New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-02-20
A DIsCREDITED BOSS
MIR. PLArrs FORMER ADHERENTs GET.
TING UNDER COVER.
HIS VISIT TO ALBANY ONLY SERVES TO MARK
BY THE GOODNESS OF HIS RECEPTION
THE FALL FROM POWER WHICH
HE HAS SUFFERED.

BY THE GOODNESS OF HIS RECEPTION
THE FALL FROM POWER WHICH
HE HAS SUFFERED.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNEl
Albany Feb 19-The year 1895 will In all prooas
bility be the most memorable in the history OK
Thomas c. Platts eventful life. 1t has witnessed
the climax OF his political career; unless all signs
fail it will behold his rretrievable downfall. It
has seen him attain to heights seldom IL ever be-
fore, held by any machine politician. 1t has seen
him in absolute control Of an Overwhelmingly Re-
nubcan LEGISLATURE in practical control Of the
entire State patronage and In apparent control OF
the Chief Executive Of this imperial Common
wealth II has seen him bowed down to at the
state Capitol and treated with Difference not
usually shown outside royal courts. 1t has seen
him saluted as the Dictator Of the Republican
party, as the power behind the throne, the real
ruler Of the State Government and one OF the
most potent forces in the coming National Con-
vention for the nomination Of a Presidential can
didate.
Less than thirty days ago he visited this city
as the guest Of the Governor. He Is private
citizen, plain business man. but he was greeted
like a king The abj,ct manner in which he
was approached is almost unprecedented in the
history Of American politics. Certainly there IL
nothing ike IL IN the annals OF NeW-1OTk AS
he came out of the elevator" says veracous
chronicer of the OCCASION Into the corridor
leading to the Executive Chamber a group Of
politicians gathered around him with uncov-
cred heads and waited, almost STOPPING, in
semi-circle In front Of him, while he stood erect,
laughing and shaking hands, his glossy nat shin
ing as If new. Several bys,anders noticed the
homage Of the politicians to the leader, and II
made a profound impression upon them This Is
just how Mr.. Platt was treated, and II he mad
desired it the same crowd that bowed ana
smirked to him would have grovelled In the dust
at his feet"
Such was Mr.. PIatt on January 20. ss5-the
monarch of all he surveyed and without single
individual here. seemingly, to dispute his night
to a sway as autocratc as that proclaimed the
other day to the delegation of trembling Rus
slams by Car Nicholas III.
Mr. Platt came to Albany again to-day He
was not accompanied by Governor Morton;
neither did he come as invited guest to the
Executive mansion. His travelling companion
was one Cornelius Van Cott a member OF the old
New-York Republican machine, who is said to
have had more friends in office under Tanmany
Hall than any five OF the local leaders. The
coming OF the boss heralded in the usual
way. and yet, somehow, it created comparatively
station to greet him. and the few friends at the
hotel were fifty represented by that stalwart
remnant Of other days. Lou" F. Payn. Of Co.
mmbia County who Is always in demand when
things are desperate The Legislature went right
on with It's business. and there was a manifest
desire on the part of all the members. including
those who are supposed to be still loyal to MI
Platt's fortunes 10 keep out OF his way. Men
who made up the group that thronged about him
a month ago appeared to be engaged In other pur-
suits and when they came In contact with him II
was simply TO exchange the conventional saiu'a-
tons The grovelling tendencies that marked MS
last visit were nowhere visible. Even his faitntui
henchmen, 10 their mercenary instincts, lndi-
Gated by their familiar greeting that they were
not indisposed to let him understand that they
were entirely aware Of his fallen fortunes and the
great change in the situation -
And what a change 1t ls. IL seems incredioie
to think that three weeks would have brougnt
e. Mr. Plat left here on January ~ with ine
entire Republican machinery OF the state III his
grasp. New-York City and Kings county ha9
been subdued at last. All his enemies seemed
vanquished. The scattering opposition 10 MS
Will was too trivial TO merit attention: Not
murmur Of rebellion was audible In the STATE
lep2rtments The Legislature was luiet ana
docilc He returns to-day in way that sus.
gests the legend Of Napoleons pathetic attempt
to revisit Waterloo on the night after the pa,,
tle-a "somnambulist or vanisreu uteap,
True Mr. Platt met his Waterloo In New YORK;
but the terrible effects Of II are Tore visible mere
at present than In the metropolis Ineie is no
a. nying II: neither can the truth be long con-
ceaed Say what he will, do as ne may p'ease.
te is no longer king. and the Reppoican Coury
Committee will not recognize mis- iact more
quickly and more emphatically than t'.'s LcH.s-
latu~e which was popularity supposed TO be MS
personal property. 49,. NJ,
Plat himself. His lieutenants have canVasseo
both branches. They profess the usuai cot,-
dence In their strength. but they know pertec,y
well that should any attempt be mace 10 inuulse
I'm retaliatory legislation against Mayor Strohs'
as was threatened last week by MI fIatt, thsy
would be beaten by an overwhelming vote IN the
Assembly and the Senate would follow the eN-
ample Of the lower house. The prevailing
sentiment of both houses Is against snor,S snx AZ
reprisa OF any kind. No Senator or Assethoiy
man Of any standng % Is s,rom msaru The remmon
sense of the majority is asserting itself. and the
declaration which Mr.. Ainsworth Is reputed 10
have made to Governor Morton that .ne , rs
semblv must give NewYork all the reform leg
islaton II demands. regardless OF Mayor Stiongs
recent appointments. is the underlying ieenns -
both houses. and the one that Is oound 70 ~
Thus far Mr.. Plat has accomplished httie' IL
anything He has announced no plan Oh an h
pagn; he has none yet formuiateu,, -. ..f"r 80
scarcely recovered his equilibrium. The % unIor
tunate blunders he made last week III ,", cna.sius
Mavor Strong with bad faith, the nisera r.sts
failure OF his indignation meeting al ,ne r,.a'
Avenue Hotel on SUNDAY, ale s,on IN nermitting
the Power OF Removal bill TO go tnrouen' .,.e M
uncertainty OF Governor Morton suppoa, pp,;ms s"
anxiety about Mayor Strong's course regaru,,s h
Police commissioners Murray and kerwih' ths
growing Independence OF the i-esislatuIe an, ,i
-. e., nooLaninp of his own followers have all
cnmb,ned TO disturb his mental serenity ana
prevent him from acting with his characteristic
rooIness and decision. In general way IL may
~ said that he will seek to rally his scattered
forces by prcclaiming war on the Mayor OF
New-York for appointing Democrats. hoping 20
rouse partsan feeling that he may utilize IN
this his dire emergency. That there Is feeling
OF this kind cannot be denied. Republicans do
not like Mr. Scott's appointment They believe
that the Mayor has paid too much attention 10
the claims OF Democrats. but II will require
some other man than one who has been dealing
with Tammany Hall and Dave Hill. as
Thomas c. Platt has for years. to lead them