The herald., 1897-08-18
WONDERFUL MR.. PLATT
HIS PART IN THE GARFIELD
CONKLING FIGHT
His Return to Political Power in New
York and Secret of Seeking
Peace With 'Mr. Mckinley

MchlHley aIlu ION flatt are getting on
so well together that the New York poll
ticians are simply amazed They had
been expecting trouble, and some OF
them are disappointed that it has moi
come. Unconsciously they look back
to the stormy days of 1881, when Conk-
ling and Arthur and Platt were fightine
Garfield and Blaine. They are unable
to see any reason why President Nc.
KiDey should go out of his way to please
Tom Platt, who was the only bitter anC
unfair opponent Mr.. Mckinley had be-
fore the st. Louis convention. Nor can
they understand why Platt, who is re-
puted to be so much of fighter, should
be willing to "knuckle'' to Mckinley
whom he so savagely denounced year
ago. As matter of fact whether these
marveling politicians understand it OF
not, Mckinley and Plat are both men
of peace
Mr.. Platt is much more of man of
peace than he is generally credited with
being. A fellow passenger, Chief Just
ice Goodrich of New York, tells me a
most interesting and 1 think hitherto
unpublished story of the Garfield-Conk-
ling-Platt episode. 1t was on a Monday J
that Garfield sent to the senate the nom
ination of Robertson to be collector. The
next day Mr.. Platt went to New York,
and Wednesday morning told Mr.. Good
rich the story which he now tells me.
When the nomination of Robertson
reached the senate chamber Conkling
and Platt were talking together. Arth-
ur was in the chair, and when the me s.
sage was hapded him by the veteran
Bassett he opened the envelop in a non-
dreaming that it contained the bit of po-
litical dynamite which was to kill Gar
field, ruin the career of Conkling and
shorten his days, and make himself
president and lead Indirectly to his early
death.
When Arthur opened the envelope aud
his eye lighted upon the fatal words,
he turned as pale as sheet. He clench-
ed the gavel convulsively, as if he would
use it as weapon. Then he beckone6 to
Conkling and Platt, and they both walk
ed up to the vice presidents desk. Arth-
ur handed them the sheet Of paper bear
ing Garfield's signature. Conkling
looked at it, and an indescribably fierce
expression came over his face. Arthur
was simply speechless ard now livid
with rage. Platt alone met the most un-
expected situation with something like
calm and practical view.
IT shall resign my seat in the senate"
said he.
"Why do you say that?" asked Arthur
now recovering his speech.
Because this nomination means war"
replied Platt, "and because 1 came here
for peace and am physically unable to
go through such war as this is going to
be. 1t will kill me, and the only way 1
can save my life is by resigning"
PLAT" said Conkling, "it will be fatal
to my plans if you resign now. Promise
me you will withhold your resigna ton
for few weeks, and if you are then of
the same mind I will resign with you"
Platt agreed to this and the bargain
was made. Some weeks later Platt in
sisted upon resigning, and Conkling's 3
resignation, he being the senior senator,
was offered first. Patt told his friend
and counsel Judge Goodrich, of this
agreement made at the vice-presddent's S
desk in that dramatic moment before
the nomination was laid before the SEN
here is as Plat himself narrated it, and
it effectually disposes of the "Me-too"
sneer under which Plat rested in silence
for many years.
There has never been anything more
remarkable in the history of our politics
than Platts return to power in New York
and in the country. He is now more
nearly absolute master of his party's af-
fairs in his state than any other Repub-
lican leader Of the north. If he can win
the Greater New York campaign next
fall his place will be fixed in history as
the greatest political captain of his
time. He survived the faux pas which
killed Garfield, ruined Conkling, kept
Blain from the presidency, sent Cleve-
land to the White House, and caused
such a great upheaval in the politics OF
the country. He has risen above per-
sonal, political and legislative scandals
at Albany which would have ruined al
most any other man. He has more than
once been near bankruptcy as a man OF
business, and as politician he has often
risked everything upon the turn of a
card
Much of this time he has been fighting
for his life. He has often been so neal
deaths door that his family and friend.
thought all was over. Four or five times
he was picked up from the floor of his
private room, where he had fallen in &
faint from sheer exhaustion caused by
passage of blood. For more than a veal
he lived on peptonized milk, nothing elst
passing his lips. For several years thi.
fight for life and health continued, will
varying success. All this time he wa
directing the affairs of great corpora
tion and resuming his political leader
ship. l am told that Mr.. Platt has beer
to more than one state or national con
vention from which Mrs. Platt feared
he would not return alive. He owes no
only his life but much of his success t,
the faithful care and unfailing good ad
vice of his wife.
| Under these circumstances, havinj
won his battle for political Leadership
and for health, is it any wonder tha
Mr.. Platt seeks peace rather than wa
with Mckinley. He cannot afford t
take any more risks than those whic.
are thrust upon him by the enemy. o
these he is likely to have plenty in tn
immediate future. There are indica ton
that another great political captain
William c. Whitney, is planning re
habilitation of the New York Democrac
with view to winning the great priz
of control of Greater New York, and MI
Platt is thus to have foeman worthy G