Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-06
He is Spurred by Quay's Success in
Pennsylvania.
SIMILARITY OF EMBARRASSMEKqS
The Empire Statesman's Presiden-
tiaI Preference.


Mr. Quay's' extraordinary success in
Pennsylvania 10 said to be operating as a
spur to Thomas c. Platt in New York.
and the result. If any. ought to appear at
the approaching republican convention in
the empire state. Mr.. Platt, like Mr.. Quay,
has long held sway at home, and loves
power. He has had his lips and downs
and recently has been rocking in rather a
heavy sea. But he has seen all sorts of
weather, and the present storm has de-
veloped all of his gameness.
Points of Similarity.
There are certain points of similarity be-
tween Mr.. Platt's smbarrassments and
those that Mr.. Quay recently overcame.
Mr. Quay found himself opposed by a num-
Der of his old lieutenants-men whom he
had taught the art of politics. He had thus
been shorn of his former strength in the
two principal cities of the state. The
mayor of Philadelphia and David Martin
blocked the way in the Quaker city, while
Chris Magee an old-time adversary, doni-
mated matters in PittSburg. This describes
a leading feature of Mr.. Platts difficulty.
The men who are making it warm for him
are those who at one time trained under
his banner. They know him thoroughly
and are opposing him earnestly. He Is
charging them with ingratitude, as Mr..
Quay did his old friends, but that Is an
other story. The fact remains that in the
two principal cities of the state Mr.. Platt
is under heavy fire. and but little of his
former power there would appear to remain
to him. In New York city Mayor Strong
and William Brookfeld. commissioner of
public works, are against him, while in
Buffalo his support is reported as being
very weak. Then in Albany, Syracuse and
Elmra the strongest of the local leaders
are on the side of the kickers.
Must Look to the Rural Districts.
Mr.. Platt therefore, like Mr.. Quay must
look to the country districts to save
him. Can he marshal them as Mr.. Quay
did these Of Pennsylvania? Unlike Mr..
Quay. he is not in office. He has no prestige
that comes from office. He has much in
expectancy. If he can secure control of
the New York delegation to the next repub-
Ecan national convention, and throw it ef-
fectively in the nomination of the presi-
Dental candidate, he will be a man of in
fuence with, the next administration pro-
vided the republicans win. This is little
remote and much more uncertain, but
sometimes political managers trade sue
ctssfuily on very shadowy sort of capital.
At any rate, it is all that Mr. Platt has TO
offer to those who can only be attracted to
standard by the hope and promise of re-
ward.
Looking to Next Year.
Mr.. Platt, like Mr.. Quay again. has his
cS 60 hAcu ou next year. lHiS year nynt
Is merely maneuver for position. And
this makes the presidential preference of
the New York leader of interest. Mr.. Platt
v believed to be a Reed man at heart. He
sannot manifest this preference now he
Cause New York has a candidate in Gov.
Morton, and necessarily Mr.. Platt must
champion the home man. How much there
Is or may be to the Morton boom Is a prob
lem. Not great deal of stock Is taken in
1t outside of New York. Gov. Morton has
many fine qualities. and has a strong hold
on the respect of the country, but he Is an
old man, and this may injure him. If his
age should initiate against Gov. Morton SO
as to take him out of the race after a bal
lot or two. then Mr.. Platt would be free
handed. and could swing his followers to
the man Of his choice. And If this support
should go to Mr.. Reed, reinforcing the sup
port of Mr.. Quay with the Pennsylvania
delegation, it would at any stage of the
convention be likely to create pronounced
furry in behalf of the New England candi-
date, II, indeed, it did not lead Immediately
to his nomination.
Working as Never Before.
But Mr.. Platt's fight is yet to pe won
He may not win it. But Mr.. Quay's sue
cess is causing him to work as never be-
fore since he first undertook the manage
ment of political affairs at home.