New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-04-22
ORTILLE II. PLATT.

with the death Of Orvie II. Plat a figure OF
exceptional Importance passes from the political
stage The nation loses in the senior Senator
from Connecticut statesman of wide ex-
perience and trained fntellieence-a counsellor
whose wisdom never failed. A veteran in
national politics, with a service in the Sen
ate extending back for twenty-six years, Mr..
PIatt mad risen to a truly commanding position
In public life. He was one of the real leaders
in tine deliberative branch of Congress, sharing
with perhaps half a dozen colleagues the enor-
nous powers which usage and tradition con-
Ter on the men who shape and execute that
body legislative programme He had been for
years a guiding spirit in those intimate inner
conferences in which the fate of measures and
poilcles IS decided and his influence had been
felt III the solution of every problem of vital
consequence with which the Senate was called
upon to deal. His activities were both con-
structlve and critical; for while as a men,
Der, and subsequently as chairman, of the Ju-
dietary Committee his advice was sought on
the form and spirit of hundreds of measures.
he interested himself besides in initiating and
championing far-reaching measures of his own.
ms amendment to the Army Appropriation bill
OF March , 1901 defining the relations of Cuba
10 the United States giving him an indlsputable
clalm 10 high rank among the constructive
statesmen of his generation.
MI. PIatts power as Il leader was due not so
much TO brilliancy to steadiness. He was
INDUSTRIOUS patient and clear sighted, and.
lhough he lacked Oratorcal gifts, he had the
i"cuItF OF slItlng IN whatever he discussed the
relevant from the Irrelevant the material from
the lmmaterial His mind was practical and
MS temper serene and equable In that re-
specL and IN many others. he offered a curious
contrast with his more brilliant and more voIa-
tie colleague, General Joseph r. Hawlev. OF
pracucaLy the same age the two Senators
coHeaSues Tor over twenty years-develOped
unequally, Generally Hawley, notable figure
in public life in the 7Os and SOS. reached his
meridian politically by 1890. After thar he de
chned and gradually became inactive and in
capacltated. But since 1890 Mr. Platt's in
huence and leadership have been moro and
more acknowledged, and the closing years of
ms career We're on the whole it's most fruitful
and most honOred years
Mr.. Platt's successful advocacy of The Tnter
national Copyright act, passed in 1891 first
brought him conspicuOusly before the public
lie had identified himself shortly after enter
ing the Senate with the effort to stamD ONT lit
erarE piracy and after a struggle Of MANY wears
an international Copyright bill was forced
through Congress-thankS largely to his unre
hitting labors. He served for long period on
the Senate Judiciary Committee and rose To no
It's chairman Connecticuts interest in tariff
legislation led him to take place later on the
FINANCE committee, where he had hand in
framing both revenue and financial measures
But his most memorable legislative achieve
ment was undoubtedly the preparation of the
so-calied Platt amendment, which. as a mem
Der or the Committee on Relations with Cuba
he drew and presented in February 1901, when
1t was evident that the time had come to de-
clare our purposes toward the pacfed island
Mr.. Platts suggestions We're accepted both in
this country and in Cuba as a model solution
of an embarrassing and difficult problem They
were embodied in law and We're made a part
OF the new Cuban constitution. They will
doubtless stand in history as his special me-
mortal The country will deplore his loss. for
it had come to appreciate his services and to
take pride in his sagacity, integrity and clear
sightcdness as a statesman and a Iawmaker.