New-York tribune., 1910-03-07
Opposition TO Mckinley.

/
! In 1896 he opposed the nomination OF
| William Mckinley declaring that he was
unfit for the Presidency, and, moreover,
! that his nomination was an impossbility
/ Taking refuge behind Morton he savagely
attacked Mckinley. Not until cool blooded
! Senator Quay admitted that Mckinley
would be invincible did Platt swallow his
objections 10 the Ohio man. Mr. Platt,
with the majority of the New York delega-
ton in attendance at the Republican Ma
tional Convention, supported Levi y. Morton
for President, and when they saw that their
! man had not the ghost of d chance 10 be
nominated they swung over and joined in
the motion that the nomination of William
Mckinley be made unanimous.
Mr.. Platt was elected United States Sena-
tor on January. 20. 1897 by the Legislat-
ure. In the Republican caucus on Janu-
AIRY IL preceding his election, he received
! l42 votes only three state Senators and
| four Assemblymen voting for Joseph II.
Choate, who was supported by the Union
League Club. Mr.. Platt succeeded David
Bennett Hill.
Senator Plat disagreed with Governor
Black, and defeated his renomina lion by
supporting Colonel Theodore Roosevelt. His
action in leading the fight against Governor
himself against a part OF the party organi-
cation in which some of his oldtimc lieuten-
ants, such as Lou L. Payn, were prominent
TO nominate Mr.. Roosevelt for Governor led
it 10 be said jokingly at the time that he
was the leader of the anti-Platt forces.
Chairman Odell OF the Republican State
Committee stood with Senator Platt IN the
fight.
Senator Plat and Mr.. Odell we're gcner-
ally believed TO favor the nomination Of
Mr.. Roosevelt for Vice. President, so as to
lessen his influence with the Republican or
ganization, although Governor Roosevelt
was outspoken in his wish to make a cam
paign for reelection. The election OF Mr..
Odell as Governor TO succeed Mr. Roosevelt
and the succession OF Mr.. Roosevelt TO the
Presidency helped 10 lessen Senator Piatt's
influence with his party.
From this point on the world saw the de-
cadence of Mr.. Platts power as a leader.
AT first the drops We're hardly noticeable.
and at other times his victories mere than
offset his defeats: but the decline was
| slowly and surely taking place.
| Mr. Plat broke with Governor OdeiI soon
after Odells election. The latter secured
denomination in spite of the Senator's I'll
will, however, and made himself leader of
| the organization. Mr.. Platt was also out Of
harmony with the administration OF Gov
ernor Higgins although by that time he
lad ceased 10 be a powerful factor in his
party's affairs.
! Senator Plat was reelected Senator in
January 1903. Some months prior TO his
reelection there had been some talk 10 the
effect that he would retire from politics re-
signing the leadership of his party. Feeble
health was assigned as the cause cf his de-
| sire TO get out of harness. He urged the
reelection OF Senator Depew in January.
1904
ON March T. 1909, Senator Plat retired
from the Senate. and with that retirement
came the last words OF him as a politician
Senator Root. who succeeded him, Mr.
Platt believed and openly said would be the
leader of the Republican party in the State
OF New York
10 friends and acquantances who talked
10 him at that time he confessed the deep
est regret at leaving the political arena.
hut said that he had simply made up his
mind it was time for him 10 retire
Il am a happy man. happy 10 be out OF
i all, was his Naledictory when he reached
New York few days later He said At
the time that he expected 10 work daIlv in
bis Office as president OF the United States
L%press Company. but that expectation
was never fulfilled TO any extent.
Senator Platt's name figured pro,niren,Iv
in the last week in the AUds-Conger
bribery investigation. AIlds's ATTORNEYS re-
Gently searched the letter files of the for
rler leader for correspondence showing thar
Platt had written 10 Senator Aids and the
late Speaker Nixon urging them TO keen the
Malby- Stevens highway bill in the Rules
Committee in 1901.
j. was for his part in smothering this
legislation that Aids is alleged to have re-
ceived a,oco from the bridge companies.
These letters have been put in evidence.
Had Senator Platts health permitted he
probably would have been called as a wit
ness.
slaine's View Of Him.
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