The Caucasian., 1910-03-15

could aQQ TO MS own pEeSI1SS' yet hS
always remained friendly with them
and usually kept his word once 1t was
given. He was man Of few words
and was not particularly interesting as
a companion unless he wanted to be.
He was a most eloquent listener.
When he reached decision he gave
1t rapidly and with finality. He watch
ed the trend of public sentiment With
the vigilance of hawk.
It was at Owego. in Tioga county.
N. T.. that MIR. Platt was born seven
ty-six years ago July Is last, he went
into the drug business and married
when twenty his cousin, Ellen l.. Bar
stow She was the one boss" that the
old time ''easy boss," as he was called,
ever feared and respected. While she
lived her distinguished husband steer
ed clear Of the domestic breakers that
afterward caused him so much trouble
and his relatives deep humiliation
Mrs. Platt was a woman of almost as
much force and character as her hus-
band She knew how to handle him
dllO was dlAIOSI Cl5 SOOo PCl4tiS1AA'
With her Mr. Platt embarked in
business and politics in the early days
Of the Republican party. His first vote
was for Fremont and Dayton. He cast
his fortunes with the Republican party
then and never wavered in his allegi-
ance. His first public Office was in
1872, when he was elected to congress.
He was reelected in 1874. He was
never conspicuous for any great
achievement as a legislator, but be-
came intimate with Conkling and be-
gan to exercise influence in the politics
Of the state.
The Quarrel With Hayes.
He and Conkling quarreled with
President Hayes over patronage, and
at the next state convention Mr.. Piatt,
as chairman, denounced the president.
Going to New York city in 1879. he
Platt) became secretary and treasur-
er OF the United States Express COM
pany and q few years later its presi-
dent, an Office he held until death. He
moved to New York and took an ac-
tive hand In politics, becoming ''stal-
wart," as opposed to the half
breeds" who were led by w. b. Rob-
ertson, William NJ Evarts, Cornelius
N. Bliss and Elihu Root.
In 1881 Mr.. Platt had achieved such
great influence he was elected to the
United States senate and became the
associate Of Conkling He served only
a few months when Conkling had a
row with President Garfield over the
appointment of Mr.. Robertson as col
lector OF customs at New York. Conk-
ling told him he intended to resign.
me, too.'' said Platt. land for many
years be was known as "Me Too
Plat"
Seeking reelection with Conkling,
both were defeated after a long ses-
sion. during which there were many
scandals. He took his defeat with the
stolidity OF a philosopher and imme-
diately turned his attention to busi-
ness He accumulated reasonable
fortune and appeared to forget poll
tics. But during the administration
of President Cleveland he began to
rally around him the remnants of the
tottering Republican machine, aud in
1889 he forged to the front as a polit-
ical chieftain.
! He forced Warner Miller to accept
the nomination for the governorship
and made no concealment of his activ-
| ity In accomplishing the defeat of his
/ party candidate by Governor Hill as
a rebuke to the pretension of Miller,
who. with Judge Latham. had sue
ceeded him and Conkling In the SEN
ate. The opposition of Miller was also
responsible for President Harrisons
refusal to appoint Mr. Platt secretary
of the treatury. During the early nine
| ties Mr.. Piatt was occupied in build
ing up the state machine he dominated
for many years afterward.
Back IN the Senate.
In 1895 he was In full power He
and Quay undertook to prevent the
nomination Of Mckinley, but the su-
perior generalship of Mark Hanna de-
feated them. One thing Mr. Platt ac-
compiished was to compel the inser-
tion OF the gold plank" in the plat
form adopted by the convention. The
year following he was elected to the
senate He was reelected six years
later. He made no objection to the
appointment Of Elihu Root and Corne-
lius N. Bliss, his old time enemies, to
the cabinet and devoted himself to
the maintenance Of the state machine
When be found it expedient to NOM
| mate Roosevelt for the governorship
he did SO to save his party. though he
did not like Roosevelt Judge A. A..
Van Wyck was the Democratic NOM
inee and looked to be the winner. and
Croker's refusal Of supreme court
nomination to Judge DAILY on personal
grounds was always regarded as hay
ing been responsible for Van Wyck's
defeat, and Roosevelt won by $4,000.
He wanted denomination. but Mr..
Plat wanted to get rid Of him.
odeII Begins to Harass Him.
He offered Roosevelt the vice presi-