The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1901-11-01
WASHINGTON LETTER.

When President Roosevelt left
Washington on Monday afternoon
for New Haven he left behind him
a sadly disgruntled politician in
the person Of Senator Platt OF
New York who was nursing his
wrath in his apartments at the
Arlington Hotel. When the Sena-
tor was in Washington some weeks
ago he discussed New York politics
with the President and, while Mr..
Roosevelt did not actually commit
himself, he went home with the
impression that he was to have
things pretty much his own way.
His most important request had
been for the removal of Appraiser
Wakeman, who is said to have
shown too keen an appreciation of
hi; duty to the Government and
far too small an appreciation Of
the allegiance due to the RepubIi-
can dictator of New York. For
the good of the machine discipline
it was essential that Wakeman's
scalp should dangle from the die
tator's belt. Mr.. Roosevelt had
automatically promised to look
into the natter and Mr.. Platt
supposed his object was accom-
plished.
On investigation, it is said, Mr..
Roosevelt found nothing to war
rant Mr.. Wakeman's removal and
consequently no change was made.
Finally Senator Platt, notwith-
standing the fact that he had pre-
viously intimated that Secretary
Gage was not minding his own
business in recommending Mr..
George Whitehead for the APP
praisership, joined forces with the
Secretary of the Treasury and
wrote to the President endorsing
Mr.. hitehead, and still he heard
nothing from the President.
Finally on last Sunday he came to
Washington and again be got no
satisfaction. That evening he
wired to Governor Odell and early
next morning Odell appeared in
Washington and breakfasted with
the President, but the President
left for New Haven without giving |
the slightest satisfaction to either
Of the gentlemen, and it is under
stood that they held a consolation
meeting at the Fifth Avenue
Hotel in New York on Tuesday |
evening.
Senator Platt has also found |
Secretary Gage a weak reed On
which to lean for the Secretary of
the Treasury, whose attitude is,
'Tll endorse anything if you won't
ask for my resignation" has re-
considered his position and ex-
pressed himself to the President
to the effect that he "guesses
is not 50 bad, after ALL"
The belief that Seth Low stands
little likelihood Of election does not
add to Platt's influence and the
calm dignity with which Croker
smiles aad "keeps sayin' nothin'
is an additional aggravation to the
New York boss.
While the Republicans are trying
to make the best of the appoint
ment of William Dudley Foulke to
The Civil Service Commissioner
ship, they are BY no means pleased
with the appointment. 1t is un-
ierstuod tnat Mr.. Foulke exacted
from the President, before accept
NO the appointment, a promise
hat he should have full sway under
he law in the administration of
he affairs of the commission and
hat means that good many of
he prerogatives of Republican
congressman will be cut off. The
Commission has, in the past, been
obliged to wink at many things in
,rder to secure rs much freedom
IS they have bad, but in the future, I,
With Mr.. Foulke as President Of
he Commission, for it is stated
hat Mr. Proctor will resign the
presidency in Mr.. Foulke's favor,
he Commission promises to stand
leriously in the way of many Of
he petty little patronage schemes
,oncocted by Republican Congress
nen.
1t seems as If the FiftY-seventh
congress would be compelled to
investigate the Navy Department. !