The herald., 1896-12-30
JOSEPH HODGES cHoArE AND THOMAS COLLIER plArr

promises to be the fiercest In the history
OF this state. Platt Is a born fighter; he
has been a leader for forty years. and he
has suffered more defeats, perhaps than
any other political general in the nation.
Choate IS nothing of a politician. In the
% years of his active life he has never
tried for public office, and he has never
been associated with the political strug-
giles of his party.
TWO unique personalities, both force.
full. eminent and opposite, are thus
brought into conflict 1t has been said
that Platt governs the new state legis-
lature, with its 151 Republican member. !,
to man. OF course, if this were SO, the
battle would be over. Against an ordi-
nary opponent it would doubtless be
true but with man of Choate's emf
nence and power to combat Platt's
power would be problematical. Neither
Platt nor his friends are over-conf1dent;
too many political upheavals have pass
ed before his gaze for him to fail into the
error of empty optimism.
Choate goes into the fight without the
shadow of machine strength behind him.
but 1t Is surmised that before many days
elapse he will have the full strength of
the new administration at his back
Mckinley and Platt do not chime. Han
ma and Platt watch each other like rival
Indians on the warpath. The Mckinley
league of this state has already begun
the war for Choate. Parkhurst and his
vast following of reformers of all shades
are against Platt. Two years ago Park
hurst said, PLAT is worse than five
Crokers," and to Parkhurst that meant
the very pinnacle of condemnation. But
under the crown of Platt's hat the state
machine works.
NEARLY THE SAME AGE.
There is only years difference be-
tween the ages of Platt and Choate. The
latter vas born at Salem, Mass, Janu
airy "a. 1852. Platt was born year later
in Tioga county, New York. and he looks
his full age. Choate looks like a man Of
So A short distance off he would pass
for man of 80. He. is six feet tall, .len-
derly built, his brown hair has scarcely
streak of gray, there are few seams or
wrinkles in his face; he has the physical
energy of giant and the mental endur-
ance of machine.
Platt Is always haggard and worn. His
face Is sunken and pallid. He walks
slowly, always with stoop, and he has
much the look of consumptive. His
| thin, short beard Is almost cold white,
and the little hair he has left is even
whittier. His portraits give him an alert,
active lock that is evidently summoned
for the occasion.
Choate, who is q nephew of the great
Rufus Choate, graduated from Harvard
in 1859. and put in two more years in the
Dane Law school His native town in
New England did not promise much in
the way Of legal scope. and \ ter two
years of hollow success, he came to New
York to take a place among the super
numeraries of the law office of William
/, M. Eva1ts. In time he became member
of the firm, which today reads Evarts,
Choate g. Bea,nan. This firm is credited
with receiving fees to the amount of half
a million a year, and the biggest share
of them goes to Choate. Long ~ Mr..
Evarts ceased to be an active worker
for the firm. and today his connection
with 1t is but trifle more than nominal.
IS WORTH $4,000, coo.
Mr. Choate is worth at least 81, 600 goo,
every penny of it earned by the internal
sweat of his brow. He has made his for
tune, and now he is eager to give up at
least 100000 G. year for seat in the
senate, where the pay Is infinitesimal in
comparison So it is clear that Choate
is not looking for office for what there is
in it.
Platt's ambition to return to the sen-
ate is species of political romance.
Seventeen years ago Platt was candi-
date for the senate. President Garfield
was to be inaugurated in the following
March, and he was opposed to Platt be-
cause Platt had fought his nomination,
just as he fought the nomination of Nc
kinley at the ST. Louis convention. The