The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1902-05-30
Some Impressions of the United
States Senate

/
Platt, senior senator from New Yorl
state by Mr.. Allen in the Decembel
number OF McClure's magazine, is |
most caustic arraignment of that gentle
mans political character and life
From the time of his literary career a.
the funny man" of st. Nicholas
magazine down to the present when al
this unmerciful autobiographer says
He whom they have been calling tn,
old man for so many years is passins
very gently from his kingdom and hi
power. He has the dry pink-purplt
parchment skin of senility, and his
voice is no longer firm. His eyes are
often dull. He wears the unkempt
beard that old men love- He sleeps
much in the day time and he works au
tomatically when he is awake"
Senator Plat is nearing seventy years
of age and his has been an eventful life
politically. Full of ups and downs and
devious ways. Now on the crest of pc
| itical favor, again made to feel the
sting THAT is sharper than an adder's
tooth" Master of the politics of the
state, but unable to control New York
City, in the politics of which place he
has always been regarded as an inter
loper. AS the protege of Senator
Conkling he entered the United States
senate and at once became involved in
that senator's quarrsls with Blaine and
his friends, and was pictured in the
cartoons of the day as the me too" to
Conklings peacock leadership. Dragged
from his seat in the%senate by Blaine
and his followers he kept on, as his
political biographer says. working
under the surface of things, buTrowing
and digging" He has had to do with
the making of several presidents, but
helped to make one, indirectly. which
it is certain to remark never entered his
previous calculations With Senator
Quay he did much towards making
Theodore Roosevelt vice president, but
did this for no such purpose as fate
finally determined. He made Odell
governor of New York, and the governor
and the president have joined forces and
the end of all this will inevitably be the
passing of Platt."
AT the beginning of the present session
of congress Senator Platt would come
into the senate chamber bent and
apparently grown feeble. He did not
remain long, Calling a messenger he
tottered towards the main entrance,
took his hat and cane from the messenger
and was gone. He is seldom in his seat
these days and is apparently uncon-
cerned with the important matters be-
fore congress.
1t is not because ne is prominent
figure in legislation that Senator Platt
is mentioned here for he is not. He is
hardly known as a factor in shaping
legislation in this congress. He takes
practically no interest in such matters
as the Philippine policy or the Ship
debates. Thus he is the antithesis of
Senator Hoar, who is older by a half
dozen years, but never shows lack of
interest in any measure before congress.
1t is said that Senator Plat is narrow
both morally and intellectually. But
this might be said of most politicians,
and whatever may be said of him other
WISE he is known to be strictly honest
in his business dealings. He has never
made money out of politics. And in
the handling of immense amounts of
there has never been penny
for. He takes pride in
this integrity and is pleased in having
it known. He lives simple life for
man as prominent as he and his bust
ness habit is his strongest trait of
character.
wv
Two members with the years of long
and distinguished public service behind
them, honorable according to the old
school of Interpretation, dignifed, con-
siderate and courtly of manner, with
different political creeds yet uniting in
support of justice and equitable rights,
Senator Morgan of Alabama and Senator
Hoar, of Massachusetts,, are CONSPICUOUS
men in the United States senate. They
are the great constitutional lawyers of
the senate Their opinions are taken as
authority of the highest order in all
questions involving the. constitution.
In the Federal Supreme Court their
opinions are listened to with the closest
attention.
Much of the lives of these two grand
old men, for nearly half century past,
has been devoted to the service of their
country, while Senator Hoar has seen
the longer service in congress, Senator
Morgan's service was interrupted by the
Civil war in which he took CONSPICUOUS
part on the confederate side and rose to
the rank of brigadier general. There
is hardly more than years difference
in their eyes. They are both hale and
hearty, splendid specimens of manhood
preserved by righteous living. The face
Of the venerable Massachusetts, senator