New-York tribune., 1897-01-21


journals for yesterday. which showed that Mr.
Platt had received a majority for Senator in bott
houses Such being the case another ballot wa.
| unnecessary. and the Lieutenant Governor an
nounced the election Of Mr. Platt
Before the joint session was held Senator
| Grant, Republican. informed the Senate that II
| he had been present in the Senate vest arday he
| would have cast his vote for Thomas c. Plat
| for Senator. and Senator McNulty, Democrat
said If he had been present he would have voted
for Andrew Mclean. Of The Brooklyn Citizen. -
The joint session look vote for Regen. OF the
University. and Chester s. Lord Republican. was
elected. over Henry p. ONeil. Democrat
| Thomas G. PLATE. who. March : next Will I'M
dertake for the second time represent the State
OF New York I'm the United States Senate. was
born in Owego. Tioga County New-York. July
Is. 1893. He is the OF William Platt FOR many
years lawyer and land agent in that town. After
having attended school at a local academy. Thomas
C. ratt. I'm 1919 went to New-Tiaven and entered
the class OF 1853 Yale lie left college after bout
a year and became a merchant al home. He car
ried lumber business in Michigan for time.
then became president Of a bank In Owego, and
finally director and afterward president of the
Southern Central Railroad Company His first
Office that OF County Clerk of Toga County.
TO which he elected in 1858. About that time he
formed friendship with Alonzo b. Cornell. who
active in politics in the neighborng county OF
Tompkins and the of material aid to each
other in their future political careers.
Mr.. Platt was nominated for Congress in 1870 as
the result Of deadlock between two candidates.
TO one OF whom he pledged. lie declined to ac-
cept the nomination. and finally his lie
was elected TO Congress in 1872. and again in 1874
In his first term he served the Committee on
Postofices and Postroads. and In the next Con-
gress served on the Committee Pacific Railroads
Mr.. Platt was an unsuccessful candidate for Post
master-General In the Cabinet OF President Hayes.
Failing to receive this appointment he retired from
offce and devoted himself to business. In 1879 he
was elected general manager and secretary of the
United States Express Company. and Is now presl
dent OF that corporation
The next appearance OF Mr.. Plat in politics
at the State Convention OF 1877. at Rochester.
President Hayes had removed Mr. Arthur from the
Office OF Collector OF the Port OF NcwYork, and
Mr. Cornell from the Office Of the Surveyorshp.
This action brought OIL war between the Admins
tration and the Conkng machine. Senator Conk-
ling had been chosen TO preside the State Con-
vention but he substituted Mr. Platt In his stead.
and the latter opened fight on President Hayes by
reading bitter speech. attacking the Adminlstra-
tion and the Civil Service Reform policy. Tho
more noted speech by George William Curtis and
the savage reply Of Senator Conkng took place at
the same convention.
The contest for the United States Senatorship 10
succeed Francis Herman in 1851 was "A lively one.
The principal machine candidates were Richard
CROWLEY of Lockpcrt. and Thomas &. Plat. Vice
President elect Arthur favored Mr.. Crowley while
Governor Cornell favored his old friend from the
southern tier. Pait carried the Republican caucus
and was elected Senator on January IS 1881. His
career in the Senate might have been uneventful
except for the quarrel between President Garfield
and Senator conlllng over the disposition OF New
York patronage. The President. March g 1881,
sent TO the Senate the name OF William II. Robert
son TO be Collector Of the Port OF New-York. Judge
Robertson had been a delegate TO the Chicago CON
vention OF 1880 and organized the bolt against the
unit rule In the N"w-York delegation. which had
be.n instructed for General Grant and 50 con-
tributed materially TO the possibility of Gen
cral Gariield's nomination. Senators Conkling
lr,naton. and finally the President driven
by their opposition 10 him TO withdraw from the
senate the oth-r New York nominations. which had
been made with view TO conciliating the machine
Among these was that OF General Stewart J.. Wood
ford TO he United States District tttorney. AMI
Iouis r Pawn to be United States Marshal. All
these nominations were renew cd after Judge Rob
.rtsou's confrma tion. Finding thai they had un-
d,rtaken what promised to be a HOPELESS struggle
with the Administration Messrs. Conkiing and
plaff on MAY H. 1881 sent their designations from
The senate g. Governor Cornell together with II let
ter exDlaining their course announcing the fif
Guilty they found In representing the State To their
oion and saying: The Legislature Is In session
II Is Republican In ajoiity. and New York abOunds
in sons uuite as able a TO bear her message
and commission In the Senate of the United States
With A profound sens. OF the obligations owe
with devotion TO the Republican party and Its creed
of liberty and right. with revercnt attachments to
the great State whose interests and honor are dear
IN he 'nt.d States, hold II respectful and be-
coming 10 make room for those " no may correct all
errors have made. interpret all duties we have
misconceived" Instead however. OF giving some
body else n chance TO correct their errors, they
went TO Albany and made a fight for re- election
This they could not secure. At the beginning ot