Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-03-12
THOMAS C.PLATT
PASSES AWAY
EI-Unlted States Senator Dies
In New York
He WAS II YEARS OF AGE

Former Republican Boss Of New York
Had Suffered With Palsy For Years,
When He Was Stricken With
srlght's Disease. Which Fastened
HE End.
Former United States Senator
Thomas Collier Plat. Republican lead
or Of the state OF New York. died in
his apartments at 1S3 West Eleventh
street New York. he was seventy.
seven years OF age.
The direct cause OF Mr.. Platts
death was acute Brlghts disease. For
. number Of years ne had suffered
with palsy OF the legs. which necessi-
tated his occupying a wheel chair most
Of the time.
Thomas Collier Platt Was born in
Owego. Tioga county. on July is. 1898
HE father vas William Platt a law
yer. who practiced az Owego. His
mother was Lesbie Hinchman. % a
jamaica, L. l.. family with q Revolt.
tionary record.
Thomas G. Plat attended the public
school and academy in Owego and in
1S4S entered Yale college. His schola~
ship was good, but he was obliged &C.
give mp his course because or U
health.
Forced 20 abandon his idea OF tai,
ing FUN collegiate course. Mr.. Plat
returned 20 Owego. and started bust
ness as a country druggist. forming a
partnership with Frederick M Hull
under The firm name 81 Plat & Hull
In 1854. when he was twenty-oue years
old. he married his cousin. Ellen Lucy
BRrstow. daughter OF Charles r Bar
stow. originally OF Stockbridgs. Mass
Miss Barstow was then seventeen. 70
had three sons. Edwin r. Plat now
treasurer OF the United States Express
company; frank IT. Plat. a member
OF the law arm OF O'Brien. Boardman
Platt & Littleton. and Edward r.
Platt The mother 81 these boys died
IN 1901.
In 1872 Mr.. Plat was elected 20
congress. He was reelected In 1875.
and declined another denomination in
1875. In 1877 he was elected chairman
OF the Republican state committee
In those days Plat was national
power. with the defeat OF james g.
Blaine for president. Platt became ar
absolute power In New York state To-
1883 Platt and the late Senator Quay
the national chairman. ran the Harri
son campaign
Il Is a matter OF history how PLATE
did not break openly with Harrison
after the Indianian became president
a. did Quay; but when the Min
HeapOlis convention came around
Platt was there with most OF his dele
gates ranged against Harrison. who
was finally named only 20 be defeated
Plat was one OF the three men VIII,
told Harrison in September that his
election would be assured n he would
agree 20 certain conditions-which
we're promptly refused. When the an
sWer was returned Senator Quay re-
marked: "All right He thinks the
lord elected him in 1855. Let US see
what the Lord viii do this time" And
Cleveland was elected
Platt's last and greatest essay as
national leader was made in Phiadel
phia az the Republican national con
vention IN May. 1900 He wanted g.
get rid OF Roosevelt as governor Of
New York. So. on the night Of the
HTt day OF the Philadelphia conven
ton Plat had a conference with
Quay. and the two decided TO force
Roosevelt on the ticket az vice presi
dent. But how WA the serious cues
ton.
Mckinley did not want him. Mark
Hams was dead against him. and
whatever power the administration
possessed was TO be used for Secre
tary John ID. Long. Plat left the de
tails TO Qney. Quay waited until the
convention was nearly ready to ad
journ on the second day and then OF
fered hts resolution calling for the fu
ture Rpportionment OF delegates to the
convention on the basis Of the Repub
ncan vote. That night the terrified
once holding delegates from the south
came to Quay 10 know what he de
sired
They were taken 20 Platt and told
that Roosevelt was the man for vice
president. and that his nomination |
would secure the withdrawal OF thu
resolution. This news was conveyed |
TO Hanna. who almost had a 1t OF an |
oplexy; but. seeing that there was |
certain 90 be a row he gave In. The |
next day Plat took a train for New /
York and Roosevelt was nominated.
The real finish OF Platt's political |
career came with the election OF i
Odell as governor OF New York. Odeu /
became then the real leader. with |
Plat as a figurehead.