New-York tribune., 1901-12-09
PLATT TO BE REELECTED.
COLONEL DUNN SAYS THE SENATOR
WILL CONSENT.
DECLARES HE IS A COMPARATIVELY poor
MAN, AND HAS GIVEN HIS MONEY
FOR THE PARTY

Senator Platt will be reelected to the United
States Senate, despite his present desire re-
tire from that office There is a tremendous SEN
timent in the Republican organizat ton, which
Mr.. Platt will not resist when he realizes its
magnitude. This sentiment has been caused by
Senator Platt's sacrifices to the Republican
party and his personal into 1rity.''
This statement made yesterday by Colo
mel George w. Dunn the chairman of the Re-
publican State Committee. Colonel Dunn had
come down from his home, at Binghamton, and
he said that he intended TO stay in this city
the entire week He was moved to speak of
the United States Senatorship by the report
that Lieutenant-Governor Woodruff likely
to succeed Senator P1att Colonel Dunn went
on to say:
You trot out all the candidates for the
successor of Thomas c. Platt that you wish.
The number or the kind of men will make little
difference. IF Senator Platt lives until January
l. 1909. and has legs stand on, he will
be elected his successor
But he has said that he does not want to
be returned" suggested a newspaper man.
Il know he has the But he
will be reelected despite that. There is a senti-
ment in the Republican party of this State
which he will not want to resist when he learns
its strength The sentiment for re-electng
Thomas c. Platt is strong the sentiment
which elected him first. His leadership in this
State is as strong as, if no. stronger than, it
was"
What are the reasons for Senator PIatt's
III hn1ense power as leader?" asked.
His self-sacricing and his integrity of char
acter, was the reply. Senator Platt is a poor
man to-day, although he might have made
millions in way which many political leaders
would have considered legitimate. Senator Platt
mas for the last twenty years drawn d salary of
SlS.000 president of the United States Ex-
press Company. Part of that time he has
also been United States Senator, at
salary of 5000. And yet to-day he is COM
paratfvely poor man. 1 would not give 100000
for full and clear title to all that the Senator
possesses In his place State leader, with the
great powers that are attendant upon that Office.
with the complete control of patronage, and
with all the other influences that accompany
such place. Senator Platt might have made
$200O00O0. And he might have done In
way which many political leaders would
slider as wholly legitimate.
But instead of building up wealth for himself.
the Senator has contributed his own money to
the work of the Republican organization. He
has always gone down into his pocket in sup
port of the of his organization whenever
the call came. and whenever he that defeat
was inevitable without his support He has
often been known to contribute out of his own
pocket toward the candidacy of his friends. [
have seen this with my own eyes many and
many Il tlrne. II was always Ine success Oh the
Republican arms that was uppermost in his
mind. And thus il is that he has built up
wonderflI organization. which will stand by him
to the last ditch, and will send him back to
Washington
The election of United States Senator will be
held at the session of the Legislature in lHri.
The men who will at this election will he
the Senators and ASsemblym who are to be
chosen the polls next fall. Because of the
preponderance of the Republican party in the
legislature at the present time it is safe to
sumo, so the upstate Republican leaders say,
that the Repu oCans will then have control.
Only a Democratic landslide will be able, they
say. turn the scale. 1t is for this reason
that the Republican leaders are at the present
time cautious about making any changes in the
Excise law. which, some of them fear, will
alierate the rural population of the State, upon
which the Republican party depends.