The San Francisco call., 1910-03-09
.PLATT LEFT CHARGE
AGAINST HARRISON
Accusation of Political Betrayal
in Letter Written by the
Late Senator

CHICAGO. March S.-The Record
Herald today prints a letter from viii
liam E. Curtis under Washington
date which contains a statement b,
the late Senator Thomas C. Platt o
New York concerning his connection
with the nomination of Benjamin Har
rison for president in 1883.
The sealed statement, which is in tn
third person, was given to Curtis som
years ago by Senator Platt with tn
understanding that it should not b
opened until after his death. The state
ment says:
The New York delegation went TO
the convention of eS supporting
one of their own number, Mr. De-
pew, for the presidential nomina-
aIIy during the first week. but
when Sunday came they decided
that he could not succeed and held
a meeting to discuss their future
action. There were Blaine men and
Harrison and Sherman men in the
delegation and friends of other can
didates, those who favored Harri-
son and Sherman being in the ma
jority and about evenly divided.
stephen B. Elkins, who had paid
a hurried visit TO Indianapolis
few days before, returned with an
undelivered letter in his pocket. 1t
was signed Benjamin Harrison"
and was addressed to Thomas Z.
Plattr It was brief. but sufficient.
and the writer informed Mr.. Platt
that Mr. Elkins was authorized to
speak for him and that any ar
rangements that the two gentlemen
might make would be ratified.
A memorable conference took
Mr.. Elkins stated he was author
lied to say that if the New York
delegation would give General Har-
would appoint Mr.. Platt secretary
of the treaSur in case of his cleo
ton and allow him to control fed
eral patronage in the state of New
York
The New York delegation was in
formed of this proposition and, ac-
cepting 1t in good faith. decided TO
cast a solid vote for General Har-
rison AS all the world knows.
this movement on the part of New
York brought reinforcements from
other states and General Harrison
was nominated.
his credit is good. and he went
out and borrowed s150.000 upon his
own personal note and turned the
money over to the treasurer of the
national committee. Mr.. Quay has
frequently asserted that that money
elected President Harrison. sew
eral weeks after the election SEN
ator Hiscock of New York went to
Indianapolis and In the name of the
republicans of New York formally
asked the appointment of Mr.. Platt
as secretary of the treasury. To
the astonishment OF Senator HIS
cock. the president elect said he
could not offer Mr.. Platt seat in
his cabinet. and when pressed for
his reasons declined to give them.
EIkins Denies Story
ESPECIAL Dispatch 10 The CALI
WASHINGTON. March s.-Senato
Stephen B. Elkins tonight denied tn
posthumous charge of Thomas c. Plat
that he had been the Intermediary t
carry to Platt from Benjamin Harriso
an offer of appointment as secretar
of the treasury in return for the sup
port of the New York delegation i
securing the nomination for the presi
dency Senator Depew also denied tn
story and claimed for himself the credi
of Harrison's nomination.
PIatt's Funeral Today
NEW YORK, March s.-Covered wit
flowers the coffin containing the bod
of former Senator Thomas Collier Plat
was taken today to Owego, where in
terment will take place tomorrow
Members of the family accompanied tn
body of the late senator TO his oil
home in this state.
Brief prayers were said today at tn
home of the former senator's son. Fran
H. Platt, AMI during the morning man
friends called.
Friends of Senator Platt will leav
on special cars from Albany, Washing
ton and New York tonight to atten
the funeral at Owego.