The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-03-26
DEFEAT OF SENATOR PLATT.

IL Is evident from the statement Of SEN
ator Platt in yesterdays Journal that he
is no longer The dictatorial leader of the
Republican party in New York. AS a mat
ter Of fact. Mr.. Platt has occupied the posi-
ton Of boss because his rule has been
conciliatory. If he had been arrogant he
would have fallen long ago. He yielded
more points than he carried when Colonel
Roosevelt was Governor. But he was con-
suited by the now Vice President because
Ii was good policy 70 do so, even If he
was sneered at by a class of sc-called re-
formers whose political mission seems to
have been TO denounce Senator Platt and
those in accord with him. 1t was declared
that the purpose of Mr.. Plat was TO get
Roosevelt out of the governorship in order
that Mr.. Odell, a man whom he could
control, might be Roosevelt's successor.
During the campaign the opposition, and
particularly the small remnant of Mug
wumps, insisted that Mr.. Odell would be
but the echo of Senator Platt. Less than
three months in office, Governor Odell has
shown by his acts that he is less concilia-
July " lHc dlSg DOSS ludn NdS SOiOllC
Roosevelt. At the outset Governor Odell
declared his policy, and from that declara-
ton he has not deviated. He declared
against a State police for New York,
while Senator Plat was nsistent upon
it. Governor Odell declared that he would
veto such a bill if it were passed. Senator
Platt called a conference to consider the
matter in dispute, and in that conference
the Governor was triumphant. it is given
out that the organization is with the Gov
ernor, which means that power has de-
parted from the longtime but sagacious
chief, who seemed to love power for the
sake of power. An old and feeble man,
it is not probable that the senator will ever
again be able to recover his lost prestige.
The men who did his bidding so long, and
who even on Saturday predicted the sue
cess of the senator, are now with Cover
nor Odell.
To Republicans in a State like Indiana,
the conditions which have prevailed in the
leading parties in New York are inexpli-
cable. For years the Democratic party in
New York has had dictators. Mr.. Tilden
was once the dictator. Ex-Governor Hill
was so supreme for ten years that no man
could be nominated upon a State ticket if
opposed by him. During the last five or
six years Croker has been dictator. For
a dozen years Senator Plat has been the
leader of the Republican party. All the
local leaders or manipulators recognized
him and yielded to his wishes and obeyed
his orders as if he were a political infalli-
bility. His States were adopted by all
conventions, which cid no more than ratify
Platt's selections.
No one man is wise enough to occupy the
relation of absolute dictator to any party.
Even if such a leader were next to in
fallible it were better that the average
judgment of the party should govern it,
even If Ii should make mistakes quite fire.
quently. 1t is not for one man or two men
to make all the opinions and name all of
the candidates for a party. For tina rea-
son the Journal believes that Senator
Platt's mishap, or uncrowning. is the best
thing for the Republican party of New
York.