The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1895-04-17
The Empire States Disgrace.

That political highwayman, Tom
Platt, has /" held up " the govern nent
of the state of New York and is de-
handing heavy ransom as condition
of release. The seat of his power is
the senate, the republican maj ,rity of
which he is able to control. None of
the measures of reform for the city of
New York, which the republican party
promised, has become law, although
the legislature has been nearly four
months in session. Mr.. Plat is not
able to dominate Mayor Strong and
secure from him hand in making APP
pointments to office. Mr.. Piatt is I'M
able TO reward his lieutenants and
maintain his power unless he can force
the hand of Mayor Strong, so his ul-
timatum is, A hand in the distribution
of the offices and salaries, or no reform
legislation. Governor Morton not long
ago sent strong message to the legis-
lature, urging upon the majority in that
body the duty and importance of
promptly redeeming the pledges made
before election. But Plat seems TO be
more potent than the governor. The
three great measures of reform are still
withheld. Pats heavy hand is laid
not alone on the legislation for the i'm
provement of the government of New
York city. Laws for the relief of Troy
from municipal abuses of the gravest
kind are held up, or laws for the con-
troll of the municipal government of
Albany by Platt's followers are put
forward.
In its present estate, the stu alton in
New York is in the last degree dis.
graceful. 1t is passing strange how a
man of Platt's ignominious record and
character can maintain a dominating
influence over the country republicans
of the proud Empire State. The
Tribune finds the spell in the cohesive
power of public plumber" This is no
doubt true, but it is not complimentary.
Platt has been the distributing agent of
poll. ical funds. He has used this trust,
not for his own enrichment, but for Sc
curing and clinching his grip on the
men he selects to carry out his plans
and execute his mandates. Senators
aud assemblymen, owing their election
to his untoward favoritism, and de
pendent upon his grace for their politi
cal existence, obey his nod as servilely
as the slaves of an Asiatic despot heed
his beck and call. They have no po-
litical freedom or independence. Some
of these legislators are hold-overs."
They are not fresh from the people.
They came from the hand of Platt first,
from the people second, and their first
allegiance is to Plat. The assembly is
fairly independent, but the senate is
servile. Hence Platt has the "drop :"
on legislation. Mayor Strong accepts
the freebooter's ultimatum. There will
be no yielding to Mr.. Platt. If there is
no reform legislation, the republican
party of New York must bear the
odious responsibility. 1t cannot un-
load the burden upon its bette noir. The
black beast" doesn't carry such loads.
But Plat is making the fight of his
life. He is struggling for the main
tenance of his power against an awak-
ened public conscience. He has been
driven into the open, and his odious,
ness is revealed as it has never APP
peared before. Unquestionably, if the
voters could get at him to-day he would
be showed under as deeply as Tam
many was in November. The republic
cans of the New York Legislature may
yet be made to heed Governor Nor
toms wise and patriotic counsels, and
Platt may meet his Waterloo. Compe-
tent observers predict both of these
devoutly. wished communications as the
issue of the pending deadlock. Any
other course would be political stom-
ach-cutting for the party in power.