New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-14
MP HENDRICKS "DECLINES."

Nohodv can deny that Mr.. Plat was ehceeu-
,nplv clever in warding off serious dahser ~
superintendent Payn. Francis Hendricks "o"''
49, ,ooda nm excellent chief OF the insurance
Denortment. He is n thorough organization Ihah
ooairs+ whom the machine could not say
word Even Mr. Payn can say nothing against
him Ue IS not tainted in the least with mat
Nupvumpery which Mr. Payn so despises' anu
,yro wears a. go. when the present superintendent
voc nominated. he used all his influence 10 Sc
curo for confirmation the vote Of the syracuse
senator Horace White At the same time MI.
rt.ndriclks Is a man OF tried executive ability, OF
unouestioncd honor and as former menper vi
the Senate has hold on that body which wouiu
almost certainly have commanded continuation
n he had been willing to accept an appointment
Altogether. he was n trump card for the Ho'-
ernor TO play against Plat and Payn
II was in robbing the Governor of that caro-
tbot Mr. Plat showed his cleverness. Perhaps
the Governor was n bit careless In holding HIS
hand On that Mr. Platt saw the trump there ana
had time to get ready for it before 1t was played
At any rate. Mr.. Platt was able to convince Mr.
Hendricks before Governor Roosevelt had seen
hin, that no did not want to be Superintendent
Of Insurance 1t is evident that much as MI
Afr Hendricks. his love for Mr.. Payn is so great
that none of them will be permitted, II MI fiatt
can helm It. to give any aid to the Governor in
securing a new head for the insurance depart
ment II he wants a candidate he must find
him outside the ranks of the faithful' ana Oh
such candidate Mr. Plat, with his controi OF
the Senate. has no fear.
But we wonder how high minded organization
Republicans like Mr.. Hendricks and Mr.. Dunn,
of Binghamton. really like this system Nh
chine politics may seem all well enough as a
method of accomplishing practical results out
when the head of the machine comes to regard
the local leaders on whom rests his power as
mere tools to be put forward for this or pulled
back from that simply in accordance with MS
interests and personal alliances, without regard
to theirs the case is altered Perhaps their
opinion is reflected somewhat by THE Syracuse
Post Standard" newspaper partly owned by
Mr.. Hendricks which n few days ago said:
THE Post STANDARD" has profound respect for
Senator Platts consummate ability as poltlcai
manager. 1t has profounder regard tor the
welfare OF the Republican party In the state IL
believes our party welfare Is being daily more
and more imperilled by our Platt management
as at present conducted. 1t believes the practi.
cal political skill and shrewdness ana success OF
which Senator Plat has proved himself mas
ter to the past great advantage OF the Repubii-
can party, being had now at the cost OF sub
stantial Platt dictatorship. are obtained at an
appalling cost. The air of benignantly tolerat-
Ing and patronizing the vast element of which
Republican majorities In New-York State are
made is even more amazing than imper-
tnent and is explainabe only as an express
sion OF kind OF insanity Of the political
power these men deem themselves to have &C
quired. Our party managers, In their growing
arrogance OF control, are tramping over pow
der magazine. Our party rank and fle not In
this State alone. but in many states. has ceased
to be the sleeping lion the losses have long
dared with impunity TO ignore, and has become
now and suddenly the growing lion, whose
angry mutterings bode Unreasonable disaster
for bosses not only but for the great party ITSELF
except a peremptory halt be called In many
present high handed methods of party leader
ship. tnsmmf
These sentiments were expressed before Mr..
Hendricks declined Governor Rooseyelts offer.
He is perhaps not responsible for them at all.
But certainly they do not improperly describe
the high handed way in which Mr.. Plat uses
eminent Republicans in his own political house
hold as II they were mere servants who had no
| rights which he was bound TO respect.