The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-01-16
iPLATT FIGHTS ROOT
SECRET OF THE OPPOSITION TO
THE WAR SECRETARY BECOM-
ING TOO PROMINENT
NEW YORK BOSS IS JEALOUS

NEW YOKk B0SS Is JEALOUS
Has an Eye to the Future Control Of
the Republican Machine in the
Empire state-Did Not Want Mr..
Root to Be Given War Portfolio.
but the President Insisted, and
Mr.. Plat Was Compelled to Yield.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan 15.-(Spe-
cial.)-The announcement made by Henry
C. Payne, the Republican national COM
mitteeman from Wisconsin. that Score
tary Of War Root has no desire to secure
the vice presidential nomination this
year Is without foundation. I have 1t
on the best Of authority that If Mr.. Root
Is able to secure the seventy-two New
York delegates to the Philadelphia con-
vention next June he will permit the use
Of his name. and that his friends will
make the best possible contest they can
in his interest. The announcement that
came from the Wisconsin politician is
not sanctioned by Secretary Root. nor
was the statement correct in any possible
way, except that party leaders, endeav-
oring to make deal with Senator Platt,
of New York. having to concede certain
things to the latter, were willing to over
throw Root and give this honor to some
other man.
I have heretofore pointed out from
Washington that very little love exists
between Senator Plat and Secretary
Root. Platt only consented to Root COM
ing into the cabinet because President
Mckinley insisted that he not only agree
but that he would not in any way on
pose his confirmation. This having been
agreed to, Mr.. Root assumed the duties
of this great office. and has been able.
more than any other man connected with
the administration, to conduct the work
and manage the affairs of this depart
ment satisfactorily.
senator Platt, Jealous as he Is, desires
to prevent the advancement of any man
from his state likely to wrest his power
from him as the Republican machine
manager. He looks with suspicion upon
senator Depew, now endeavoring, through
Hanna, to prevent Mr. Root from be-
coming the vice presidential nominee
Of the Republicans; Is fearful that Gov.
IL
tiles, at the present time, may become
the real leader of the straight-out Re
publicans In the state, and this, of course,
would mean the absolute retirement of
Platt as the machine manager, and the
possibility that he could not succeed
himself in the senate when his present
term expires. Eg7if
POLITICAL TRTCKSTERS.
The great political .tricksters" in the
United States are Thomas C. Platt and
Matthew Stanley Quay. The New York
politician and the !, clever GENTLE
man from Pennsylvania have worked
together in the past to further their own
political advantage to the detriment Of
other prominent statesmen. In 1892 James
u. Blaine, then secretary of state, had
no b1tterer foe than Thomas c. Platt.
Platt however, having failed to convince
benjamin Harrison, then president Of the
United States, that he would be right In
having him to manage the affairs of the
government, became the political foe Of
the chief executive, and endeavored to
defeat him for denomination at the Min
neapolis convention. He turned to an
old-time enemy. hoping, through him, to
carry out this plan. This enemy was no
less person than Secretary Blaine, and
he was assisted and ,abetted in his ma
nomination through the efforts of Mat
thew Stanley Quay. They failed, how
ever, to defeat Mr.. Harrison for renom-
ination. and they were only successful
in securing for Mr.. Blaine 1929 votes out
Of possible 500. 1t Is history that Mr..
Harrison was nominated on the first bal
lot, and that Plat and Quay left the
convention highly disyruntled and without
doubt "knifed" the Republican candidate
at the polls. Mr.. Quay, it Is said, fail
ing to secure certain funds that he de-
sired to use for his personal benefit in
Pennsylvania that year, had "tiff" with
Thomas Henry Carter, chairman of the
national Republican campaign committee
in that year. Quay left the New York
headquarters of the Republican party in
huff and did not raise his hand to adj
vance in any way the prospects Of the
Republican ticket In that year. Senator
Platt also stood aloof, and the result was
that Mr.. Harrison was overwhelmingly
defeated, and Mr. Cleveland elected presi-
dent for the second time.
It seems to be "a rule or ruin" policy
with such politicians as Plat and Quay;
if they can not have their own way in
debating measures to the people, through
the medium of presidents, vice presidents,
senators, congressman and cabinet Of
ficers, they are not satisfied.
PLATTs PLANS.
1t might be Platt's purpose to advance
Timothy 0. Woodruff, Of Brooklyn, who
is anxious to become presidential pos
sibility. This young man, whose career
is nearly as checkered as the waistcoats
he wears, believes that through the as
sistance of Mr.. Plat and by fighting
Roosevelt and Root he can secure the
big delegation from New York to further
his candidacy.
Whether or not Mr.. Plat Is impolitic
enough to favor Woodruff instead of Root
is something not actually known by New
York politicians here. However, 1t seems
his real purpose is to defeat the plans of
the president and Mr.. Root. and to pre-
vent the latter from becoming the
formers running mate on the next ma
tional presidential ticket In this connec-
ton, it might be stated, that Gov. Roose-
welt Is opposed to Woodruff's candidacy
and favors the nomination Of Secretary
Root. Platt realizes this fact and Is now
working to secure the influence Of Sena-
tor Depew to accomplish his purpose.
The latter, his friends say has not yet
consented to further the political schemes
Of his senatorial colleague.
The presidents choice for chairman OF
the Republican National committee 1s be-
lieved to be Congressman Dick, Of Ohio.
The president is very. friendly to MI.
Payne, Of Wisconsin, but the latter, hav-
ing evidently been directed to announce
that Mr.. Root did not care to become
a vice presidential candidate, will not
meet with the usual favor at the White
house.
". - rrrr