The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-04-05
PASSING Of THE
FIFTH AVENUE
Most Famous Hotel in New
York Went Into History at
Hour of Midnight.
MOURNFUL PARTY PRESENT
EASY soss IN THE AMEN COR
NER FOR THE LAST TIME.

New York. April AT midnight to- j
night the Fifth Avenue hotel. one OF the
most famous hostelries of the city. ended
its existence of half a century, but not
until the old timers had once more sat
upon the plush-covered seat IN the amen
corner" and once more breathed an az
Quiescent amen 10 the words or tue
''easy boss" whose political plans, there
promulgated, gave the spot world re
nown. In the old days Tom P'att was
secretive- Tonight lie confessed tnaI tIs
presidents Chauncey Depew spoke with
caution when a part of the inner circle
in days gone by. Tonight he feirly boast
ed that he had known governors VINO
thought thew did things from the execu-
tive chamber. but they were done from
the amen corner. "
More Sorrow Than Joy.
II was a jolly. half sorrowful party
that gathered to bid the old place good
| bye.
After forty-nine years of life as q no
/ tel, during half of which time IL served
as headquarters of the Republican party
| OF the state. the house is to be torn
down TO make way for monster office
| building.
| Brought to the entrance in wheel chair
and further assisted by a friend on either
/ side. Senator Plat totteTed to the amen
| corner and again heard the shouts OF
| Platt! PIatt PlattH' The aged SEN
! ator was visibly affected. but managed
/ TO speak for some moments to the crowd
that surged about him and which was
/ kept from pressing too closely upon the
| sacred spot only by Gordon Of po-
! lice
Senator Platt, In a voice that was IN
| certain at times. said:
| ANY effort the very slightest. TO ak
press what ] feel at the thought of the
| removal OF the historic landmark which
| was my home for all of thirty years
/ would compel me to take my seat In 81
/ I har nd
| assume a cheerfulness which ] have not
| got. This noble edifice, in its majestic
| simplicity. is good to look at. The Fifth
| Avenue hotel has entertained In its day
a larger number of the great of earth,
/ whose plans for social and commercial
| enterprises and Improvements were hers
matured and executed. than has any other
| house in America, but perhaps its chief
| fame Will remain in its long association
| with the Republican party. II is no idle
! boast to say that il was the judgment
| which collected in the amen corner and
there threshed out the issues Of the dav
| which for a period Of many years d.
| rected the destinies of the state OF New
York. wrote It's statutes and decreed all
| its important acts OF government
Republican Schemes Matched.
II shall not take this time 10 consider
| whether the changes that have lattery
events, nobody can take away from the
| Fifth Avenue hotel the fame that IL for
years enjoyed as the place where from
| every city and county in the state thers.
| came and met and conferred the best aTd
strongest minds In the Republican part
| and the place from which, when their
combined judgment had been finally
| reached, there went the sentiment in ac-
cordance with which popular Judgment
was nodded and put into effect. That SEN
timent, born OF the large experience and
| considerable judgment OF the popular
| leaders who composed the Republican or
here. and from here dispersed through
| out the state with a common purpose and
! a harmonious understanding. has made
and unmade presidents and governors, has
determined party platforms and policies
both in the state and the nation and has
| exercised a controlling influence upon ar
| fairs for a period Of time within which
the Republican party achieved its great
| est successes and the people OF the state
their largest measure Of prosperity
Speech of Depew.
Then there were cries Of "Chauncey.
and Senator Depew stepped upon the
historic bench.
Il have sat on this bench on and off
| for forty years. / have heard many great
questions discussed as to what was the
capital. and the capital has always been
found in this corner. / know governors
who thought they did things from the
executive chamber, but they were done
from the amen corner.
| Il have known conventions with %
delegates who thought they would make
up the state ticket. but they received
! their inspirations from the plush seats
/ in the amen corner. Many a man who
sat on these benches thought he would
be governor and was glad to get the NOM
natiOn for assembly. I speak from the
| Venerableness of old age. Years don't
count now. What counts is your condi-
/ ton.
Historic memories like THIS should be
preserved. / saw Blaine Conkling, Gram
and Arthur sit here. / have seen thil
corner filled with men in uniforms, bliI
at other times by men who wanted to b.
decorated with uniforms. I do not he,
lieve there VIII ever be a spot in ths
state or country where so much of in
fluence and power will go out to make
for history as the amen corner"