The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-02-18
PLATT AT WAR WITH STRONG.
THE EN-BOss AND HIS FOLLOWERS
HOLD 4 POWWOw.

The Attendance Fails to Come N 90
Their ENpectationS-Fhe Mayors
Refusal 90 FIu the omecs with
PIatrs HeeIerS the Ground Of
Their CompIHint-No More Reforms
Bills 10 Bc Passed at Albany.
New York Feb. 1.-THE much heralded
conference OF republican senator's assem-
blymen. committeeman. and leaders called
by Thomas c. Plat at the Fifth Avenue
hotel was not a marked success. n Il may
be judged by the number In attendance.
Regarded as a demonstration of indignant
republicans dissatisfied with the action oe
Mayor Strong Ia refusing TO heed the coun-
sells OF Mr.. Platt. the affair was not up TO
expectations. The conference was held
behind closed doors. but enough OF tho
proceedings leaked out 70 indicate that
from this time on the followers OF Mr..
Plat are to wage bitter war against tho
reform mayor Of this city.
it was pretty well understood that Nit.
Platt intended TO show Mayor strong how
unpopular We're his appointments. tie in
tended 10 impress the mayor with the adj
visibility OF not taking such important
executive steps without first consulting
with the sage Of Toga. TO this end MIR.
Plat caused 20 be invited TO meet him az
the Fifth Avenue hotel to-day an the re-
publican senators and as8emblymon. tho
officers aud members Of the state COM
mittee, and such other men of standing In
the party who 40 was supposed might hs
prevailed upon TO attend. II was calcu-
lated by Mr. Platrs followers that at
least 100 republicans would respond 10 the
call. and parlor -. r.. the largest apart
ment IN tho Fifih Avenue hotel. was en-
gagged. They were actually present four
state senators ont Of rs. four assembly
men, only eight legislators Ia all. Theirs
We're plenty of Mr.. Platts local leaders
on hand az the hotel. Among them We're
two Justices Jacob Paterson. eX- POST
master Cornelius Van C0tt. John II. jun
ner, q. W. Wanamaker, Amasa Thorn-
ton, G. w. Anderson and others These
men seemed TO expect great results Of the
conference, and they surged about among
the less prominent republicans In tho hotel
corridors an hour or two before the lime
set for the conference TO meet. when &c
was seen that the number of conferees
was so small, II was decided 10 hold the
meeting In a room adjoining Mr. platts
quarters on the fourth floor. When all
were inside the door WAS carefully locked
and 1t was found just thirteen Invited
guests We're present and with Mr.. Piatt
and his son Frank, the total number was
fifteen. Those present were: Senators
Lexow OF Rockland, kilburn OF Essex.
Coggeshall of Oneida and Donaldson OF
t1hidANEAs Assembly ~ AfIAuNt HAdillls
Hoops, and Wilkes, all of New York;
Charles W. Hactett of Utica, chairman OF
the state cOmmlttee Congressman-elect
B. -. Odell, chairman OF the executive
committee; William l.. Proctor OF Og-
densburg, Congressman Lemuel u. Qulgg
and Edward Lauterback. chairman OF the
republican county committee. After the
meeting had been In session some time,
Alderman M. w. X. Olcott arrived and
was admitted.
Kings county was not represented.
Speaker Hamilton Fish and Danforth
Ainsworth, the republican leader IN tho
assembly. were not present
The consultation lasted most Of the af-
ternoon. Mr. Lauterback was the first
one TO come out. He refused to say what
had taken place or what programme had
been agreed upon When the others came
down, they were equally reticent. Tv
all questions put TO Mr. Hackett, Mr..
Odell and others they referred the re-
porterB to Mr.. Platt Mr. Platt refused
TO say anything.
In spite Of the alleged bond OF secrecy
which was placed on those present, the
main facts Of the conference soon leaked
out. Mr.. Lauterback acted as Mr.. Plntts
spokesman. lie opened the proceedings
with a long speech IN which he detailed
the several reasons why MIR. Platt found
fault with Mayor Strong. The story OF
how Mr. Plat was led to believe that no
action would be taken without consulta-
tion with Mr. Platt. was told. Mr.. Lau-
terbaclS outlined the methods employed
by Mayor Strong and his friends 10 get
the power OF removal bin passed. and then
said that his appointments under the bill
viii have an Injurious effect upon ths
party. MIR. Lauterback told how he had
gone to the mayor himself only day or
two ago with q list Of good republicans
for appointment TO various places under
the city government and how Mr.. Strong
had absolutely refused 10 consider any oc
them.
After the situation had been thoroughly
discussed 1t was decided 20 hold another
conference at Albany next Tuesday. Mr.
Platt will be there and those present to-
day. and as many other legislators as can
be induced TO attend Noses will then be-
counted and programme of action adopt
ed. II was practically decided to-day that
no further legislation advocated by the
committee OF 20 will be enacted at Albany
this session, that the bill to abolish tho
police magistrates VIII be hung up. and
will be sidetracked or killed. and In fact,
that the whole power of the state re-
publican machine Will be brought to bear
upon the refractory mayor.
On Tuesday II the sentiment up the state
viii warrant It, q special meeting ofyths
state republican committee will be CALLED
to repudiatc the appointees of Mayor
Strong. and to condemn his actioDfn uams
ing democrats
There was some talk to-day of passing
state power OF removal bill that win
give Gov. Morton an opportunity to MI q
number Of good places held by democrats.
This matter will be decided at next Tues-
days conference.