New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-24
POUND TO HAVE MR.. QUIGG.
SENATOR PLATT INSISTS UPON HIS
ELECTION.
MT THERE rs A BITTER FEELING AMONG SOME
OF THE REPUBLICAN POLITICIANS WHICH
THEY DON'T CoNCEAI-THE CONGRESS-
MANS ELECTION. HOWEVER, RE-
GARDED AS PRETTY CERTAIN.

MANS ELECTION. HOWEVER, RE
GARpEp AS PRETTY CERTAIN.
Senator Thomas c. Platt after two nights and
two days Of wrestling with the question OF who
q. 10 be president Of the Republican County
Committee to succeed Edward Lauterbach. re-
signed. returned 20 Washington yesterday after
noon satisfied that the honor will be conferred
tomorrow evening upon Lemuel e. Qugg. men,
ber Of Congress from the XIVth District. unless
something breaks loose OF which the Senator Is
as yet unaware.
Plenty Of things did break loose yesterday. and
20 many arguments were made against his pet
candidate for the place about 10 become vacant
that old politicians marvelled at Mr. Platts un-
ruf1ed demeanor and alleged abstinence from
participation In the heated language with
which his apartments in the Fifth Avenue Hotel
were said to be surcharged from early morn
until dewy night. Seldom in the course OF Mr.
Platt's long and eventful leadership has so much
opposition been levelled at one man as was de-
veloped against Mr.. Qugg yesterday. The hope
ful prediction Of his friend. Frederick s. Gibbs.
on Saturday that the votes against Mr.. Quisg
could be counted on his fingers and toes were
blown to smithereens. Before Mr.. Gibbs was out
Of bed yesterday the bombardment began. and
vised that they had made no breach in the walls
Of the Plat fortress they stood by tneir guns
ard kept up the fight.
MIR BLISS EARLY on HAND
One Of Senator Platt's earliest callers yester-
day morning was Secretary Cornelius n Bliss
of President McKinley's Cabinet. Mr.. Bliss
wanted everybody TO understand that he was
taking no part in the scrimmage over the eiec-
tion Of a new head for the Republican county
Committee Mr. Bliss had been 10 see MI fiatt
on Saturday and 1t understood that 'he
latter had urged Mr.. Bliss 10 take INTO serious
consideration the advisability OF becoming
candidate for Mayor Of the Greater NeW-1
this year. After Mr.. Bliss had gone away Sen
ator Patt told prominent Republicans that the
Secretary Of the Interior had refused most posi-
lively TO allow his name to be considered as
candidate The bad blood which had been SHOWN
of late in the organization and the imminent
possibility of wide-open factional split In the
County Committee were among tff reasons
which machine men gave In explanation OF MI
Bliss's determination 10 keep out OF the race.
Other early callers Senator Platt yesterday
were Louis F. Payn, Of Chatham Corners. state
Superintendent Of Insurance, and George w.
Aldridge Of Rochester, State Superintendent or
Public Works. They labored with Mr. Platt FOR
a long time 10 persuade him that he was making
the mistake Of his life in advancing the young
CONGRESSMAN 10 so important and responsible
place as president cf the Republican county
Committee Each man brought to light MS per-
sonai grievances against Mr.. Quigg. but without
avail Mr. Platt had made up his nina ana
was not 70 be swerved by argument or the ex-
hibtion OF political sores. The debate became
bitter and personal. Many things were said by
both Payn and Aldridge that would make un-
doubtedly interesting reading,
PAYN'S LOGIC
When Mr.. Payn came down 10 the MOTEL cor
,,dors about noon he was still hot under the
collar
What Is the result?" Mr.. Payn was asked
"Wen" replied the Superintendent OF lnsur-
ance. making an effort 10 look as If he was tax
ing the situation In a cool and undisturbed way
81 suppose that Mr.. Quigg Will be elected presi-
dent Of the County Committee, and then ne
added with n suggestive twinkle that usually
comes into his eyes when he says something
particularly sarcastic, "and that we may ex-
pect az natural consequence, the nomination
OF Fred Gibbs for Mayor
.'You are speaking seriously, OF course. Mr.
Payn?'
"Wby yes" was the reply, and the little
bright ewes twinkled more. Wouldn't Gibbs's
nomination for Mayor be the logical result Of
Quigg's election?"
AIDRIDGE ON CANAL BUSINESS"
Superintendent Aldridge more polite.
While he did not deny that he thought Mr..
Ou,ggs elevation political mistake he did not
care to admit that he was here to fight Quigg
"Oh. take no interest in your local fights
here" Mr.. Aldridge said. II am only here on
canal business you know" And the Public
Works Superintendent grnned facetiously.
Many other Republican politicians were ad-
Ynitted TO Senator Platt's rooms yesterday VINO
had long-drawn-out conferences with him on
the Quigg question. Ex-Police Justice Jacoo
NJ Patterson. who is now Quarantine COM
missioner and who controls the Hth Assem-
bly, District. went 10 urge the Senator to recon-
slider his purpose Of making Mr. Quigg pr|sl-
dent Of the County Committee. George W.
Wanmaker. leader OF the XVIII Assembly Dis
trict was another. Charles X. Lexow, OF the
XXIId District, the Nyack Senator's brother.
who tried to get signatures enough OF leaders
on Thursday evening to call caucus to pro-
test against Qugg. was also there. So was
Chief Clerk William H. Ten Eych Of the Board
OF Aldermen who dominates the region above
the Harlem River
GIBBS TALKS FOR QUIGG.
F. s Gibbs was about the only leader Of i'm
portance who ascended 10 the fourth floor OF
the Fifth Avenue Hotel 10 argue the Congress
mans side Of the case. Postmaster Van Colt
Of the With District. and John Steibling, OF the
XIIth, also knocked and were admitted, but
they did not exert themselves TO say much In
favor OF Mr.. Quigg Upon Mr.. Platt and Mr.
Gibbs the onus Of the defence for the most part
fell Lucas L. Van Alien, one Of Mr.. Olcotts
Assistant District-Attorneys. said that he be
Ieved that majority Of the Republican County
Committee favored Quigg otherwise he would
not vote for him.
Mr. Lauterbach with Mr.. Platt awhile
yesterday before going out to Pompton. y. j..
where his wife is for the present Mr.. Lauter.
bach denied that there was any possibility OF
his changing his mind that he thought OF
III L. L. l.....A L.