New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-21
THE PLiTT TANDEM.

n
land is mot in IT. with the Hon. Thomas c.
Platt 1t vas eX-Presdcnt Harrison who re-
marked at the beginning of the present Admin
istration that its success depended upon Mr..
Clevc!and's ability to drive team Of wild
horses. The present condition Of the Demo
cratic party is pretty clear proof that the Wild
horses got away. There is hardly enough left
of the party 10 make funeral procession. But
just look at the way In which Mr. Platt is hold
ing the rclns over not only wild horses, but all
the buckng broncos kicking mules and bray
Ing jackasses that have jumped the traces. split
the whifIletrec, burst the harness and broken
the Democratic chariot into flinders under Cleve-
land. Why. they are pulling together In abso-
lutte harmony as never before, and raising more
dust than ever. the only drawback being that
the dust blinds the eyes OF the jockey without
disturbing the team in the lead.
Then-to relace the fgure-see with what skill
Platt tools that phenomenal tandem team. the
champng foaming, housekeeping "Ncw-iork
Sun and the bucking. kicking and baking
New York Evening Post! The Sun leads of
in the morning with three or four columns of in
spiration. in which Mr.. Patt's views and hopes
and purposes. and many of his deeper emotions.
are set forth in the most charming and AT
tractive manner Later in the day THE Even
Ing Post" follows, with It's ears thrust forward
and its hoofs in the air. pounding Mckinlcy's
rccord-the record which gives Mr. Platt 50 much
pain-and, incidentally. conveying trustworthy
information as 10 Mr.. Platt'S whereabouts and
what great moral enterprise he has been up To
during the day. 1t Is fortunate for Plat as
driver of wild and unnamed stccds that these
two constitute naturally and chronologiray
tandem team. They are not built 70 pull to-
gethcr harnessed pair. II would be yoklng
Pegasus with Rocky Mountain mule. They
would kick the sufing out Of each other and the
driver and everything in sight, and very likely
re-establish chaos But as Il tandem they are
simply great With Thomas in the costume OF
a Roman chariotecr Gaming forward and o.
casonally urging them 10 great bursts OF speed
by his inSpiritlng Hoop la iii. Ill., "NOw,
Boys, one last dash for sound money with
Lautcrbach. Ilaclictt and "Lou' Payn shouting
encouragement. and AmaSa Thornton holding
back his dog from mixing in the melee well. the
Circus MaXimus never was in IL with such
spectacle
Yesterday morning "Thc Sun bubbcd over
with delight because il was reported that Quay
was going to see Mckinley. Not so much be
cause he was going. but because Mckinley had
sent for him. This was indubItablc evidence
that the Mckinley bubble was about 10 burst.
';harlcy' IIackctt took that view ~ IL. and
emitted the most encouraging remarks about II.
Perry Carson, OF Washington, also had organ
tied a barbecue 20 which all the cOlOrcd dele
gates TO 81. Louis had been invited. and there
was no doubt that the barbecue would de-
tach them from Mckinley. Then there was
report. unsigned and trifc shady but full Of
hope that cover half Of the Ohio delegates want
to back away from Mckinley" and most OF the
delegates from Indiana" feeling the same
way. GARRISON, too who has been i'll and IS
not yet convalcsccnt," could not believe that
Senator Quay proposed To visit Mckinley" and
the Cotton Exchange had passed sound money
resolutions, which could mean nothing except
undyng fondncss for Plat and irreconcilabc
hostility to Mckinley. In addition The Sun
called Mckinley Ma or Mumchancc." the "Muz-
zled Man." and the yelled Candidate OF Can
ton" These were telling blows. Along toward
noon the Mckinley column vlsibly shivercd
Later in the day came "'The Evening POST
with It's standing extracts from McKinl'y's rec
ord-a most narrowing recital. though lacking
somewhat in freshness-and with them an Al
bany dispatch conveying the thrilling inc
gcnce that Plat In company with Speaker Fish
and another eminent statesman had called on
Governor Morton, and that Plat appeared in
good spirits" frame Of mind in which the
second member Of the tandem seemed to be In
cordial sympathy. Editorlally 1t chccred Plat
with the assurance that Mckinley, If nominated
would be put upon a platform calculated to de-
ceive everybody, and a general statement that
"all the tendencies Of American politics. are
dreadful, while Congress and the legislatures
"are going rapidly down hill and are likely to
'be worse before they are better" Plat could
hardly ask anything better than that. 1t Is what
he wants.
On the whole this Is about the best tandem
ever put on the road. And as q driver Platt
both holds the reins and takes the cake They
may not come In ahead but they are making lots
of fun for the American people