Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-24

which binds Cuba to the United States. He
is also an advocate of closure in the Senate.
In May, 1898, Yale and Princeton univer-
sites had debate on the question of
whether closure should be adopted by the
Serate. Yale took the affirmative. The
Yale debater marshaled such arguments
and facts that Princeton was defeated. 1t
afterward developed that Senator Plat had
coached the Yale men, and he was proud
of their victory.
Senator Plat is an expert fly fisherman.
He spends his summers in the Adrondacks
and fishes nearly every day. He will fish
from morning until night, and he usually
comes home with a creel laden with
speckled trout or black bass. His favortte
fishing territory Is the region around Long
Lake. When Congress meets Senator Platt
and Senator Frye of Maine who is also an
enthusiast in fly fishing. compare notes of
their catches by the hour in the room of
the Vice President of the Senate
William T. BROKER.
William T. Brooker, Senator Platts lieu
tenant, is a fine example of the business
man in politics. He halls from the Nauga-
tuck valley. He began life as a boy in the
office of brass works in Torrington. In
time he became the head of the establish
ment This he combined with other brass
works.
Mr. Brooker has a pleasant face, set off
by a reddish mustache and chin whiskers.
He has stoop which suggests a man who
is always going forward and whose mind
is travelling faster than his body. He Is the
idol of his men and never has had a strike.
Not long ago Mr. BROKER was talking
with some wealthy men on an important
matter He broke off the conversation
abruptly, and. eXcusing himself. hurried
across the hotel lobby TO a plainly dressed
man who had caught his eye. He shook
hands heartily with this man and talked
with him for twenty minutes, while the
millionaires waited with ill-concealed impa-
thence and missed their train. When Mr.
Brooker came back he explained:
That man." he said, was brass worker
who was employed by the works when |
was a boy. He was my friend, and l just
had to talk to him.
E. c. Benedict.
The two men who are in charge of the
democratic campaign in Connecticut are in
elements in the party, the radicals who
acknowledge William ]. Bryan as their
leader, and the conservatives, who regard
Grover Cleveland as the foremost democrat
In addition they are not without republican
connections.
This sounds like a contradictory state
ment but it Is true. Both the democratic
leaders once were republicans. One of
them left his party out of admiration for
Mr.. Cleveland; the other changed his politi-
cal faith because he believed in Mr. Bryan
and the doctrines enunciated in the Chi
cago platform of 1896. Both are men OF
influence in the state.
Elias Cornelius Benedict, although he
holds no position in the party machinery
of the state, is the most conspicuous figure
in the Connecticut democratic campaign.
He is known all over the country the
close friend of Mr.. Cleveland, and he is a
pronounced gold democrat. He was re-
publican until 1856. the second year of
Mr.. Cleveland's first term, when his friend
ship with the President caused him to
change His influence with Mr.. Cleveland
has always been regarded greater than
that of any other man.
Mr.. Benedict was born in Greenwicn.
Conn. He was a poor boy, and his dream
was to make himself the owner soma day
of a yacht such as those that sailed to
and fro upon the sound, and to establish
his home upon the shore. He has hved to
see the fulfillment of this dream. His home
at Indian Harbor is regarded as probably
the most magnificent in the country, with
the exception of George Vander5ilts "Bilt-
more 1t stands upon the site Of The old
Americas Club which was the resort of
William NJ. Tweed and his crenies in the
days when Tweed held New York city at
his mercy. Mr.. Benedict has spent enor-
nous sums of money there, excavatng
harbor for his yachts and rescuing FIVE