The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1901-04-19

ouaAen Esaing of the New York Ne
Dsblican Kings Reign Hss
Come "a Pass.

For SO long a time had Thomas
Collier Platt ruled without influential
opposition in the counsels of the re-
publican party in New York city and
state that for many years past he
has been accepted by all save a few
thousand independents, with repub-
lican affiliations or leanings or long
ings, as the autocratic ruler of the
party during the remainder Of his
natural life. The independents have
once or twice started a revolt against
suits than to draw upon themselves
still larger measures OF his scorn
and hatred. They have been constant
in bitter censure Of him and nave
held him up to ridicule as one Of
small intellect and narrow intelli-
gence. performing political antics be-
fore the country and high heaven.
But all this censure and this ridicule
has been uniformly-until DIV
drowned in the louder chorus Of
adulation by the faithful.
The truth Ia that Thomas Collier
Platt's intellect is not small and his
intelligence Is not narrow. The most
d~etractive thing that a be said of
him in his presumptuous role Of
statesman is that he has a mercantile
mind, with a fondness for and grasp
! of details. together with an ignorance
of or contempt for great principles
of state. III health defrauded him
of the higher education and while
still a youth he took up with a mer-
camille life. He succeeded. and had
soon money enough to enter the
banking business. AT the same time
he conducted lumber interests of his
own in Michigan. but not to the neg
lect OF his political interests.
As a budding politician il was in
his favor that his home was in Os-
wego-in that part of New York
state where Roscoe Conkling needed
a trusty friend and ally. He was
elected in 1872 and reelected in 1874
to congress-. Mr.. Conkling was then
serving his first term in the senate.
In Washington the two men formed
an alliance. offensive and defensive,
according to the secret terms OF
which they were to endeavor to con-
troll the federal patronage for New
York. and also the state patronage.
All things went smoothly with them
till about 1879. when their enemies
made an attempt TO take control OF
the republican state convention and
set up n new order Of proceeding.
Mr.. Platt was a delegate in that con-
vention. in which il was for n day
undecided on which side the majority
was. but so skillful was his manage
ment that he brought the majority
over TO him and was himself made
the chairman OF the convention.
Conkling was Endorsed. the organiza-
ton perpetuated in his and Platt's
hands. and the next winter the legis-
lature reelected Conkling to the sem
ate. In 1881 Platt's election to the
senate was dictated by his friend and
partner in politics. But then arose
the quarrel between them and Presi-
dent Garfield over the patronage, and,
being worsted in hat quarrel, they
both resigned from the senate.
The partnership between the two
men ended when they failed in their
endeavors at Albany TO be returned
to the seats they had haughtily va
Gated.
Mr.. Conkling thenceforward es-
chewed politics. but Mr.. Platt con
finued to play the game. His talent
for details enabled him soon TO get
control Of the organization of his
party. and. exercising that control.
he managed 10 bring to his support
many Of the great corporations Of
the state and all the corrupt infu-
ences of his own party and many Of
the corrupt influences of the oppos-
ing party in New York city. Then he
became the acknowledged 'boss" OF
the New York republicans and one
Of less than half a dozen bosses of
the republican party OF the entire
country. In 1897 he had himself
elected to the United States senate.
Since that time he has been n terror
and a burden to Mr.. Mckinley and
his administration.
And now the supposed impossible
has suddenly come TO pass. Mr..
Platt is defied at both Washington
and Albany. and the whole country
r~esounds with the announcement that
the rule of Boss Platt is ended. But
-"the boss is dead: long live the
boss"-some other politician of near
~ the same stamp will arise to fiji
the place from which he has been
so suddenly hurled. One cannot con
ceive Of the republican party with
out its boss in the Empire stated
Chicago Chronicle.
Lawyer for the Trusts.