Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-03-08
PLATT'S DEATH DOES
NOT STIR POLITICS
CONTINUED From Page ~

covered and went about his business
as usual.
| DIR. Auterbridge said last night thai
the vitality of his patient was unusual
In spite of his feebleness he took an
active interest in affairs and refused
| to neglect his business until the die
| tates of nature imposed rest. He was
out of bed at o'clock every morning
and always early at his office.
No pallbearers have yet been named
In fact, all the family are so prostrar'
ed by the suddenness of the senators
death that they were unable to discuss
it In any manner for the public.
Known as "Easy Boss"
Thomas Collier Platt, the EASY
Boss Of earlier and brighter days, was
for many years not only the Republi'
can leader of his state. but figure In
national politics shoulder to shoulder
with men Of such rank and reputation
as the late Mathew Stanley Quay OF
Pennsylvania Both were men OF ex-
cepttonal intellectual attachments and
both turned them with signal success
to party organization. Quay died still
a power; Plat outlived his time and
felt himself in late years out Of touch
with the moving spirit Of events
Inc "Twenty Years in Congress"
James G.. Blaine described Plat as "a
business man Of great personal popu-
larity. He has an aptitude for public
affairs, and he Is man of strong In
fluence in his state. He is no debatOr,
but has strong common sense and a
Quick Judgment Of men," Yet with all
his native Judgment, wide experience
and skill as an organizer, it became
the fate Of Plat to win remembrances
more for his associations with others
than for anything he did of his own
initiation.
Center Of National Stage
Twice in his life Plat was the
center of the national stage-once
when he resigned with Roscoe Conk-
ling from the United States Senate,
and was instantly nicknamed me
Too" Platt, and once when he induced
Theodore Roosevelt to run for Vice
President with Mckinley, very much
against Roosevelt's better judgment
and In the face Of his repeated dec
larations that nothing could induce
him to accept the nomination:
There could not be a better instance
of Platt's skill in persuasion and man
ipulation or Of the irony that Knocked
his ripest wisdom. Mckinley was
shot, Roosevelt became President, and
the days of Platt's domination in the
state lapsed into senility. His bodily
strength declined rapidly. He made
second marriage which ended in the
courts, and he was sued by Mae Wood,
formerly a clerk in the government
employ, for a divorce on the strength
Of third marriage never proved to
have taken place.
The episode with Conkling, which
was not exceeded Din public excitement.
say the newspaper files Of that day,
follows: Plat was elected to the
Senate in 1881. He and his colleague,
Conkling, became embroiled with
President Garfield in a bitter contro-
versy over the appointment Of William
H. Robertson to be collector Of the
port of New York.
Withdraws Other Nominations
The nomination was distasteful to
the New York organization and both
Plat and Conkling refused to confirm
1t in the senate. Thereupon President
Garfield withdrew all other New York
nominations made at their instance,
Woodford to be United States district
attorney and Lou F. Payne, recently
remembered as an "accelerator Of
public opinion to be United States
marshal.
Finding themselves in hopeless
deadlock. Plat and Conkling both re-
signed. Conkling was caught in the
great blizzard Of 1883 and died Of ex-
posture. Plat was supposed to be froz-
he turned his attention to building
up inf1uenc. in the southern tier of
New York counties, became state lead
er again in 1894 and in 1897 WIS elect
ed a second time to the United States
senate, succeeding David Bennett Hill.
He fell out with Governor Frank
Black and, to defeat his denomination.
tvDe whose undeveloped possibilities
he did not justly estimate. It was
Roosevelt's rapid progress toward
popularity and power that later led
Plat to suggest him for the vice pres
idency. hoping that in the quiet of
that dignified office he might be for
gotten.
Plat was born in Owego, Tioga
county, N. Y, on July Is, 1898, Of Pur-
lege with the class Of 1S<9, but left in |
the middle Of his junior year because
OF i'll health. His father wished him to |
study for the ministry, but he never
advanced farther in that direction than
to sing in the church choir. A brief APP
at literature was succeed
ed by more congenial employment in |
business.
Makes Fortune in Michigan.
He prospered in Michigan in the
lumber trade, returned to Owego and
became president Of the Tioga Ma
tional bank. was chosen a director and
later president of the Southern Central
Railroad company, and in 1879 was
elected general manager and secretary
Of the United States Express company,
Of which company he became president
in 1880, so remaining until his death.
In physique Plat as young man
was pleasant in appearance, delicately
built, restless and nervous. In later
years hts visage took on grimness. By
ais first marriage. to Ellen Barstow Of
Owego, he had three sons, Frank H.
Edward r. and Harry B. Plat He had
been In feeble health for some years
before his death.
TO VISIT IN WEST.