Evening star., 1895-04-02
GOING FOR PLATT
Mayor strong's Action in Regard to
the Police Commissioners.
IT'S BEARING ON NATIONAL POLITICS
Stripping the Republican Leader Of
Power in New York City.
HILL LAY INTE r FE r z

Politicians familiar with the situation in
New York city see In Mayor Strong's re-
quest for the designations of Police Com
missioners Kerwin and Murray new and
very important move in the contest in
progress there between the mayor and
Thomas c. Platt. Both of the commission
ers obtained their places through Mr..
Platt's influence, both are his warm per-
sonaI friends, and both have assisted him
in recent years in party work in the city.
The Platt faction charge, indeed, that it
is for this reason, and for this reason
only. that Kerwin and Murray are to be
obliged to walk the plank.
Going for Mr.. PIntt.
This explanation puts Mayor Strong in
the attitude of having at last taken the
aggressive against Mr.. Patt. Up to this
time the boot has been supposed to be on
the other leg. Mr.. Platt has been repre-
sented as openly fighting the mayor. The
charge has been that he wanted and would
have control of the principal patronage of
the town, or he would checkmate Mr..
Strongs whole municipal program. He
would work to this end both in the town
and at Albany before the legislature, and
in one way or another. and at one place
lht OtueT, DTlHS tue mayor 10 u malt Inc
mayor has appeared to be passive, or at
least non-resentful. If he has failed to
put Platt men in Office. the men he has ap-
pointed have commanded SO much approval
the Platt criticism of them has been some
what blunted. But now comes what is
construed to be challenge on the mayors
part. He is thought to be moving distinct
ly on Mr.. Platt's works. He will not only
not appoint Platt men to office, but he will
remove the friends of Mr. Platt who may
be already in office. 1t looks like war to
the knife. and the knife to the hilt. The
action taken is construed here, and
future developments will be watched with
interest.
National Bearing.
This municipal contest Is represented as
having in some measure national bear
ing. Mr.. Platt is man Of national conse-
quence and has national irons in the fire.
His power, of course. is as the recognized
leader Of the New York republicans. His
place as leader has several times been dis
puted, but never very successfully. He has
managed to hold his own in all the fac
tional lighting, and in presidential years to
have q controlling voice in the party's del
egation to the national convention. He has
accomplished this by the usual agencies
with which party managers operate. His
friends in office through his influence have
assisted him in securing delegates and then
In the further activities at the convention.
And so the question arises. What power
has Mr.. Platt outside of such agencies?
Has he any at all? What will he be able
to accomplish next year on his own ac-
count If Mayor Strong has determined to
strip him. and does strip him, of all pat
ronage in New York city? The city, it is
explained, while not republican strong
hold. is yet very valuable territory for a
republican leader to control In the work of
making up the state delegation to a ma
tional convention. For convention purposes
delegates are as valuable from that quar-
ter as from quarter controlled by the re-
publicans on election day. So. If Mr.. Platt
Is to lose his power In New York city, or
even suffer partial loss of it, to what ex-
tent will it cripple him both at home and
abroad?
Mayor StrOns's Object.
There is not much stock taken here in the
stories ascribing to Mayor Strong aims and
ends Of his own in the rational arena He
is charged with fighting Mr.. Platt, because
he. Mr. Strong, is opposed to Mr.. Reed for
President, and suspects Mr.. Patt of the in
tention of setting up the pins in New York
for his fayorite. And there goes with this
the story that Mr.. Strong, being an Ohio
man by birth and training, favors west
ern man for President, with Mckinley pre-
ferred, and wants New York counted In
that list. The conservative opinion is that
Mayor Strong has SO far done nothing to
warrant any such imputations on his
duct. Those VINO approve his course point
hand, and to the difficulties that confront
him. He is pledged to give the town good
government, and to a large extent nom
partisan government and to do this re-
quires him to pursue a course which, in the
nature of things, must bring him now and
then into conflict with those whose whole
activity in public affairs is partisan ac-
tivity. He could not his friends declare,
avoid, If ne would. an occasional collision
with Mr.. Platt, who is at all times parti-
san leader. That matters may take turn
now not in the mayors original program.
his friends admit. But they hold MIR. Platt
responsible. They say that Mr.. Strong
must take cogniZance of all efforts to balk
his purposes, from whatever quarter they
may come, and must proceed against those
who make such efforts his enemies and
balk them whenever he can. And they
think that such Will be his policy from now
on
Hill May Take n Hand.
This latest move is considered mo-
mentous fer another reason. If it may be
accepted as a thrust at partisanship, re-
sentiment, it is believed, will be shown by
10th parties. The machines will be obliged
to make common cause, and the friends of
Senator Hill, as well as those Of Mr. Platt,
must take the field against the mayor
The Star a short time since quoted from
reliable New York source to the effect that