The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-11-30
TON PIAIT
rs A POET
Youth of the Great Political
Boss of New York
HIS METHODS IN POLITICS
How He Used Office for Gain
ing Political Strength

In0TrHE
the Republican state machine, is asking
that he shall again be elected 70 the
United states Senate. Some Of the men
in the machine who have worked with
him in politics for a great while are dis
posed TO indulge in him this fad Of his
old age, because to deprive an old man
of what he wants would be unirnd in
view of this situation of affairs in New
York state politics it is worth while
to review in some detail the career Of
Senator Platt The story for today is
his youth and his entry into public life
Thomas c. Platt spent his first child
hood in Owego, TiOga county. His father
was lawyer who, in later mood, regret
ted that he had not gone into the min
istry Thus the sons early life came to
b. environed with al that was expected
TO direct him towards a profession in
which ne would deal with lasting verities
and fire -moralities.
Ny father was a New England Pres
byterian" Mr.. Platt once said. He was
a church deacon. and his home was q
hotel for every Bible and tract peddler
missionary, or minister that came 20 cur
town. He was so strict that he never al
lowed any cooking TO be done on Sunday.
lie always ate cold food on that day and
] had 20 90 to church -FOUR times every
Sunday I went to Sunday school early
In the morning After that to service;
10 conference, T. believe Il was called. in
the afternoon and TO service again in the
evening 1 had such surrelt OF church
going that if it could be averaged up.
or spread out it would do for an my life"
Presbyterianism lost minister, and Re
publicans gained a boss by that bring
ing up.
It was on account of Deacon Platts de-
sire that his son should be a preacher
that he sent him TO Owego Academy and
then to Yale college; and it was owing
70 the sons disinclination and also to
feeble health that he soon left college.
where some of his classmates had been
Depew Judge Shiras and Andrew d.
White He went into n grocery TO keep
books; then he became clerk in the bank.
That was the period when he wrote
rhymes and jests for little Owego mag
azne called the ST Nicholas. Although
Mr. Plat WINGED at it when it was re-
reprinted last years in McClure's Maya
zine, he may simply have forgotten that
one OF his contributions TO the periodical
was this. ITO Stella:
A little star rode all alone
Along the azure sky.
And sang SO mournruuv because
No other star was nigh.
But soon another planet swept
Adown the ethereal main.
And twinkled at the pretty star.
Which twinkled back again
They wove in one their silver crowns
And locked their flashing wings.
And now no rover Of the skies
Like Happy Stella sings.
He used 10 write things which he did
not disown one Of which he read. year
or two ago at the Gridiron Club, TO show
his matured style. II was ION the the
death of p. 7. G.. Potter Familiarity known
as Pig Potter who fought for freedom,
bored for water, ard died for whiskey
Here are few stsnzas
The PotteTs We're old Berkshire stock,
Son Pig" a blooded man.
Who. with smooth-bore on his back.
Helped free the sons of Ham
lie saved his bacon in the .'wah':
His pay was not sins wages.
He cared no straw. save sages saw
Him chopped into sau-sages.
Pigs pens produced choice tender
l(o}ines
Rich literary meat
And when his gait was poetry.
You'd smile to see Piss feet
At last grim death struck Pigs thick
rind
Dried UP his water work
He made brine Of pure 'strychnine"
And picked his fresh pork
Unlike Pig Potter. NJ. Platt did not 20
70 the war To free the sons of Ham
He had. by that time made some money
in numbering in what was then the aortA-
west having served on the way thither as
q drug clerk IN MasHlon. Ohio
What was your first ambition when
you were boy" BE was asked not
long ago.
To make money" he replied prompt
" but never succeeded. So am no
longer ambitious that way"
At twenty years Of age however. he
returned 10 Owego with enough money 10
become q stakeholder I'm the Tioga Ma
tional Bank tone Of the earliestl and at
twentv-one he WAS made President Ell lt.
lie has 20 this day remained one of its
directors There is legend about ga
little back Office Little hack Offices being +.
favorite starting places for politicians lie
was In the caupaisns from 80 Onward
through Abolition excitemerts: married 2
early; was elected county cferk M TWEEN 9
ty-six; and through being banker Eot
Interested IN railroads and railroad build
ing
One OF them ran from Sayre. Ia To g
Lake Ontario and IS now the Ichigh VAL }
ley-in which ho is sun supposed 10 hold Z
stock. as well as in other coal roads i.- q
volved IN the recent anthracite strike. i
lie WIS president once of the Pennszlvt-- {
il and Tennessee Coal and Iron company.
In the early seventies he was up Tor nom q
instion for Congress. one thousand bat- i
lots were cast in a vain EFFORT. his rival (
for the place being a resolute fsAter. 4
Then finding that 500 more ballots show S
ed no weakening Of the deadlock. Platt
surrendered. as he has always has when 81
pushed into the corner by a strong oppon- S
ant
Before Goodrich" the opponent in this {
case. Mr. Platt recently caue5 -h1d
taken his seat he began 70 show aninos- &
r. 10 me with the result that I went Il
down &c Washington and asked General
Grant 10 appoint q friend OF mine post S
..es~ ut .r