New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-21
voted to hold its annual meeting and exhibition
Cincinnati.
The exhibition will close to-day.
PLATT'S GAME N NEW-IORh.
HIS POLITICAL METHODS AND THEIR OBJ
JECTS ALWAYS FOR THE BENEFIT
OF PLATT.
your grocer.
Franklin Matthews in Harper's Weekly.


Franklin Matthews in Harper's Weekly
The revolt against Tammany came. as every one
knows in spite Of Plat. and then Colonel S,IplS
elected Mayor. Plat and his cohorts moved on
him and demanded practically violation oil tIle
platform on which he was elected Tia'' %an'eu ~
offered TO show the Mayor how easy IL was 10 De
treacherOus 10 the people lie refused 10 Hste,.
Then they bounded HIM day and night They made
him feel the necessity OF playing politics hmseit 70
defeat them. and then they had him He could not
play politics with them because he could not si9op
the ant!-Platt faction and then they set up howl
t9at ne S w4s }"fbs ng w wanted offices and
who prospect of getting them \ contest
arose for the control of the party machinery, ana
in the dust that was kicked up, aided by lies as TO
the Mayors alleged promises, and In the mystery
Of numerous "conferences,' the Platt men won 10y
a slender majority. Mr.. Lauterbach had acted as
the Plat master OF ceremonies The fall campaign
arrived and Tammany won Sk!liuly ga MI L.du.
tcrbach play the cards that the burden OF defeat
would seem to lie the Strong faction. He wanted
disgusted with the Strong Administration that they
remained away from the polls There Is no Tecord
that Nh Plat and Mr.. Croker met after siectoh 20
congratulate each other but there IS no d2uD 'las
each had won Hass has overreached Himself
lie has not only showed but has proved tnat there
Is no difference between his methods and Croker :.
Get the Offices. get the offices Is the cry OF eac.
Their motives are practically the II Is their
aim to build up political machines ny the use OF
government patronage to their own persona, du-
Vantage The belief is general that Platt at least.
has always spent all the money thar mas conn 70 70
him through his grip on the party machinery II -
a common charge. however. that he has taken cor
porat!ons by tho throat and has forced political
contributions from them Croker gets creuit loi
doing and having done the same. ne Po!tical
methods OF these two men are IDENTICAL w hateNer
difference there may be between them Is simply one
OF degree Not once In their careers has there been
a note of genuine regard FOR the public good Ihere
has been no manifest desire In either TO reduce
public burdens by abolshing useless OFFICES or ny
practising economy In public expenditures. raw
nous terms. They both mean official corruption. be-
cause they both exist simply for spoils
PIatt's political methods are TO be interpreted
along three lines: First ambition for supremacy IN
his party-a legitimate ambition II honest methous
are used second hatred Of reform ana OF good gov
eminent because they interfere with SPOTS with.
ont which. according 10 his theory, parties cannot
e,Ist. third personal vindlcat ion-sOmethng he has
striven for ever since the Me Too days OF Conk-
Flats ambition to rule the party has led IT to
defeat after defeat Finally Republican success
came because Democratic misrue could not be toll
erated longer Cornelius y. Bliss said recently
hat Plat has meant rule or ruin always He has
ruined" in tho State until there IS practcaiIy no
one 10 oppose him. and now he has begun similar
tactics In New-York city. Ii Is now question WIN
city Republicans whether he should not be ruined
Pntt's opposition 10 reform or 10 Legislation sole
" for the public good is not only to be seen in his
Iittca career He absolute control of the Legs
laturc this year. as he had last year what did he
do last year for the people? Ballot reform was
wrung from him. but not until he had made II an
agent in fixing tighter than ever the grip OF party
machinery on the body polite. He refused 70 give
no schools ont OF politics He still refuses 10 give
these reforms He is dealing with the excise
question not a broad principle. but on the basis
81 votes and from the aspect of political blackmai
He Is planning 10 rush a Greater New-lork BIZ
,hromgh The Legislature for the sole purpose of in
creasng his political pck!ngs. In short. he Is max
inc nreclselv the same blunder that Hill. Sheehan
ara Murphy made-that of thinking offensive parti-
sansnP peay the people Even should there be
no bolt against Patt there can he no doubt that he
and his followers are heading straight for the prec,
nice over which Hill. Sheehan and Murphy plunged
with Maynard.