The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1906-01-24
STANDS UP FOR
WALL STREET
---
SKETCH OF TH0S PLATT,
SENIOR NEW YORK
SENATOR
MAKES FEW SPEECHES
Control of New York State
His Mania.
MAKES FEW SPEECHES

New York, Jan 2i-The great Empire
state, with its 100000 Of people, vast
enterprises anud marvellous resources.
has as its senior representative IN the
United States senate Thoma Collier
Platt senile yet ubiquitous. Easy
Boss OF New York politics. a million
aire and type OF the commercial states
man.
Thc susaor Of no sFaoraI bills. the
maker OF few specsh the father OF
no imporiai,s measi y kctmain 20 thg
progressive weiiass Of the wNole people.
Platt Is the silent antagonist Of any
Legislation lnimlcaI to Wall street, the
United States Express company the
railroads and he trusts,
His influence comes in the mysteri-
GUS and silent committee chambers.
In the last session Of congress Piatt
left as his most energetic footprint a
euiogy Of Matt Quay, whom we know
and who is dead.
Does '"rom" Platt fmpartiaily repre-
sent the people? From the words Of his
own mouth, under oath, he has within
few weeks admitted that vested in
terests were his clientele In politics and
special privileges his charge. In the in
surance investigation Piatt calmly re-
vealed the fact that he had been re-
ceiving insurance contributions for New
York campaigns for the last ten years
From the Equitable came $4,000 a
year, the Mutual the same amount "oc-
casionaily.r the New York Life had Civ
en- ''vee-y seldom" How much came
from Will street can only be inferred.
Why did tile insurance companies give
the United States senator these vast
sums? Here is his testimony:
Hughes. Now isn't the way II really
comes about. senator. that the use OF
these contributions in the election OF
candidates to Offices. puts the candidates
more or less under obligations not to at
tack The interest supporting him7
Platt: That Il naturally what would
be involved.
Hughes: But isn't that really what Is
involvedg
Plat: l think so.
Can any proof more comprehensive
be required of the New York senior SEN
ator's position regarding special interests
versus public interests7
PRtt has never ranked high as a
statesman. In his ideas he is provin-
ciai. For many years he has ruled the
governors and the legislatures Of this
state and they have done his bidding
with consistent servilliy Even now.
with the shadow OF the Reaper upon him,
his iron grasp does not release the prey.
New York His Domain.
The control OF New York state has
been and IS sort Of mania with him.
In Washington it is said he win trade
his vote upon "A public measure which
Affects YOU in California or elsewhere as
much as Il does us IN New York. for al
most any little patronage scheme which
viii benefit some branch of pla.ts New
York organization iis has never given
the pfoverbiaI damn" for public sen
tlmeni
How Platt gaiacd and held his power
IN the state is easily explained. lie used
10 fninlsl money for the campaign Of
legislator 100 to 81 ooo To tho state
central oonnhsoe. When the legislator
was elected ne unlerstood that he must
abide ~ the partys lucus IN all things. |
Whel fc bolted he opened Inc way for a
nci. man to s,,ees4a i.im az the next
a,spn Il has always been understood i
iht II a corporation had a r.l pend
the maa 20 see WAS the man VINO
controlled ne party caucus Tom Piatt
las leen that man FOR many years
Business ~ Politics.
plast Is very proud lie is peovish,
repellant lie has few
rrlends. NJ an these gears It Is most
that he has ever gained
dollar directly out OF politics. meanlus
DE way they usad 10 get ~ in Phila-
fn
nc business man In politics and always
ias BEEN he Is very wealthy His in
.esfments are in corporations capitalized
or millions. The largest OF those which
ie gives personal direction IS The Unit
a States Express company. lie also
lolds an interest 10 tho Safety Car Iicat-
ng ond Lighting comrauy, t5,ooooco {
formc1 under the laws 6f
yew Jersey, thf great Watering place
Z the trusts where dummy directors
ro the rule ma commercial corruption {
made easy. Piatt Is director In the /
'ew YORK ana New Jersey Ice lines.
fhlch play q part IN supplying q great :
ommodity 10 the New York public.
Silent statesmanship.
piatts personal side is not attractive ,
ghen he appears Ia public he Is usu-
iiy hobbling along on the arms OF hts
Dung wife and Ia Now York he haunts i
he Fifth Avenue hotel lives AT the s
iotham, and pays occasional visits 10 !
lhll street and the express ONCE on I
roadway Ills intlmatos are poliu- h
iana His summers are spent al a /
ne country house up the Hudson fe 4
5 moderate in his habits sentimental 4
+ temperament and strangely vain. Z
IN Washington Phlt has never st- /
cmptod "a win social distinctions There
q lives Ia hotels and Is over thc silent
oi his oNn peculiar brand ,
Z s,atosmaHsblp
What win be remembered ~ -~acfa aedf
ng generations as Ilatfs most nseful
luhlic 3et d MS Insurance testlmoay
IS confession. la which was deHniiely +
evedsd ilte LINK between polluted cam
alr..t..I II.in ANA fItrl.rlfaI nUli tIre