The times., 1899-05-12
RooseyeIt and PIatt.

The expected has happened. Governor
Roosevelt and Senator Platt are at swords
noints. The Governors determination 10
sign the Ford bill, taxing public fran
chises, is the cause of the difficulty In
defiance of the dictates of the State ma
chine" and in opposition TO the more pow
erful corporate influences of the State, Mr..
Roosevelt declares that he must have his
own way. He is panied If his attitude Of
fend the senior Senator from New York
but ne has no apologies to offer, and it is
absurd to suppose that he can be induced
or compelled TO change his position"
The Governor seems to be satisfied with
his disposition of the bill, and is not
worrying about the comments OF those VINO
are calling him communist" alleging,
as they do, that he is following in the foot
steps of AItgeld, Pingree, and Others of
similar type. He has prepared for pubiica-
ton a memorandum which will accompany
his approval of the measure.
The issue sooner or later was bound TO
come. AS a so-called reform" member
of the Assembly, as United States Civil
a PotANt SOAA44-'S-
sioner in New York city, and now, as Gov
ernor, Roosevelt has ever been a thorn in
the side of Platt. His police administra-
tion was not Platt administration by any
means, for the political machines in New
York, although ostensibly hating each
other, move hand in hand to much
greater extent than may be commonly sup
posed. On question OF morals, of homes
ty, and decency, there is little TO choose
between the two. Ii may be said, though,
that while the Van Wyck administration
was expected to be one Of the worst New
York has ever experienced, it has really
turned out, thus far, TO be one of the best.
The mayor, to be sure, is unnecessarily
gruff in manner. but ne has sharp eye on
expenditures, and his appointments, gen.
orally estimated, have been of an excep-
tionally commendable grade.
When Roosevelt left the police depart
ment in New York and came on to Wash
MIR. Platt may have confidently believed
that the young man was effectually put 10
steep. But he wasn't by any means. Even
as an Assistant Secretary, his characteris-
tics asserted themselves. When the war
broke out and he came back as colonel OF
the Rough Riders, he found political
situation in New York that was waiting for
him, so far. at least, as public sentiment
was concerned. The canal frauds had
killed Mr.. Black as candidate for re-
nomination, and the war sentiment was so
strong that, much as it may have gone
against the grain, Senator Platt learned
that the overthrow or the overslough of
Roosevelt as gubernatorial candidate
was a practical impossibility.
Mr.. Roosevelt's present ambition Is 10
be regarded as one of the model Governors
of his State. There is little doubt that he
will succeed In that purpose, If intellec-
tual honesty be one of the more command
! ing quantities in public opinion. He has
courage OF conviction, and he has the con
fidence of the people of his State regard
less of party, albeit disposed at times. (,
be rash and extremely self-assertive. The,
say that he has an eye on the Presidency
but he cannot possibly entertain the ide;
of undermining or defeating Mr.. McKinle
for the nomination in 1900. Especially i
this the case If he has decided to antag
onize Mr.. Plat For the senior Senator
influence in New York politics is Just a
great today as il ever was and he has
long and unforgiving memory.