Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1895-05-30
pLATT INTERVIEWED
uNBoSOMs HIMSELF ON MATTERS or
CURRENT INTEREST.


Thomas c. Platt is one Of the half
dozen best known men in the United
States, yet perhaps but half understood
On one of the days off in this week in
truded upon his rest at the Fifth Ave
nue. hotel. where he occupies of the
south rooms ON q floor high enough to
receive the sun in its afternoon glow.
His tall, long limbs and long trunk
and Americanized English Puritan fea-
lures with beard would become military
IS well as civil clothing.
The snatches of conversation which
follow have been weeded of incidental
isms:
Eyes, we have a state election next
fall. Although the Republican party
achieved a great victory, it may not
carry the state in this subelection. If
Strong were TO run for mayor this fall,
he would have a big defeat. Strong /
knew very little about. he was the
president of a bank. He has broken
promises all around. He has brought in
men from other states and made a
dumping ground of them in New York,
which is resented by the political forces.
Governor Morton has net satisfied
me. / think the conditions under which
ne accepts a political preferment ought
to be as good as any other promise. Mr..
Morton hesitated about accepting. He
did not know that his age and health
would let him serve. His wife was IN
derstood to be opposed to his re-entering
politics. She has a family of daughters
coming on and thought that these two
years should be spent in New York
city. / think what you say is perhaps
true-that she has the force of the fam
lily. My luck in sustaining public men
has been often adverse. However, I
think that Governor Morton can obtain
the support Of New York state in the
presidential convention if he wishes to
be q candidate. He has told me that he
does not want to run.
"you ask me about the police COM
mission Roosevelt is q rich man, with
some force of character. I think that
Roosevelt is more Of a Mugwump than
O Republican. Fred Grant has his IA
theirs quality Of courage.
1.-The police Of New York city under
the bipartisan commission Of late times
has been an effective force. I admit the
irregularities which were brought out
by investigation, but they do not show
worse conditions than in a fairly good
army. The tips received by the police,
which are given in all civilized capitals,
struck the police like brides.
1.-The commencement of the attacks
upon me was from the Milholland or
ganization. Milholland was a reporter
under Reid ON The Tribune.
"You asked me whether Milholland
did not piece out the Harrison ticket
in 1888. Yes, entirely SO. President
Harrison, like many of the men / have
had an understanding with, did not
keep his word, and after he was nomi-
mated l went up to Senator Washburn's
house, where L was stopping in Mime
apolis. Most of the New York delega-
tion also left the convention hall.
Twenty-seven delegates were left to act
for ~. They nominated Mr.. Reid, who
brought the indignation Of the labor
vote down upon the ticket. But I do
not think Harrison could have been
elected in any event.
General Horace Porter, as you say,
had been generally a regular in Repub-
lican politics. But he is surrounded by
the influence Of the Union league, which
is a club and not controlled by the rec
iprocities and amenities Of politics.
Here and there an editor succeeds his IA
ther, who has come ont of some college
and is likewise a club unto himself.
These persons of leisure and amateur
character find it natural after such a
victory as we had last fall to prosecute
some collaboration. / expect nevertheless
to control the next state convention.
by the way, most of the persons
who are now fighting me were persistent
opponents Of President Grant. When
one man is attacked too much, there is
a revulsion in this country. People sin
cerely believed that Grant was a drunk
ard and corrupt and under bad influ-
ences and a machine politician who
are now among the contributors to
build him his tomb.
"As to the business conditions, while
they are active here in the east, we
must first get a crop Of grain and other
things ont Of the ground-wheat, beef,
etc. -before we shall feel safe. Things
are no better than they We're in the far
ther west out on the Rocky mountain
plains.
"Mr. Quigg, editor Of the New York
Press, was almost mutually brought up
by me and by The Tribune newspaper.
His model Of an editor is the editor Of
The Tribune. He is a smart fellow. He
has excellent powers Of elocution and
address. His newspaper has not been
abusive Of me. He has time yet before
him, but at present is flushed by his
success. l was told in Washington the
other day that his hesitancy about sup
porting Mr.. Reed for speaker is hat he
thinks he may be speaker himself of
congress. A senator said to me that
Quigg had replied to a suggestion that
he did not yet know whether he would
run for speaker of congress or for gov
ernor of New York.
:You sneak about recovery i'm the