The times., 1897-07-04
PLATI's REIGN OF PEACE
Easy Eoss" Fairly Well Salts
fed With the Administration.
SECRETARY BLISS A MAZARIN
He snoothed Out the Rnffied Feel
tu,ys and Made SelI-Interest Risd
Above the Caprices OF Temper.
Mckinley Wanted No Quarrel.
Anti-Organization Men.

Ne-v York, July 3.-The political re-
pcriers who know have been telling the
rank out tsiders that ofoverwhein-
Ing importance tnis week has been the |
aB.,oini,i4ent by President Mckinley OF a
Piat9 collector of the port and a Hiss
general appraiser OF customs, Whites an
anony nous, but evidently well-lntoraned
pcrsoa in New York paper Ia ken IL It's
connection with PAST poiiucal history ana
with the bearing ii is Likely 10 nave on tae
fCsu.e. lne action OF the frvsIdsat IL nn-
uucsiionapiy OF more than passih5 n'''iilcnt-
The fruits OF tie combination between
Tnoulas c Piatt ana Cornelius Bliss are
nox iiesng reaped. VINO would AdNe De-
liered ia possible two years ago for these
men 10 lave worked together III absolute
harmony? Then they were bitter enemies
Bliss had been a candidate Tor governor
against ilis lifelong friend, Morton, for no
Cher purpose III the world than uo record
a t,,z,tl.st AGAINST the methods OF the PlaIt
machine
a., had taken a hand III the reorganiza-
1sss. .,f tlle Republican party in New York
CIT as one OF Tie committee OF thirty. he
fisa keen Platt and Lauteriach capture the
oi.-=nizaf on away from the committee d
itirty element 10y methods which lie de
cla4sd ne cotid never e0ndone. As naeIIl-
Ter of the committee of twenty-fiv TO in
vesiirate the enrolment of the Piatt-Lau-
1sri,aci. machine, he had denounced the ma
chine as being founded in fraud and bol-
? hal
or tsltotiser committee, he had made a can
xass cI the State 10 induce Republicans
20 go on record as a set oS a protest
against the 'oneInan power In politics.
Nr. Bliss went further than thus. With
great agility he eNtr!cated himself from tie
movement for Morton for President, which
PIatt had started, and started for the pur-
pose OF holding his organization together
against Mckinley. But MI Bliss did IL in
such a way as 10 leave his record clear.
Warner Miller, unfortunately went into IL
and while apparently being Morton man,
betrayed Morton Mr. Bliss, when things
took such d shape that he could not longer
appear as a Morton supporter, wrote the
governor frank and manly letter andcam
out for Mckinley. And be came out for him
In such a way as to show thatin New York
State there was a genuine sentiment for the
man from Canton, which could not be sup
pressed by Nr Platt's machine
The two men were wide apart and hitter
enemies. Platt's attacks on Mckinley in
May, 1896, were so severe as 10 make
everyone say that 1t would be impossible
for him 10 support Mckinley, should he
nominated. And in the face OF that Nc
Kinley's success in the convention on the
first ballot became more and more certain.
Bliss went TO the st. Louis convention
very angry with Platt, and especially DC
testing PIatts methods. But he had the
political sagacity to see that Mckinley
must have Platt's support after the CON
Tention
Mr.. Bliss knew that the Mckinley League
did not have in it the elements of great
political organization, and that tie Plat
machine in the end must be recognized.
What he did was not because be hated
Platt methods any the less, but be loTed
Mckinley the more. AS a matter Of fact
c. X. Bliss seemed to he the only man in
the New York representation al st. Louis
On either side who had any common sense
He was a Mckinley delegate from New
York city and his seat was contested. it
was the policy of the McKinleyites TO
unseat every delegate of the Posses
CoInIdne,' and carry things with high
hand No Mckinley delegates whose
seats were contested Were TO lie unseatel.
In other Words the Mckinley crowd had
the advantage, and Hanna's policy was
to give no quarter until they yielded.
MI bliss forced a change in that pro-
gram as far rs his own contest was con-
cerned He seems to have realized that
there Tiust be some eoncihatory fierce in
New Ycrk State, and he at once became
the c.ncihatoTy force when he consented
t. have his contest settled in such a way
that be and his Mckinley colleague should
Lave nc half vote each and the two iiatt
contestants one-half vote each.
This policy of conciliation thus begun
Nj Bliss carried through He came back
fHon St Louis and found the hot spirits
in the Mckinley League vowing that
Platt organization must not be entrusted
with the Mckinley campaign ia New YORK
Miiholiand issued a circular calling for
contributions for the Mckinley League IN
enable il to conduct the campaign in New
York FOR Mckinley. He appointed Mr..
Bliss az treasurer Mr. Bliss proInptly :
Iepudated the movement, and MflholIand
ssiiisitled Then MI Bliss went ahead to
bTIng about an understanding between
Hanna ana Platt There was no want
of fnen,Ily cooperation on the part Of
PIatt and his friends Plat wan1ed to
make up" Hanna saw the situation
through Mr.. Bliss spectacIes. and the Bliss
Common sense prevailed. Frederick S
Gibbs, Plaft's representative on the na.
he brought about the promise from Plats
t. Hanna that Aldndge should not be
nominated for governor.
To say that there was ever any laal he
tween Bliss and Piatt looking to tlistlibu-
tioI CT be Offices would probably be an
injustice TO Mr. Riss. But W hat has since
cone to pass was the natural outcome
Of the situation. 1t was logical that Mr.
bliss should gointo the Cabinet after play
ing the part he did before and at st
Louis. after acting as treasurer OF the ma
fions1 committee and being the reai pows.
in NeU York that brought Republicans
together. u Was logical that Platt should
20 to ihc Senate after demonstrating his
p. wer over the State organization and
eletflnG a legislature that should almos
unanimously dc his Will.
IT was also logical that Mr.. Platt shoui.
be allowed 10 control the most importan
patronage Of the State, and he secure.
th. support Of Mr.. Bliss to the program
That She President had made up his min,
not 10 follow in the footsteps of CARTEL,
in begtowing tile New York colectorShip
has been clear for long time Plat
desired To secure the appointment abov
all things. II was over that office tha
he lad left fhe Senn fe with l.nt.i.iinc L