The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-07

counted for little or nothing. With
the help of Senator Quay the COM
petition for place at washington went
against New York. Elihu Root. for
daring to oppose and denounce the
boss and his methods, met a de-
feat In the Twenty-first District pri-
maries. Patronage at home and else
where, legislative schemes at Albany.
the defeat of the Rapid Transit bill
brought the boss" into prominence.
On the eve of the Waterloo for his
party In the fall, when the Mckinley
tariff issue swept the Republicans out
OF Congress, he published an address
To Young Men i'm Politics" 1t was
a honily, inculcating study of poiiti-
cal and economic questions, PARTISAN
ship, unvarying political loyalty and
aversion for reformers.
The Rise OF Roosevelt.
There were impotent cries for new
leader after the crushing defeat OF
1890. demands by the people of the
State who broke away from his con-
troll. took up the hero OF San Juan
HILL" and set him In the Governors
chair. About all that Plat had left
after that victory was his personal
baggage and his hold on the machine
organization. He could not prevent
Whttelaw Reid from being sent as
special ambassador to the Queen VIC
toria Jubilee. He turned toward AL
bany, ''sp,it with the new Cover
nor, supervised legislation. took some
/ interest in the Mazet investigation and
little in legislation at Washington
1t was busy and not triumphant
year, but worge WAS to come. Gov
ernor Roosevelt defied the machine
and the leader Of the organization
Republicans saw with amazenent anu
disgust the growing boom Of Roose--
! vcTt Tor Vice President. TO get rid
Of so troublesome a person would be
a relief. but to kick him upstairs for
that purpose was distastefui. The eff
/ forts of the boss at Philadelphia
I were az futile as they were strenuous
+ Troubles were gathering thick and
/ fast about the head OF the Easy
/ Boss" His physical weakness was be-
coming pitiful He scarce seemed able
/ to endure the journeys between New
York and Washington. besides keep
/ ing up with business at Albany. Men
got into office without his knowledge
or consent, Legislation began to go
on at Albany in opposition to his ad-
vice. When men talked to him about
a fusion ticket. with Low for Mayor,
| he had no objections to make. When
Whitelaw Reid was suggested for spe-
oini ambassador to the coronation OF
! King Edward VII ne did not even
demonstrate, He had winced at the
I appointment OF Elihu Root as Sec
t rotary of War, but he forbore to fight
/ him.
His Last Election.
Blow fell Upon blow. The crack OF
the pistol of czolgosz scarcely sounded
n greater alarm to the New York
leader than had the shot of Guiteau
twenty years earlier. That fate against
I which he had unavailinEly contended
+ at Philadelphia had lifted into the
nations chief place of honor and
power the very last man on his list of
avaiiahles for the Office. But the Boss"
was not without philosophy and diplo-
macy. He declared rather weariiy
that he could fight no more. He
would take what he could get and
surrender what was refused. Plat
held on to the Legislature, however
and almost without break 1t chose
him. al seventy. to sit for another six
years as Senator of the United
States from the State of New YORK.
After the acute, resourceful, per-
sistent leader had won his; last VIC
tory and had ceased to hold the reins
of power at Washington or mt Albany
came his apothests at the Amen
Corner" dinner in the spring of 1909.
1t was an occasion at once pathetic
himself praised for high qualities by
Secretary Root and by Governor
Odell
Then his power waned. chiefly be-
cause OF his troubles outside. and 1t
WIS soon TO be seen that Piatt and
the Senate were to part for good. In
1909 Root took his seat. going from
the Cabinet to the Capitol.-Balti-
more Sun.