surrender
his administration to him. Indeed Does Mr.
Platt control machinery in this city by which he
can defeat his own party at the polls! What
sort of Republicans does he use for that pur
nose? And is II because he is unable 10 get this
sort into Office under Mayor Strong that he is
making all this pother here and at Albany!
Does Mayor Strong owe his election 10 MIR. Platt
because that person did not betray him and set
his henchmen to work to cheat him out Of If at
the polls? How long has Platt had this power!
How often has he used it? And TO whose profit
has II Injured? Is this the machinery by which
ne secured the appointment Of two Police Com
missioners? Was 1t knowledge OF his power TO
throw an election" that gave him the control
Of the police printing, by which he bought the
support Of a newspaper: Is it such virtue in
Plat to permit an honest vote and honest count
in a municipal election that he should have
control Of the administration on account OF II!
That is worth thinking about. And the third
reason is this:
As soon as full opportunity is given him TO show
MS hand this opportunity be II further inexoraDly
Understood coming from the acquiescence OF Mr
Piatt, for Mr. Piatt here again. had ne choseh
might have clipped the Mayors wings by sending
one word Albany; soon. say, as full authority
Is granted, what does the Mayor do? He sides
against the who within about three months
has three times, negatively speaking, clothed Mr.
Strong with power.
There is something for legislators at Albany
TO consider with some seriousness Does Mr..
Plat hold the Legislature, too, "in the palm
Of his hand so that "one word from him Is
sufficient to defeat legislation desired by the
great majority Of voters who elected Mayor
Strong? Who put the Legislature OF this great
State so absolutely. so abjectly. In the palm OF
one mans hand that zone word" from him con-
trolls its action? There's food for serious thought
at Albany in that proposition.
The claim made and the three reasons for 1t
are enough TO set honest Republicans thinking
all over the State They are presented with
| calm and confident assurance by Mr.. Platts IN
innate friend and avowed champion. the man
with IAN unfortunate ancestor" and they IN
doubtedly disclose Mr. Platts views OF his own
relations to the politics of this city and It's gov
eminent What can be said Of them but that
they disclose monumental ardaclty without
precedent and imply depth Of political base
ness and civic degradation for which the pages
| Of history furnish no parallel?