Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1908-04-05
FAITHFUL BID.
FAREWELL To
HALLOWED
SHRINE:
Fifth Avenue Hotel for Forty
Years the Headquarters of
Makes Way for SkyScraper.
.PlATT AND DEPEW
GROW REMINISCENT
Aged Senators Boast of Power
Welded From Famous Amen
Corner in Days When Easy
Boss Ruled,



tBy Morning Journal Special LEASED wirs.I
New York, April AT midnight
tonight the Firth Avenue hotel one
Of the most famous hotels OF the city.
ended its existence OF half century
but not until the old timers had once
more sat upon The plush-coyered seat
IN the "Gmen corner and once more
breathed an acquiesoent amen to the
words OF the easy boss, whose po-
litlcal plans. there promulgated, gave
the spot world renown. In the old
days Tom Platt was seeretlve. To-
night he confessed that the amen cor
nef had made and unmade presi-
dents"
Chauncey Dcpew spoke with eau
ton when a part of the inner circle
in days gone by Tonight he fairly
boasted that he had known governors
"who thought they did things from
the executive chamber but they were
done from the amen corner"
II was a jolly half sorrowful party
that gathered to bid the old place
good bye
After forty-nine years of life as a
hotel, during half of which time II
served as headquarters of the repub-
| lican party OF the state, the house Is TO
/ be torn down to make way for a mon
ster office building.
Brought to the entrance IN wheel
hair and further assisted by
! friend on either side, Senator Platt
tottered to the amen corner and
| again heard the shouts Of "Platt.
! Plat. Piatt
The aged senator was vsibly af-
fected, but managed to speak for
| some moments to the crowd lhat
surged about him and which was kept
| from pressing too closely upon the
sacred spot only by Gordon of po-
! J &c.
senator Platt in voice that was
uncertain at times, said:
ANY effort, The very slightest to
express what / feel at the thought or
The removal Of the historic landmark
which was my home for all of thirty
years would compel me to take my
seat In silence, 50 ! must avoid that
subject and assume "A cheeriulneSS
which / have not got This noble
ediflce In Its day one of the most
imposing in our city, even now In its
majestic simplicity Is good to look
1T. The Firth Avenue hotel has en-
tertaincd in It's day larger NUMBER
of the great of the earth whose plans
for social and commercial enterprise
and improvements were mere ma
tured and executed, than mas any
house in America but perhaps IT'S
chief fame viii remain in its long as
socintion with the republican party.
II Is no idle boast to say that II was
the Judgment of the men who col
lected IN the amen corner and there
threshed out the issues OF the duY
which for period of many years di-
rected the destnies of the state OF
New York, wrote Its statutes ana de-
creed all It's important acts OF gov
ernment.
~ shall not take this time TO con-
slider whether the changes that have
latterly occurred are reforms or oth-
erwise. AT all events nobody can
take away from the Fifth Avenue
hotel the fame that II for years en-
loved as the place where from every
city and county in the state there
came and met and conferred the best
and strongest minds in the repuD-
Hcan party and the place from whlch,
when their combined judgment had
been finally reached, there went the
sentiment in accord with which pop
Mar Judgment was moulded and put
into effect That sentiment born or
the large experience and consider
abla Judgment Of the popular leaders
vho composed the republican organi-
zation and who habitualy assembled
here and from here they ClFpf r."t
throughout the state with common
nurpGse and harmonious UNDER
standing has made and unmade presi-
dents and governors, has determined
party platforms and policies, both in
the State and the nation and has
exercised controlling influence upon
I affairs for "A period of time wlthln
which the republican party achieved
it's great successes and the people OF
the state their largest measure OF
prosperity"
Thea there were cries for Chaun-
cey. and senator Depew stepped upon
| the historic bench,
II have sat on this bench on and
! Off for forty years. ! have heard
/ many great questions discussed as 20
1 what was the capital, and the cap
] ital has always been found in TINS
| corner. know governors VINO
| thought they did things from the eN-
| ecutve chamber, but they were done
| from the amen corner
II have known conventions with
nine hundred delegates who thought
/ they would make up the state ticket,
1 but they received their Inspiration
/ from the plush seats in the amen cor
ner
'Many a man who sat on these
benches thought he would be COVER
\ nor and was glad to get the nomina-
/ ton for the assembly ! speak from
the yenerableness Of old age Years
don't count now What counts is your
condition,
Historic memories like this should
be preserved / saw Blaine, Conk-
ling, Grant and Arthur sit here. |
have seen this corner filled with men
I'm uniforms, hut at other times by