New-York tribune., 1900-04-10
CONCERNING CORDIAL ACQUIESCENCE.


In announcing a few weeks ago that he was
not and under no circumstances would be,
candidate for Vice-President this year, but de-
sired a reelection TO his present office, Gov
ernor Roosevelt went little further than was
perhaps strictly necessary, and added that Mr.
Platt cordially acquiesced in his views Since
then careful observation Of the course of events
has tended to east some doubt on the cordiality
of the acquiescence to which he referred Thus
il has been remarked that while Mr.. Platt has
naturally refraned from saying anything to
indicate that the Governors assurance was pre-
mature, the general practice of Republican dis
trct conventions called to elect delegates to the
coming State Convention has been to neglect an
obvious and excellent opportunity for saying
something handsome on the subject of the Gov
ernor's laudable ambition to succeed himself.
The explanation offered by Mr.. Odell is that the
State Convention to which delegates are now
being elected is to meet simply for the purpose
of choosing delegates at large to the National
Convention. and consequently that these dis
trict conventions should not be expected to take
official notice of matter with which the Sep
tember State Convention will be appointed to
deal.
This statement of the case is presented by
Mr. Odel with characteristic simplicity and
force. but nevertheless a great many persons
will probably continue 10 surn1se that if Mr..
Platt really acuuesced in the Governors views
with the degree of cordiality which the Gov
ernors announcement implied he would not
have permitted considerations of technical pro-
priety 10 deprive the district conventions of the
pleasure of giving expression TO their feelings.
Yet. on the other hand it is difficult to under
stand why Mr.. Platt, even if his attachment TO
the Governors programme has grown doubtful
and lukewarm. should hesitate TO have it rati-
fled with great enthusiasm at this early stage
in the proceedings. Four years ago. when he
was laboring under the impression that Mr.
Mckinley poor creature and totally unfit
to be nominated for President, he thought it
desirable TO present the Hon. Levi p. Morton
| as the choice of the State of NewYork first
| last and all the time for the office to which an
unworthy man aspired; not with the remotest
| idea that Mr.. Morton could be named. with
| any expectation of decevng anybody except
Mr. Morton to his own intentions, but be-
| cause he conceived that 1t would be convenient
TO keep the New-York delegation in cold storage,
| as il were. until he had made up his mind what
| to do with it.
In view of that performance there would
seem TO be no particular reason why Mr.. Platt
should not have allowed and even required,
the district conventions. speaking In his name,
to declare their cordial acquiescence In the
| Governors desire to be reelected, without
| regard to his own private hopes and eXpecn-
| tons. But Of course, there is the agreeable
possibility that Mr.. Platt is undergoing a process
Of rehabilitation with respect to his political
morals Of which unwillingness TO use Governor
| Roosevelt as he used Governor Morton IL an
| early symptom. We hope it may be so. and
| shall eagerly look for further evidence to sup
| port a somewhat fantastic hypothesis.