New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-12
BLIND LEADING.
any Others


feat of the Republican party in this state by
more than $4,000 plurality, was no exception to
the rule of party fortune under the leadership
of Thomas c. Platt. On the contrary, 1t only
repeated the lesson of his blind and inefficient
| management. taught by every contest IN when
/ he made the issues and named the candidates.
| He never yet won a victory for the Republican
party. His successes have invariably been IN
the dexterity with which he appropriated TO
his own uses the party victories won by others
often In spite Of him. A review of the elections
In this State since he emerged from the eclipse
which followed his first Senatorial escapade
will reveal the Pyrrhic character Of the leader
ship Of this "organizer of victories"
Mr.. Plat dlsengaged himself from the Conk-
ling faction and came into line with his party
IN 1884. Then he began to build up his control
of the party machine. In 1856 the Democrats
elected q Judge Of the Court Of Appeals by
7,701 plurality. In 1887 Mr.. Plat. orEanza-
ton manager, nominated Grant for Secretary
Of State, and swelled the Democratic plurality
to 17,077. In 1883 he let Hill beat Miller by
1911, though the revolt against Clcvcland's
free-trade views gave Harrison the State by
$4,000. Then he demanded q Cabinet office. and
failing 10 get II made himself and his machine
the bitter opponents Of Harrisons Admnstra-
ton Still in control Of the machine In 1889, he
let the Democrats carry the State for Rice by
2O527 In 1890 the parties united to elect a
Judge of the Court Of Appeals. The next con-
test was that in which Patt first came before
the people as an ISSUE through the candidacy
Of Mr. Fassett, who was characterized by the
opposition as "Patt's man." He was beaten
by a plurality OF 47,937, far the largest since
the Cleveland FOlger fight. Having thus shown
that his ability as a leader consisted In making
progressively increasing Democratic majoritics,
this organizer Of victories went TO Minneapolis
and made frlIitless attempt to prevent Presi-
dent Harrison's denomination by dragging the
name Of the dying Blaine into the campaign.
tidal wave for Cleveland swept the country,
but even that wave did not bring the Demo
Gratis as large plurality in New-York as Plat
had given them the year before
So far, under Platt's leadership, the Republ!-
cans of NewYori had met unfang defeat.
In 1853 Plat himself despaircd, advised his per
sonal friends to keep OFF the ticket. practically
advertised for men who wanted empty honors.
threw a sop to independents by letting men like
Joseph H. Choatc and Elihu Root make what
he regarded as 4 hopeless run for the Consttu
tional Convention, and calmly waited 10 see
them all buried together. He had absolutely no
conception of the moral sentiment against May
nard. and when Election Day showed 101.064
plurality for Bartlett. and 24.4Sl for Palmer. he
was so much surprised that at first he At
tributed the victory TO dispensatlon OF Provi-
dence. but n few days later claimed II rs the
result of his own leadership and set TO work TO
reap the fruits thereof The next year he had
even better luck. The people had chance 20
settle their long account with I'm, and they
did so by clectipg Morton. Mr.. Flatt did not
organize that victory in any sense. His fUsc
ton consisted In manipulating a convention for
his candidate in a year when the Democrats
had no chance Meanwhile the Constitutional
Convention which Mr. Platt dld not select. had
formulated a Constitution In which he took no
interest Though IL was commonly believed
that If ne could carry the apportionment arti-
Giles he would gladly see the rest defeated. the
people ratified the amendments by 1926 ma
tority In the same year the independents Of
this city forced him to agree to a union local
ticket, though for a long while he stood out
against Strong almost as bitterly as he did
this year against Low. After the election he
made war on the local administration. and
succeeded in giving the city TO Tammany in
to adopt a shufiug policy. but the courage of
Warner Miller forced a ringing declaration OF
party principles and the State was carried by
10000 plurality The next spring Platt was In
the field against Mckinley. and tried TO drive all
Republicans who favored Mckinley ont OF the
party. He failed miserably. and the Rcpubli-
cans carried the State by 2G7,4G9 for the man
lie had denounced rs "morlgagcd candidate.
Now he completes the record by swampng his
State ticket under an adverse vote Of $4,000
and his city ticket under one Of over 10000
There is the record Not once has Plat or
ganzed victory out Of adverse elements Not
once has he fOrcseen the popular sentiment to
be used in the partys favor. He built up the
Democracy so that from winning by 1000 in
1856 it won by 1900 in 1891. And when issues
not Of his making gave the Republicans pu-
ralites which finally reached 2G70OO, In one
short year he managed 10 throw all those votes
away and nearly G0,0O0 more. II IS a consist
ent record Of incompetence.