New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-22
WHY HAS PLATT FACED ABOUT?


HIS EAGERNEss To NOMINATE M'KINLEY IN 1892
DID THE MKINLEY MEN REFUSE HIN
ANY QUID PRO QUo?
To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir Why did Mr.. Plat expend such severe labor
to secure delegates votes for Major Mckinley at
Minneapolis in 1892 If Mckinley is the dangerous
man he would have the country believe now?
The points in McKinley's record that he OBJ
Jects 10 date back Of 1892 Ten Of Platt's
friends in the New-York delegation voted for Nc
kinley at Minneapolis His copartner then and
now. Senator Quay. voted for Mckinley himself
ard carried forty-one Of the delegates from Penn
sylvania with him 1t was the urging of Platt
Clarkson and Quay that induced forty-1ve Ohio
delegates (a except Mckinley HIMSELF to vote for
Mckinley.
Any one who sat the platform at the Mime
apolis Convention just before the single ballot
taken could read Mr. Platts eagerness TO secure
votes for Mckinley as in open book. He left his
seat TO run over and confer with men in the Ohio
delegation, then to Michigan and Illinois, and re-
ceived messages from Quay in the Pennsylvania
delegation. Wherever Mr. Plat had been there
were Mckinley votes cast when that State was
called. There was no conceament Of the pleasure
the votes for Mckinley Plat and his friends
the ballot went on There palpable chagrin on
the face of the New-York leader when Missouri
from which a promise had been made to Plat that
1t would 20 for Mckinley. nevertheless stood 10y
ally by Harrison. and so dspelled the hopes OF the
combination that they could defeat Harrison. Mem
bers Of the NewYork delegation asserted afterward
that 1t had been the intention to poll much larger
vote for Mckinley. but Missouris vote showed Mr..
Plat that his effort to nominate Mckinley had
failed. and so he poled ten of his votes for Nc
Knley and the other thrty-five for Blaine. Several
of the Blaine delegates from NewYork afterward
exprt ssed their Indignation over what they termed
the "bunco game which played on them by the
leader in marching them up to the Blaine bridge
r,l. ting shar1 in he
Knley road.
Why did Mr.. Patt work thus for McKnleys NOM
nation? He has said that 1t was because
McKinley's friends asked him to do so. he says
they asked him In December last to do next month
al ST. Louis. Mckinley asking support for dar-
rison at Minneapolis and for no one else. lie was
no party to the plan Of the combination to put him
in nomination. The disgruntement shown toward
him by Plat. Quay and Clarkson now is all the evil
dence that is needed of this.
Neither has Mr.. Platt ever said that Mckinley be-
came "mortgaged up TO the eyes to him PlatD in
return for his support. he now the Major
has done to the men who supporting him at this
time.
Was it, then. patriotic regard for the welfare
OF the Republican party and the country That IN
nuenced Mr.. Plat? No. Ii might have been, 50
far as the effect of his action would 20. but it
not It was. on the contrary, a viniictve and re-
yengeful purpose to defeat the denomination OF
Benjamin Harrison. President Harrisons rcnom-
nation, 10 Mr.. Platt's mind threatened all sorts
Of disaster to the country at that time. Yet he
would doubtless be glad to nominate Harrison
against Mckinley now. as he tried 10 nominate
Mckinley against Harrison then.
Mr.. Platt alleges that there Is not single
one OF all the who are extensively styled
bosses who has not been repeatedly importuned
by McKnley's managers 10 support the Ohio cand.-
date They have not omitted humble
person as myself from those whose Influence ihey
have sought" But II seems that the Mckinney
managers not asking for support without 0ner-
ing a Quid pro quo. As Mr.. Platt says: 1T * per
fectly notorious that the Mckinley managers have
used all possible Inducements TO secure delegates
has said it, they would scarcely seek the influence
OF considerable force himself without offer
ing him a recOnlpcnse. What did they oner him?
1t strange that Mr. Plat. IN his vndici've
grouping OF material against the Mckinley m.i-
ayers. has not included 50 Effective specification
as their offer 10 him would make.
Is II possible that. In Mr. Patt's case. the Nc
Kinley managers made an exception 10 what he
says is their rule, and, in fact, made no offer OF
compensatory benefits at all? Would that fact IN
itself constitute the peril TO the Republican party
and the country which Mr. Plat so wildly
threatened in Major McKinleys election?
The probability is that Mr.. Platt asks too much
when he offers his powerful support 10 candidate
fof President As a result who ia likely
TO be elected President OF the United states viii
ever be willing to accept his support. 1t Is this
popularity Of character that has cast MI Platt In
the role OF unmaker OF candidates. His present
as did that OF -four years ago at Minneapolis.
AE , ~