The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-12-27

messenger wiIl~be here at noon with
copies OF their designations and prob
ably a letterto you giving their rea>
sons for resigning''
| Governor Cornell started back with
establishment and seemed stunned for
q moment. Welt asked the COVER
nor, what Is to- be-, done?''
don't know what Is to be DONE
except to send for Sharpe and the
other friends We have here and con-
suit as TO the best line Of action.
nave got to return to my mothers
funeral, and will be able to do nothing
| In this matter until after next Friday
The resignation Of the two senators
and long letter showing the alleged
duplicity OF the president. his alleged
alto the New York organization and
destroy 1T, were read in the legislature
tnat AFTERNOON. They created ire
mcndous sensation The administra-
ton organs denounced the two sena-
tors and said they had gone into pri-
vate HE, where they belonged. The
imperfous Conkling was regarded as
the leader In this step. Mr.. Plat, In
| editorials and cartoons, was dubbed
Me TOOL! He was usually pictured
as q small boy, sticking out Of Mr..
Conknng's coat tail pocket, with the
/ hands.
WEEk OF 1NDECISION.
1t appears that when Conkling and
riatt resigned neither had any inten-
/ ton OF seeking reelection as a vindfca-
ton of their course. They followed a
week or indecision. The idea Of re-elec-
tlon was forced upon the senators by
the FEDERAL Office holders whom they
were seeking to protect and by the
home.
1t was clear that with Conkling and
Platt out OF the senate and half-breed
senators In their places the machine
would be absolutely at the mercy OF
the administration, and that Conkling
ana Piatt both owed 1t to the organi-
Zatlon to have their course approved
pY the legislature and to return to their
posts. senator Plat was very loath
70 seek reelection. He thought If
SonKllng We're reelected that would
De suf11c1ent, and as his share offered
- pay out OF his own pocket the ex-
penses or the canvass at Albany for
the reelection of Senator Conkling and
some other stalwart colleague.
| Cenkilng and Plat came to New
IorK on saturday, May 81, and their
| loyaI followers rallied around them
a. Cne flItn Avenue hotel. while half
preed enemies hooted them in the
] streets- "A council of war was held
the next day Sunday at the house
| OF vice President Arthur. This CON
ference was Undermine whether
Conkling and Plat should seek re-
elecilon. 1t was attended by the vice
president, Senators Conkling and Plat.
arthur b. Johnson, of Utica; Marshal
Payn, Marshal MacDougall former
insurance Commissioner John +.
Smyth, State Senator r. H. Strahan.
| speaker George H. Sharpe and Police
| Commissioner French.
A FAMOUS CONFERENCE.
The sentiment In favor of going to
Albany and making the, fight ). was
almost overwhelming. Mr. johnson. of
Ollca' presided and each man present
arose and gave his views on the stu
ation Conklfng strolled about the
room, constantly winding around his
nnger, unwinding and winding again.
a piece of thread, as was his habit
When he was restless or nervous
Leaving Conkling and Platt out of the
discussion, the conference was unani-
| nous that the senators ought to secure
! q reelection with the exception of
Marshal Payne. He declared that in
his opinion the effort would. result in
IaaIufe, because a whole week had
| elapsed without any policy being de-
cided upon and much ground had been
lost In consequence of indecision He
was accused by Speaker Sharpe, Of be-
ing d1sloyal to the senators. Mr.. Payn,
with some asperity. pointing at Mr.
| Sharpe, said: When some Of the men
who are now talking of disloyalty have
turned tail and deserted, I will be
found in the front rank trying to win
this cause, Tt Is now a. quarter to
| o'clock. I start for Albany on the. g
o'clock train"
Senator Conkling, as long as he lived,
called Mr.. Payn 1.-THE Prophet" be-
cause Mr.. Sharpe was one of those who
dropped away in obedience to pressure
from his constituents long before Mr.
Plat had withdrawn and Conkling had
been beaten. At this famous confer
ence there were some apprehensions as
n to the sincerity Of Gov. Cornell in the
NOV cement. The governor had been in
vited to the conference, but he did not
come. His explanation was that he
had missed the train. The suspicion of
the stalwarts hiatt the governors heart
was not in the cause, was soon verified.
Platt and Conkling always accused him
OF insincerity, and it was the beginning
of the end of Cornell
The fight which followed at Albany
is famous in the history Of the state.
The hope1essness Of the effort to re-
from the beginning. Their forces grad
ually dwindled away The contest
dragged along through May, June and
into July, long after the president was
shot, and it finally terminated in the
election of Lapham and Miller to sue
sick Of politics when Arthur broke with
him by refusing. to, appoint Payn col
lector, moved to New York and prac
ticed law with great success. =. Platt
continued to devote his attention to
politics as well as to business. He
held his congressional district, although
living in New York at the time, and,
inch by inch, step by step, although
holding no public position, by sheer
force of industry and political skill,
forced himself to the front, and GER
tainly for ten years he has been the
dominating factor in the state.
EPOCHS IN PLATT'S CAREER.
He has fought, dickered and COM
promised the whole way. but for the
most part he has fought. The defeat
of Conkling and Plat was followed by
the downfall of Cornell when he was
seeking a renomina ton One article
In the Herald drove him to private
life. Then came the nomination of
F'olger, and the result made men Won
der If there really were any Republi-
cans left in the Empire State.
Arthur succeeding to Garield's place
as president. set up in politics for him
self and sought to be nominated at
Chicago In 1884. Platt was for Blaine,
strange as 1t may seem, and Blaine
! was nominated, while Arthur went to
join Cornell among the disappointed.
II Then came the nomination of Ira