The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-02
PLATT AFTER A ToGA.
He Has worked Patiently Fifteen
Years Cor n Vindication.

New York Special in Chicago Post.
Easy Boss Plat did not want to run
for Governor because it was like going
out of his way to invite trouble. His
present ambition is the Senate, and if the
Legislature is Republican, which 1t will al
most inevitably be, he has a cinch on the
office, whereas, by running for Governor he
could not strengthen and might weaken his
prospects. Plat enjoys a certain amount
OF trouble but he is not a man to build it
up for himself, Just to crafty a passing
vanity. There never was a more supreme
the New York Republican machine at the
present moment. His will is supreme. and
yet it was only a few short years ago that
he was c-ontemptuously known as Me
Too Platt, and recognized as a meek,
lowly and almost abject follower of the
lordly Roscoe Conkling. The latter in his
days of greatest power never exercised half
the despotic sway over the party ~organiza-
ton that the erstwhile Me Too does to-
publicans of New York by fifteen years of
untiring ard skillful manipulation in the
face of the very bitterest kind of opposi-
ton from the most powerful journals and
leaders in his party. He has developed
into a master Of political craft and his lead
ership is acknow LEGGED on all hands.
And all this ceaseless work was undertaken
and patiently performed will the single. OBJ
1ect in view of one day securing at the
sonal vindication to compensate for the
humiliation of 1881, when the Legislature
elected Warner Miller and Frank Hiscock
to succeed Platt and his colleague, Senator
Conkling, in the seats in the United States
Senate from which they had resigned be-
cause of Garfield's alleged peridy. That
Incident seems only yesterday. but a de-
cade and a half have passed since Guiteau's
bullet put d summary end to ;he bitter
struggle at Albany. That bullet killed
Conkling as effectually as it did Garfield,
but Plat has endured to participate in his
until next winter he will be elected to fill
Hills shoes. as sure as fate.
Illustrative of Mr. Platt'S leading char
acteristic, his parsistency. the following
story is told of him which is vouched for
as being true in every particular: When
the famous C~onkling-Platt fight for "vindi-
cation at Albany in 1881 was over and the
resigned Senators were knocked out, the
two Inundated and discounted gentlemen
met to talk it over. II an through with
politics now, henceforth and forever, as
lopS as [ live" said Senator ConkIing as
q summing up of .his purposes. Il am
done Senator Plat sat silent for several
minutes and then said quietly: Il am de-
termined as to my course: from this hour,
henceforth and forever until / die and am
called to my fathers, ] am in politics. /
will stay in politics because | intend to
been building themselves up the last two
months at my expense" He has kept his
word religiously. and one after another of
the men he started after has been bowled
out. His pathway for fifteen years is lined
on each side with the political wrecks of
those who played him dirt that memora-
BILE campaign. The last scalps were taken
yesterday-those of Warner Miller and w.
II. Robertson. who were denied the poor
satisfaction Of representing their own
counties in the State convention.