The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-05-16
BIG FEUD IN SIGHT,
GID CAarPAIGNERs LOOK FOR
SHARP WORK AT ST. LOUIS.
WILL HISTORY REPEAT ?
rrhe Commune II inc Anti-1IcEZinIey
Leader. Ts--,ected to Make the Far
FIy-Are Fierce FighteEa-

NEW. YORK. Nav 15.-O1d campaigners
/ on both sides Of the political renee, Lhe
men who have been participants IN nallonal
/ conventions for the past two decades agree
that the Republican convention at St. Louis
/ viii engender a feud which VIII uahe hIst
rank among the internal political wars OF
/ the century
Platt, Quay CIarkson and Manley are
camping on the trail Of the ONO man. ana
I the capacity of these four men to Work IN
( jury to any political aspirant cannot be
doubted Particularly does this apply TO
Platt and Quay. What their tactics at the
81. Louis convention viii be cannot pc
speculated upon, except on the general
lines that they will exert every trick OF
the craft to wreck the nomination Of the
Ohio statesman
In glancing over the careers Of these
leaders and the careers Of their preQeces-
sors, history shows quite clearly that the
power Of a great boss is usually exerted IN
q negative direction. In other WORDS, the
big boss starts out with some pet project
OF his own and when he discovers the
impOssibility OF forcing it to successful
issue ne merely uses it as a club to batter
away the plans of the men who wrecked
his own hopes not caring who reaps the
harvest as long as these particular enemies
are defeated.
It vas the same when Alexander Ham
flton defeated Aaron Burr for the Presl
dency and practically awarded the plum TO
Thomas Jefferson Henry Clay and Daniel
Webster, both OF them logical candidates
for many years. were repeatedly thwarted
in their Presidential efforts by the machina-
tions Of political enemies John Sherman
could tell even more than he wrote in his
book about the same thing If he were so
inclined. James G. Blaine's life was en-
Uttered BY warning bosses viii the power
Of the bosses be strong enough to stem
the tidal wave which is due to sweep the
ST. Louis convention. Not one political
bettor in a hundred has put up money en-
the bosses end.
PLATT'S MANY DEFEATS
It's a curious thing that Platt's career
has been a string OF defeats. Plat laid
elaborate plans for the carrying Of New
York State for his party in 1892. ana he
was almost laid on the shelf for his pains.
Yet, when he had run the risk and had
gained the first victory he funked in the
final struggle and the State went Cleve-
lands way with a striking majority This
was because Platt was opposed to the nom
nation Of Harrison. He espOused the
cause Of James G. Blaine in the Minneap-
oils convention. and worked with all the
fervor of his strength to land the Plumed
Knight winner. and when be failed New
York State did not poll the Harrison vote
that was expected.
1t was in 1890 when New York was work
ing to get the Worlds Fair, that Platt be
gan laying his pipes for carrying the State
While The merchants of, the city we're
moving heaven and earth to get up sub
scriptions and make an imposing show at
Washington. Platt began his undermining
work. Tt was necessary to have the State
Legislature pass @ aD.uyy.UUO appropriation
bin for the fair in addition TO the $4,000 600
raised by the city 50 that the New York
delegation could 80 to Washington with
SO, 0OO. 900 at its back But the Legislature
wore the Platt collar. and he held the
bill up.
AFRAID OF THE FAIR.
He asserted that if New York city had
that vast sum Of money to spend, with
Tammany Hall la complete control of the
local Offices, here would not be one chance
in q hundred of the State going Repub-
hcan in 1892. This made even Depew and
the other Republican leaders storm and
rave. They acknowledged it was politics.
but it was politics at the price of patriotism
New York was then regarded as the pivotal
State, and Plat was firm He was threat
ened with political extinction. but the
threats had no effect. He held up the bill,
and the Chicago boomers made such good
use Of it that they got the fair If Blaine
had secured the nomination in 1892 there
might have been a different ending to the
Presidential struggle as far as New York
State was concerned
QUAY'S MANY FIGHTS
1t would require many columns to de-
scribe all Of the political defeats Of the