Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-05-06
NO COME nee.
Alleged Parties to the Gathering
Deny the Story.
MIR. PLATT EXPLAINS His VISIT HERE
So Do Messrs. Foster, CIarkson,
Alger and Payne.
NOT OF PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE

There has been during the last two days
a gathering here of somewhat noted re-
publican politicians but If they are to be
permitted to speak for themselves their
visit Is without public significance. The
politicians are Thomas c. Platt Of New
York. Gen. Alger of Michigan, ex-Gov.
Foster of Ohio. James s. Clarkson Of the
republican national committee, and Mr..
Henry C. Payne Of Wisconsin, who has
long been a prominent political factor in
his state, and who. at times, has had much
to do with the national republican commit
tee. The story which has gained some
sensational currency is that these gentle
men are here in order to come to some
agreement as to the result of which the
candidacy of Gov. Mckinley of Ohio for
the presidency will be promoted. The per-
sonage around whom this conference is
said to center is Thomas C. Platt of New
York, who. 1t Is said, met the other gen.
tlemen by appointment in order that they
might have an opportunity to induce him
to abandon the support Of Thomas B. Reed
of Maine, which they asc-ibed to him, and
to unite with them for Mckinley. The
inquiries which have been made of the
leading principals In this conference do
rot seem to warrant such a conclusion. AT
all events Mr.. Thomas c. Platt denies that
they have had any consultation with him
for such a purpose, or that he came to
Washington by appointment to meet them.
Mr.. Platt. just before leaving for New
York yesterday afternoon, when his atten-
ton was called to the reports connecting
him with such movement. said:
MIR. Platts Denial.
1.-THE story Is all nonsense. There is a
very simple explanation of my visit to
Washington. 1 came over to meet my wife
and family, who have been spending six
weeks in Florida, and I am about to Ac-
company them home. I have seen Gen.
Alger. 1 did not know that Gov Foster,
who is from McKinleys state, was in
Washington. and 1 am not just now en-
gagged in President-making. There are
some other things going on in New York
politics just now which are attracting my
attention"
And what is the outlook in New York
going to annihilate Boss Platt?"
THE report Is not true. They are not
going to annihilate Boss Platt. You hear
a great deal of that sort of thing in the
New York newspapers. You also hear in
those same newspapers a great deal about
the reformers. A gentleman named War
ing-Col. Warng is the title he is known
by-is one of them. You may have heard
something of his doings within the last few
weeks. Mr.. Platt is not to be annihilated.
But you will perhaps. do well not to an
nounce that his enemies are assured of an
escape from annihilation. You can say alb
solutely that there is nothing in the report
that have come here by conference to at
tend an appointment the object of which is
to throw Tom Reed overheard and to nomi-
nate Gov. Mckinley for President"
by that Is it to be understood that you
are firm adherent of Mr.. Reed?'
Mr.. Platt looked at his watch and said:
MY train starts in ten minutes and
have a mile to co.
m he rub Of to
move. Had his train been scheduled to
leave at d later hour 1t is possible that this
question might have been answered. but it
Is probable that it would not have been.
The Others Explain.
The other members Of this alleged con-
ference have rot been very communicative,
but all have some explanation of their pres
ence in this city, If any Is needed apart
from any connection with any pretended
conference. Gov. Foster is simply stopping
over in Washi1 gton On his way home from
the east. He is. of course, for Mckinley,
but he is not personally taking the active
part in Ohio politics which he once did, and
probably has less influence in that state.
Mr.. Foster begins to show some of the signs
of advancing years, but in language, speech
and feeling he appears to be as young as
he was when he first came here, twenty
years ago, aud more.
Gov. Alger answered all inquiries as 10
the cause Of his presence here with a smile,
and the statement that he was just travel
Ing through. Gov. Alger has not made any
public declaration that he has selected any
candidate for the presidency There are
those who think that he has not altogether
abandoned his own aspirations.
Mr.. Clarkson, who has been in New York
of late. says that he has come here to look
after some furniture which has been stored
ever since he was in the Post Office De-
partment, and which, doubtless, needs at
tention by this time. 1t will be news to
many of the friends of Mr.. Clarkson to
hear that he is Inspected of being a party
ination, in view of the declarations which
he has made in favor of Senator Allison.
Why MIR. Payne Came.
Mr.. Henry c. Payne of Wisconsin, an
other one of the gentlemen who were sup
posed to be in this political conference
said:
Il did not know there was to be any con-
ference. 1 have seen nothing of it. did
not know that Gov. Foster was represent
ing Mckinley, or that he was In politics.
i had supposed that his connection with
politics had ended, as mine has. / am not
in politics. / am one of the receivers of the
Northern Pacific Railway Company, and
the business occupies my entire time.
am here to consult the lawyers of the road
The company has a great deal of business
In Washington. l suppose that we have
fifty suits in the United States Supreme
Court, and there a e a great many appli-
cations for patents for land to the company
which have not yet been granted. 1t is
some time yet to the republican national
convention. l don't know that 1 shall at
tend the convention. 1t is a subject as to
W I vet fyix rcl, yl,t