New-York tribune., 1901-08-19
PLATT ATTACKS MOSS.
THINKS THE REFORMER is AFTER
SOMETHING"-CALLS WHITNEY
CONFESSION FAKE.

drs The regent crusade against osals in the
/ evidence has been obtained to warrant action on
after something whether it is poiiticaf once e or
I0t n3 don't know.-Senator PLATT, at the Oriental
Hotel yesterday.
Senator Platt sat the broad porch of the
Oriental Hotel yesterday afternoon and. looking
/ out over the gloomy Atlantic he talked about
/ police blackmail reform crusades reformers a
| state police BILL the mayoralty situation up
state politics and his good spirits. The
Senator appeared to be little affected by the
melancholy weather. but smiled frequently at his
! own thoughts Only twice in the course of A
long conversation with a Tribune reporter did
the Senator lose this serenity. On the first
/ occasion he considerably ruffled by an
onslaught of Coney Island mosquitoes. Then
again he aroused. and showed signs of dis
gust because of the mention of the recent cru
sade against corruption in the Police Depart
ment.
The Senator did not succeed in shaking off this
mood until he had delivered blow at Frank
Moss of the Society for the Prevention of Crime.
and had hnted that perhaps Mr.. Moss's activity
was due to the fact that he after some
thing.
"Al this commoton about corruption in the
Police Department has been miserable flash in
the PAN" said the Senator. The evidence OBJ
tained as a result of Whitney's arrest amounts
to nothing However guilty of blackman
tain high officials in the Police Department may
be. they are just far from State prison now
ever"
How does Governor Odell view the sltua-
ton?" was asked
The same / do the answer. He
looked into the evidence which it said i'm
plicated the head of the police system. but found
that it would by means warrant his inter
ference
CALLS EVIDENCE FAKE"
What do you think of the evidence yourself.
SENATOR"
Fake" was the terse reply.
Then it rests with the District Attorney to
get at the bottom Of the scandal?" was asked
He's done all he can. 1 guess"
Here the Senator stopped moment. and after
savaGely striking band of mosquitoes which
had made attack on his forehead he said:
This man Moss is making a lot of noise. He
appears to be in evidence all the time. He Is
active. very active But what does 1t amount
to? In this so-called exposure of police black
mail, what has he proved? Nothing-nothing at
all" The Senator here paused again. and then
added:
Il wonder what Moss is after. He appears 10
be working for something Whether it is a
political Office or not I don't know. really don't
know"
is it not true that you and Governor Oden
decided that State police bill should be passed
next winter TO remedy the existing police evils?"
There decision No"
Was the subject not discussed?"
"Oh, yes. We talked about it for two or three
days. believe now as l have in the past. that
a stste police huI should be passed. Perhaps It
may be-"
Does Governor Odell favor It after what has
occurred?"
You viii have to ask him about that I have
no right To- speak for him"
The Senator then turned from the police TO
The mayoralty campaign.
The election Of a Mayor this fall will have
much to do with all these questions" he said
Il have no individual candidate in mind
have frequently said. What all who
desire the overthrow OF Tammany is the best
man. the who has the confidence Of the
people 10 the greatest degree. The Governor and
l unanimous that point. have held for
some time the view that the anti-Tammany can
didate should be independent Democrat AL
though still of the same opinion. nevertheless
believe that any candidate. whether he be Re
publican or Democrat who can best unite the
anti-Tammany forces Is the man we all want"
'Of course you are interested in the return of
Croker on September :" interrupted friend
Certainly" was the answer. We will all be
happy then
CONFERENCE WITH COLONEL DUNN.
Colonel Dunn, chairman of the Republican
State Committee. called to see the Senator about
o'clock Just as the latter was preparing 10
take a nap. The nap postponed for half an
hour, and in the mean time the two men talked
over State politics. Among the subjects dis
cussed was the Assembly and Senate candidates
It was agreed that meeting of the State
Committee should be necessary this year. and
that the State campaign should begin soon.
From n canvas of the state. il was the opinion
of Colonel Dunn that the Republicans should
not expect to have the same majority in the
Assembly as last winter, and that instead of
l0i out of the 100 seats ninety-hve members
would be Republicans.
The candidacy of Senator Stranahan for Con
gress, 1t said has been withdrawn. and
Mr.. Stranahan is stay where he Is. This
change OF programme appears to have great
interest 70 New-York City people, because or
the Senator's persistent advocacy of the taxa
ton of mortgages The vacancies caused by
the death of Senators Parsons and RusseH
were also discussed. Mr.. ParsOns's place is TO
he filled bY Assemblyman Merton r. Lewis, the
author of the Anti Prize Fight bill
Senators Stranahan and Higgins were at the
Oriental i'm the evening, and took dinner with
Mr. Piatt Senator Higgins is TO join the Gov.
ernor next week, it is said, In an Inspection Oh
the canals.
TWO-TruRDS IN FAVOR OF LOW