New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-27
PRICE THREE CENTS.
FEAST IN PLATT'S HONOR.
A NOTABLE DINNER TO THE SENATOR
ELECT IN ALBANY.

TO HIM UNsoUGHT-Hrs VIEWS OF
NEEDED LEGISLATION - INTEREST
ING DISCLOSURES MADE BY
CHAUNcEY NJ. DEPEw.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBUNE1
Albany Jan. 2G-Those who attended the banI
quet given to Thomas c. Plat at Harmanus
Blocker Hall tonight. in celebration OF his
election as United States Senator with the
thought that it would be merely merry-making,
must have been surprised at the gravity OF tone
OF most Of the speeches made. Mr.. Platt was
congratulated. OF course, in a fiattering manner
on his election as Senat.r, but he also was told
that he had great responsibility at Washington
as the representative Of the Republicans Of New.
York State II the country to reach a moro
prosperous condition by the adoption Of pro-
tectve tariff earnest work in that direction
would be expected Of him. acting In support Of
the well-known policy of the Mckinley Admins
tration.
Mr.. Plat seemed to feel that his commission
Senator not merely pair of epaulets.
but that he would have duties which It would
task his abilities to the utmost TO fulfill His
speech was an acknowledgment that the Sena-
tor from New-York would not have holiday
task. that the Nation was still suffering from
hard times, and that only by able work could
the Republican Congress bring about a return
of prosperity
HOW THE HALL LOOKED.
Harmanus Blocker Hall. in which the dinner
was given, is a large building on the hill above
the Capitol 1t had been foored over and tables
set up for the accommodation OF ] 900 diners
Nine hundred and sixty-eight Republicans took
seats at the tables The hall had been finely
decorated An American flag in electric lights
h,,lx
stage was portrait Of President-elect McKin-
ley. The boxes either side Of the stage were
draped with American fags. The centre box
at the left looking toward the audience had on
its face a portrait Of Mr. Plat. while the box at
the right had hanging at its front a portrait Of
Addison u. Colvin, president Of the League Of
Republican Clubs, which gave the dinner TO Mr..
Platt. TIL edge of tn, gallery was covered
with handsome silks. and bunting Of red, white
ard blue was suspended from the centre OF the
hall to the side walls One large table extended
across the hall above the place where the or
chestra usually sits. At this table sat Mr.. Platt
and the otler guests If honor Extending be-
fore him were six long tables Back of him also
on the stage there were six tables
GUESTS OF HoNOR.
Mr. Plat entered the hall about o'clock and
was greeted with loud applause. Mr. Colvin had
the centre seat at the table as chairman. and he
had at his right in the order named Mr. Plat.
Lieutenant-Ciovernor Woodruff. ex-Lieutenant-
Governor Stewart l.. Woodford. Congressman
Benjamin b. Ode. Chauncey NJ Depew. ex-Ad-
jutant-General f. a. McAlpin and Louis F.
Payn. At the left OF Mr. Colvin there were seated
Governor Black. William Barnes. r.. General
Russell A. Alger. Of Michigan: George w. AID
ridge. Superintendent Of Public Works D. D.
NOD1manSpc nj fhe Ma
Of Republican Clubs; Frederick p Easton. SUI
perintendent OF Public Buildings. ex-senator j.
Sloat Fassett, Edwin A. Merritt, jr.. and Benja-
min F. Tracy. Facing Mr. Plat on the opposite
side OF the table were ex-senator Frank His
cock Sheriff Buttling, Of Kings County; Freder-
lex S. Gibbs, and Colonel Archie F.. Baxter Clerk
Of the Assembly. The seats in the body Of the
hall were occupied by Mr.. Platts friends from
Tioga County the members of the Legislature
and other prominent Republicans. Among those
present were Congressman George w. Ray Of
Norwich: Congressman K. b. Mahany, OF Buffa-
To- Congressman Quigg, Of New-York; ex-Sena-
tor Francis Hendricks. Of Syracuse, John F.
Parkhurst of Bath; Edward Lauterbach and
ex-Postmaster Cornelius Van Colt, Of New-York
Probably half OF the men present were from
New-York and Brooklyn. and another quarter
from Albany and its vicinity. There were few
from the interior counties.
The box in the second story Of the hall to the
left Of Mr.. Plat was occupied by Mrs. Platt.
Mrs Black. Mrs Covn and Mrs Barnes There
were about 300 persons in the balcony nearly all
Of whom were women.
THOSE WHO DIDN'T COME
After the dinner had been eaten an ATTEMPT
was made at the reading Of letters of regret
and then it v as only by Mr. Depew's diplomacy
that quiet was obtained. one of the letters
of regret came from President-elect Mckinley,
who congratulated Mr.. Plat upon his election
Mark a. Hanna also congratulated Mr.. Platt
Thomas b. Reed praised Mr. Plat for his sup
port Of souad money doctrines at the ST Louis
Convention Senator-elect Foraker said that
Mr. PlattS election was a splendid yindication
for Republicans who believe in party organiza-
ton. Senator Lodge wrote that he neveI-shoud
forget Mr.. Platt's stand for sound-money prin-
cipes at the St Louis Convention. Ex-Governor
Morton praised Mr.. Patrs ability as an or
ganizer. James :. Clarkson was confident that
Mr. Plat had made New-York a certain Re-
publican State" Joseph H. Manley thought
that New-YCrk State had 'honored herself by
eecting Mr.. Plat Senator.
WHAT MIR. PLATT SAID.
It was nearly o'clock before the toast lis, waa
reached. When President Covin Introduced thu
Mr.. Plat received a roval welcome
His remarks were well received that he waa
interrupted time ard time again by voclferoua
applause. He said:
1t is not without hesitation that have again
accepted the responsibilities OF public Office Indeed
IL seemed as though the temptation to do 40 had
been put by and that the remainder of my iita
would have no other relation to public affairs than
such as become every citizen Nor could tho sit,,s
lion have arisen in which should have so,IyL,
even 30 high an honor as the one just conferred
, shall be ACQUITTED think OF any arectaton
Is fact that I have not been q candi
date for the senate. I have not asked any
member of the legislature to vote Tor me-
did not even intimate until after the caur,.
that should accept the Office IL II were ,andara,
That II has come under these circumstance and
with such generous expressions OF good will .ni
confidence from Republicans throughout tho Stata
makes II pleasing burden and a rich compenss
ton for all that | have done and tried 70 DO q
my party's service. And so ! shall go TO Washina.
..l..fnl th.. l.a..