The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1898-11-28
PLATT IS AGAINST HIM
The Late Returns from Virginia Show
That Judge Rhea, Democrat, Goes
to Congress Over His OPP
ponent by Majority of
More Than 500.
BY JOS: Oil.

ship is Joe ChOatc, of New York IhlS
comes very straight. A member Of the
presidents official household, who is very
close to him, advises me to watch this end
OF it very closely and III doing so adds.
significantly:
IF it were not for the complications over
In New York there would be no question
OF Choate's selection
The complications IN this instance are
the same as came to surface in the case
of Whitcaw Reid
PIatt is against Choate just as he was
against Reid. Both of these eminent repub-
leans have seen ft upon various and sun
dry occasions, to array themselves against
PIattism. They have been almost as prom
incnt in reform ranks as Teddy Roosevelt
himself and as they are not as necessary
to Plat as was the colonel of the Rough
Riders he does not hesitate TO throw
the gait into them" as Tammany would
put it
It was Plat who prevented the ap-
pointment Of Whitelaw Reid and that
after the president had determined in
his own mind that the proprietor OF
The Tribune was the man for the place.
1t is Platt who IS now standing III the
way Of the appointment Of Chaote. IN or
der to counteract the presidents known
predictions in favor of Choate, PIatt has
come to the front with Elihu Root, also
u prominent New DIRK lawyer, but one who
has had the virtue OF always bcln6 u con-
slstent supporter of Plattism.
Root is a good lawyer, but In the eyes
Of the president does not begin to meas
ure up to the Choate standard. The pres
ident Is a great admiTer Of ChOate and
takes every possible occasion to say so.
He regards him as much moro than merely
q good laWycr-as, indeed, one of the fore
most men of America. There seems to be
no doubt of his ability bat politically ne
Is much moro unfortunate even than
Whitelaw Reid, which is saying good
deal lie is always getting himself mon
toned for high office. but it always man
ages to escape him with that Same per-
sistency that the GOV 'nment Of Georgia
escaped Judge CarnctJ Andrews i'll the
days before the war
The Mcmillan Tire Puncturel.
Perhaps the most interesting develop
ment of the contest for this best of all OF
our diplomatic plums is tine apparent col
lapse of the Mcmillan boom. A few weeks
ago, and indeed UP 10 just before the cleo
tons, the friends Of Senator Mcmillan were
very insistent i'll their declarations that
it was all fixed for him to % to London
and Ptngree to appoint Alser as his sue
cessor in the senate. This idea was kept
prominent by persons understood to be IN
the Alger- Mcmillan understanding, but it
seems to be Il keystone to the arch of that
understanding was knocked out by the
election
Immediately his reelection was assured
by such q large majority over his oppon-
ent. Governor Pingree let fall remark
which showed that he was not as much
Tn, H., . ,,i,Iri Lao
with a soft place to fail on as he had been
accredited with being.
He said in so many words that he
would not appoint Alger to the senate
If vacancy occurred and that in his
opinion there was no probability
OF Senator Mcmillan being sent to the
court of ST. James.
To those familiar to the inside Of Mich
igan politics. this announcement did not
create anywhere hear SO great surprise as
did the announcement of an AlSer-PinSrce
deal. As long as Aiger is secretary of war
he occupies a prominent place i'll the eyes
Of the country and of the people Of Mica
igan but SO far as being Il real factor in
Michigan politics is concerned, he Is a
dead card
For several years he has no influence
whatever, He was governor of the state,
but so little was his hold Oh his party that
he WAS refused q denomination. ii that rep
rcsents anything of Michigan politics, it
is ttlat sort of corporation influence which
Pingree has all tho time been fighting. Nc
MILAN represents this more particularly
because he is really an active factor in the
politics Of the state.
Those Southern Contests.
The official returns from the ninth Vir-
,g;y, T,JC u
democratic candidate for congress. had a
majority of more than 500 over General
Walker.
This means a change of something
over 1000 votes in favor Of the demo-
Gratis.
General Walker has given notice Of
a purpose to contest the election and in
doing SO is very severe III his structures
upon the democrats of Virginia.
This is to be expected. for the southern
republicans who get into public life seem
to base their right to political existence
upon the strength Of their ability to cry
fraud. -" They are almost universally in
tense in their bitterness. l can recall but
two exceptions-one is HaWIey, Of Texas,
who represents the Galveston district aud
who does not hesitate to say that the cleo
lions in his district are as fair as they
are anywhere in America, and the other
is Walter BroWnloW. of Tennessee, who is
in many respects the ablest republican
that has ever got into congress from the
south.
Governor Tyler, of Virginia.. was here
the other day, and in speaking of General
Walkers attack on the democrats of the
district said:
The general IS no doubt in no gracious
,Caf +,N rot r.,