New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-14
PLATT PRAISES PRESS.
FNTERT4INS EDITORS.
Senator Says This State Is To Be
BattlefeId-Parker and Hearst.

b0JJL6V6I0-F OEhcF ana III CWSI.
Members OF the Republican Editorial Association
Of the State OF New-York the guests last
night al the Fifth Avenue Hotel Of Senator Thomas
c Plat. who gave dinner IN Parlor DR. in their
honor.
At Senator Platt's right was William A. smyth.
Editor OF The OwegO Times and eX-presdent OF
the association. To the left OF the host sat Will
tam Barnes, Jr. Of The Albany Evening Journal"
and chairman OF the executive committee Of the
Republican State Committee. At table with them
were Senator Chauncey NJ. Depew, A o. Bunne
OF The Dansville ADVERTISE secretary OF the
ISOLATION; Louis McKinstry. OF The Fredonia
Censor the president OF the association;
Elias VAR Of The Waterloo News; Charles S
Munger, OF The Herkimer Citizen; J. Z. Her
rick Of The Bolivar Breeze" and Henry X. WILL
Jams OF The Dunkirk Observer" Some sixty
other editors were grouped about small tables in
the room.
MR. PLATT's REMARKS.
When cigars and coffee had been served. Senator
Plat arose 10 address his guests. lie said:
It is not often that the opportunity has come TO
me 70 talk at one time TO SO large and representa-
with its company Tonight II take advantage Of
this unusual occasion TO be frank and reckless OF
OF federation characteristic Of your profession.
that it is the one privilege left TO a newspaper
reader 10 believe that he could run the paper mech
better than the editor does In common with all
the rest OF your readers have often entertained
that consoling reflection. though compelled TO ad-
limitations
my conscience It's moments OF tenderness But ior
these deficiencies l might have become a member
ne now and again intense desire TO publish a
few Of my humble opinions This desire has been
editors were saving about me. and have realized
never could understand what Job meant when
Re wanted hts enemy 10 write book. The easy
scoess 10 printers ink which some Of my enemies
have enjoyed has done much to darken other
wise gladstone life. Not that fail TO appreciat e
The glOries OF free and untrammeled press. IL IS
The terror OF tyrsnts and the scourge OF the evil
thinks about the liberty Of The press rhetoric fails
him And II Il happens, as it sometimes does IN
10 their breakfast tables any morning and pick up
Cmns 81 what they have not said. are not doing
and have never thought of saying doing. fast
and dismay they are in sore need Of rhetoric.
Rhetoric, indeed is their only recourse.
Somewhere IN The Autocrat OF the Breakiast
Table Dr. Holmes remarks upon tho different
.etNeei TWO lildlNldlials he mas as many a. SIX
There are John as he really Is John as lie thinks
are James he really is. James ne thinks he is
and James John thinks he Here IS large
and misunderstanding. But think that DR.. Holmes
.eit out OF This group two other Personaies the
10 make James think him and James he wants
10 make John think him These two are very ar
terent from an the others the inscrutable and
peSpleXing OF all. So. when an editor sits down 10
from his pen there iow not only facts ne really
knows aud the facts nc thinks he knows. but the
motive he wants the pubic 10 behefe ne enter
tains and the motive which. consciously or uncon-
III ] n
hink that editors are in all cases and AZ az times
oyinely inspired. once in = while, At least. they
are moved by the same human considerations that
enter into the hopes and fears % other men.
INFLUENCE on PUBLIC OPINION.
/ have heard Il said that the people DO not take
their opinions rom the newspapers as unreservedly
e they used. but ] think they do There IS. in
nc part Of the public upon the newspaper press
by much more effective political and social or
Eanization Precisely the same agencies that have
brought individuals into closer association, and
nave rendered organization Tor all purposes more
fanization are both working TO common end. The
Is Invoked 10 other harmony IS Of much value.
no ot5er discord much 70 be feared A.. .. E.
because in administration and IN lawmaking the
sp!t % the Republican party has been 50 faith
lily rejected that It's new Iaper press ana US
organization work heartily together. The
iona. agencies OF the party and those on whom
sss burden falls Of bringing out the careless the
indifferent and The unwilling voter are resolute with
NeV-York vii be the great battlefield in the
campo en OF 1898 ! have confidence in plans %
carry the country that % include New York.
Or suppTessing ths saiih that is N them look witt
sne accord 10 New-York to ind their candidate
sss;aaaiaste noi his sit,,s Their quandary is q
= TIE eyes OF the public bv the choice OF sober
minded highly respectable gentleman. who can
70 unl,e s ms eeents Of social dgontent upon
candidate who frankly favors disorder and social
New-Tork
AS TO PARKER'S POLICY.
approve % Judge Parker's plan TO SAY any
ming until nonina ted. When a candidate
political strength is derived solely from the fact
Wat he has said anything. II Is clea: that he
O4gu run the risk Of sacrificing bis unique
position. y is trow possible fo- his friends in all
parts 81 the country to talk for him without the
snghtest danger of his being called 70 account for
anything theV cav rs record Is perfectly adapted
20 The purposes 10 which II Is being put. II ena-
pes him 10 ciassed a high tariff man o. : q
zee trader with equal probability. lie Is the
,snoaate Of Sir. Cleveland. the reformer. and Of
htn. the precti, al politician He himself voted
~ brvan. ana fhc Democrats who voted against
.itah hail him $ their star % hope. II is "a
- oenied that his record permits this and IL IL too
,fslestle an asset Cor a candidate who hopes 10 be
he.te1 by Democratic votes 20 he frittercd away
= foolish and inapportune defamation. There are
nos among Judge Parker's friends who claim, Il
,iI.ue. hat ne could talk without IN i'm
f,'iliE this peculiar availability. but why should
ne run that risk
80 Spectacle In American politics has been more
c1IsoN than the rise Of Mr.. Hearst II Is not ac-
.eefteu Tor 5y the fact Of his inherited
wealth Nor Is 81 explained by the existence Of
.oosnalisfc political machines. he has rendered
r..tguulc service which throws light upon Il. When
ssr less than year ago, his newspapers began 70
80. -fiie ARTICLES announcing that this. that the
A. small a1o unknown political club had declared
irsa,tT % Hearst fer President. those who II
<elas smiled But already the Democratic party IN
a.. States has inoorsed this extraordinary can
-~cx sno there Is undou5ted sentiment in ths