The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-12-19
10 SUE WILL WHITE
Senator PIatl threatens Suit
Against Kansan.
FOR CHARACTER SKETCH
Plat Says Whites Malice
Against Him Is Unfounded.

Washington, Dec. Ex-senator Thomas
c. Platt announces that ne has decided
TO bring libel suit against William AIfer
White OF Emporia, Kan. and McCIures
magazine on account of an article pub
lished in the current number dealing with
the senator's life in rot too kind a way.
White has been giving attention os late
to the politics Of New York state with
special reference TO its bearing en- the
future of the president. He adores Roose-
welt and hates Plat and in his recent
writings has lauded one and execrated
the other. The picture he drew of the
senator is a matter of regret, even TO
some of the senator's enemies. II de-
picted Plat as wholly base. without pat
riotism or public spirit. dragging down
friends and foes TO perpetuate his politi-
cal power. 1t characterized him as 4 lob
byist whose life had been devoted to I'M
wholesome burroWing and intrigue.
Senator Plat said:
I have made UP my mind to enter suit
on account of the publication for which
this fellow White is responsible. 1 never
knew him and I am sure he does not
know me. Yet he seems to have conceived
a deep dislike for me. There is malice
in every line Of his so-called biography.
I do not object to his praising Roosevelt
but do object to his defaming me for the
purpose of adding to his praise. His arti-
cles are made up OF tissue of lies ana
OIL
know until today that this White claims
TO be on terms of intimacy with the
president. I do not believe the president
would give his friendship to a man who
would write about me as this fellow from
Kansas has"
The papers IN the suit have not been
served yet, but will be very soon. Mr..
Platt says he intends to have full ratis-
faction for the article, which was de-
signed to mako him appear as "a con-
ternptible object in the eyes of the world"
Mr.. Whites next picture, by the way.
is to be of Senator Tillman.
The article which offends the senior
senator from New York, was printed IN
der the caption Of Plat" in the Deem
Der number Of McClure's magazine 1t is
one of a series of character sketches writ
ten by Mr.. White, of which Mckinney"
Roosevelt" and Croker were printed
in earlier numbers of the magazine. Some
extracts from PLAT" follow:
And SO one fine morning. when
the papers announced that Plat was
elected United States senator from New
York, the people were amused, but be-
wildered. Plat as senator in those days
was 4 dwarf on stills. He entered the
senate as the political friend. but not
even the creature and certainly not the
ally. of Conl1ling, who was at the sum-
nit of his power.
Plat could work only under
cover. Daylight politics blinded him The
very moment he entered the senate fate
led him On to a great asphalt field under
a glazing electric light Publicity fol-
lowed him as a searchlisht and naturally
when the Blaine-Conkling feud broke
out Plat put his head down, trying 10
dig under. and began intriguing with both
sides. The friends of Garfield say that
Platt gave them to understand (they say
by explicit promise, which is improbable;
he admits promise by implication that he
would stand by Garfield and Blaine
against Ccnkling and Arthur. Conk'ing
also claimed PIatt's support. AS the
quarrel neared crisis Platt's embarass-
ment became burning. Suspicion began
to leer at him. Perhaps that sinking
curve OF his shoulders was bent In those
days for all time.
He went to Albany in a perfunctory
way end his canvass was mummery.
Conkling was gratifying a lustful appe-
tite for power and glory; Platt was mere
IS setting up the drinks for the hoys.
waiting for an opportunity 10 slip away
home. Then a thurderbOlt fell. Tom
Platts whole life changed in a twinkling
OF an eve 4 scandal about a woman
came. and smeared Platts face with
shame. Platt laid the blame OF the in
cident or the friends OF Blaine. Whether
the story they told was true OF untrue,
deponent sayeth not. That is really ir-
revelant The effect that the scandal
had upon the mans life. that only IS i'm
portant Tho adversely which befen Tom
5latt NJ Albany when the scandal came
seemed TO cur1le his soul. He left Al
Dany. Withdrew from the pretense u the
senatorial race. and stole into the dark
ness. All his world laughed and sconed
and reviled When he went back 20 his
express Office lie was supposed % he "A
dead man with the lime Of shame eating
hir,
Several times Platt and Roosevelt dis
agreed. ard where a question u honesty
WAS raised Roosevelt has won. 50 Ilatt
c1ns2irec 10 shelve Roosevelt Piatt and
Quay made Roosevelt ce-presids1t 70
punish him sor MS integrity. Then came
O6eu 20 the governors ehaiT o1eil was
PIctts agent. - chairual q the state
central committee. but - governor. cdcil
broke the former relation ard deded
PIatt Oaeu has q firm grip on the levers
ana Springs and stop cocks ~ the ma
chine. and Odali IS veun9 man and flatt
IS an old man - the contest II Il is pro-
larrel. can have bat che md. ard inat
vH be the end Il Platt-
Rat an this carz5t latt rest Platt much
nos-. for he whom Trey have been CALI
ing the old nan Tor - many years g.
passing vers gently frrm his tinzd1sn
ard MS power lie hzs TIE 3rg-9grp'e
pink parchment Skin - ssrHitv. ard RS
voice IS 10 longer fra- His eyes are
often spIl He -ears fhs urkernp- teara
thar old men have. 70 sleeps urcA ln
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