Smyrna times., 1910-03-09
THOMAS C.PLATT
PASSES AWAY
Exhibited States Senator Dies
in New York.
He WAS IT YEARS OF AGE

When He Was Stricken With |
Brght's Disease, Which fastened
His End.
New York, March 7.-Former United |
States Senator Thomas Collier Platt, |
Republican leader of the state of New
York, died in his apartments at 1873
West Eleventh street. He was seventy
seven years of age.
The direct cause of Mr.. Platt's
death was acute Bright's disease. For
a number of years he 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 15, 1888.
His father was William Platt, a law
yer, who practiced at Owego. His
mother was Lesbie Hinchman. of a
Jamaica, L. l., family with a Revolu-
tiOnary record.
Thomas c. Platt attended the public
school and academy in Owego and in
1S49 entered Yale college. His scholar
ship was good, but he was obliged to
give up his course because of i'll
health.
Forced to abandon his idea of TAX
ing a full collegiate course, Mr. Platt
returned to Owego. and started busi-
ness as a country druggist, forming a
| co-partnersEip with Frederick M. Hull
! under the firm name of Platt & Hull.
In 1854, when he was twenty-One years
old. he married his cousin, Ellen Lucy
Barstow, daughter of Charles R. Bar
stow, originally of Stockbridge, Mass.
Miss Barstow was then seventeen. He
Rad three sons, Edwin T. Platt, now
treasurer of the United States Express
company; Frank H. Platt, a member
of the law firm of O'Brien, Boardman
Platt & Littleton, and Edward T.
Platt. The mother of these boys died
in 1901
In 1872 Mr.. Platt was elected tC
congress. He was reelected in 1874
aEG declined another denomination in
1876. In 1877 he was elected chairman
of the Republican state committee.
In those days Platt was a nationa
power. With the defeat of James G
Blaine for president, Platt became al
absolute power in New York state. II
1883 Platt and the late Senator Quay
the national chairman, ran the Harri
sen campaign.
It Is q matter of history how Plat
did not break openly with Harrison
after the Indianian became president
I as did Quay; but, when the Min
neapoIis convention came aroun
' Platt was { ere with most of his dele
; gates ranged against Harrison, VIII
was finally named only to be defeated
: Platt was one of the three men VIII
+ told Harrison in September that hi
D election would be assured if he woul
agree to certain conditions-whic
were promptly refused. When the al
swer was returned Senator Quay r
marked: "All right. He thinks tn
Lord elected him in 1883. Let us sc
v what the Lord will do this time" An
Cleveland was elected.
% Theodore Roosevelt came back fro
q Cuba at thu head of his Rough Ridel
v in 1898, jus in time fo~ Platt to deciC
" that he was the logical Republica
/ candidate for governor. Roosevelt W;
IS nominated by Platt and the Repub
D. cans elected him governor. But, lii
10 many other governors chosen by M
ID Plat. the easy boss" could not co
troll him.
,e Platt's last and greatest essay as
ii national leader was made in Philad'
n. phia at the Republican national co
40 vention in May, 1900 He wanted
k get rid of Roosevelt as governor
ad New York So, on the night of t
n first day of the Philadelphia conve
.ir ton Platt had a conference wi
III Quay, and the two decided to for
Roosevelt on the ticket as vice pre-
dent. But how was the serious gu
tion.
re Mckinley did not want him, Ma
Hanna was dead against him, a
- whatever power the administrati
- possessed was to be used for Sec
- tary John II. Long Plat left the
-, tails to Qnay. Quay waited until
=, convention was nearly ready to
A. iourn on the second day and then
1ereQ MS IGSOlullOH CdliiLS lOI luG
ture apportionment of delegates to
convention on the basis of the Rep
lican vote That night the terrif
zen ofice-holding delegates from the So
me- came to Quay to know what he
DO sired.
md They were taken to Platt and I
me- that Roosevelt was the man for '
est president, and that his nominal
dog would secure the withdrawal of
MS resolution. This news was conve
'en- to Hanna. who almost had fit of
eek oplexy; but, seeing that there
zap certain to be a row he gave in.
les next day Platt took train for !
1t York and Roosevelt was nominate
ref The real finish of Platt's polit
career came with the election
Oden as governor of New York o
became then the real leader, :
the Platt as a figurehead.
that Senator Platt's latest troubles G
Il. -.