New-York tribune., 1910-03-10
Mr.. PLATr BURIED
SERTICES At OWEGO.
Prominent Republicans Honor
Memory of Ex-senator.

Owego. ~. Y, March 9.-On hillside
overlooking the village OF his birth +ba
body of Thomas Collier Platt, former
/ United states Senator and for many wears
Republican leader of New York State. was
buried to-day. The ceremonies at the First
Presbyterian Church and at the grave were
brief and were attended by many os his
| former political associates ana olitinle
friends and neighbors.
| The little brick church on North avenue
where funeral services were conducted by
the Rev. George Douglass Young at 1890
o'clock, was filed to the doors. The body
lay in state close to the chance in the
church, where 1t was viewed in the early
hours of the day by scores o. persons.
Flowers We're massed about the coffin
and almost hid 1t from view. Ex-Sen-
ator Platt's loyalty to his friends was the
keynote of the eulogy Mr.. Young taking
his theme from Proverbs xvii, Il: "A
friend loveth a all times" He said in part:
Our county. though small In extent and
relatively poor in its resources, has given
10 the life of both the state and the na-
tion an extraordinary number of men Of
note. but none who have been so intimate
/ y: so prominently and so long identified
with the life of both state. and nation as
was Thomas Collier Platt. Though born
IN the comparative obscurity of q small
country village, his has been for years
household name throughout both state and
nation. But in nothing, If mistake not.
was Senator Platt greater than in his ca
snip. True, Mr.. Platt had his enemies, and
they We're many and bitter and vindictiVe.
! That seems, unfortunately. almost a nee
esSarY part. of our public life. But, then,
Mr.. Platt had his friends. too, and their
name was legion. Few men have had such
a host of them-friends who would go al
most literally through fire and water for
him For years he was the greatest power
ever known in the politics of our Empire
State. to say nothing OF his mighty lnfiu"
enco in national politics.
Men called him the easy boss, and
/ they called him such because he did nor
self It was JOY and a delight for men
to do his bidding. They trusted him and and
his Judgment, and they gladly followed
his suggestions and directions
How did the man acquire such an ascen-
/ dancy? Why did men SO blindly. and yet
so willingly. follow his leadership? 1t IS
cheap and easy. and il is cynical as well,
to say that they did go from .mercenary
motives. But men followed him Just in
the same way when, in the old days. he
had no special fayors to confer or emolu-
ments 70 bestoW. Others are saying IL
was because Mr.. Platt was great organ
izer. His was a genius for political organ
ization. There has never been shrewder
another in political life lacks-a launtless
courage But when you have said all this
you still have left unsaid that which gave
| him his. chief power and capacity for
The larger part of power to awaken de-
votion grew out of forces within the reach
! of every one of us. AS | see them, they
were faith in men, love for men and 10y
atty TO his friends.
Relatives Surround Grave.
Following the brief services in the church
the body was taken 10 Evergreen Cemetery,
where It was buried beside the grave of the
former Senator's first wife. Surrounding
the grave were Frank H. Platt and Edward
I. Platt, sons Of the dead man, and their
families, Mr and Mrs Livingston Platt
and other relatives and Mr.. and Mrs. Gus
tav Abel at whose home in New York Sen
ator Platt died
The paIlbearers were William A. Smyth,
postmaster of Owego; Frank II. Baker. of
Owego, ex-state Railroad Commissioner;
BENJAMIN F. Tracy. of New York; Repre-
sentative J. Sloat Fassett, of Elmira; Rep
resentative JOHN W. Dwight, of Dryden;
Edward g. Riggs. of New York; Chauncey
II. Crosby, OF New York, and Timothy l..
Woodruff, chairman of the Republican
State Committee.
TIE Washington delegation. which ar
rived in Owego i'm a special car shortly af-
ter s O'clock included Representatives Will
lam s. Bennett. of New York; Michael Z.
DriscOll. of Syracuse; Z. B. Nreeland. Of
Salamanca: Joseph y. Goulden, of New
York: J. Sloat Fassett, of Elmira; John W.
Dwight. OF Dryden, and Charles c.. Ben
nett, secretary of the Senate. Neither Cen
ator Root nor Senator Depew was present
Delegation from Albany.
The state Legislature was represented by
committee comprising Senator'S Harvey
.. Hinman of Binghamton; John i.
Schlossar, of FishkiI Landing; Seth g,
/ Hoacock. of lion: George II. Witter, of
WelIsville. and Thomas II. Cullen. OF
BROOKLYN. and Assemblymen Frank l..
Howard. Of Tioga; Kirk B. Delano, Of Mad
ison: {. T. Brown, Of Cortland; Warren J.
Lee Of Kings; H. 9. Perkins, Of Broome;
L. H. White, of Schenectady, and John c.
Uackett of New York. They were accom-
panied by Charles Z. Hotaling and B. J.
Haggerty. sergeants at arms OF the Senate
and the Assembly, respectively.
Other prominent men in attendance were
Ex-Governor BENJAMIN r. Odell. John a.
;Ieicher. Borough President George II.
Cromwell of Richmond William Barnes.
IT, Of Albany. and the Rev. DR.. Alexander
Mckenzie. president of Einira College. a
former pastor of the First Presbyterian
Church Of Owego.
President and Mrs. Taft sent wreath of
hyacinths: Senator anG Mrs. Cnaunce- NJ.
Depew, orchids and lilies; ths New York
Legislature, a floral cross; the Amen Cor
ner. voets and gardehias; the Republican
state Committee wreath OF roses, and
the New York State Congressional dele
CATION. a blanket Of roses.
Public Offices and business houses We're
closed during the funeral a mark OF re-