New-York tribune., 1910-03-07
MIR. R.PLATTSCAREER
TWICE SENATOR And
RULED HIS P1RTY.
Influence Ceased After His
Break scith OdeH - His
Famous Political Battles.

mani Pl21t. ElS earliest American ancestor,
Richard PiatJ. came 20 this country from
England ii 1898, landing a. New Haven. lie
was one Of the first settlers OF Milford, in
1883. and Was a considerable land owner.
Another ancestor. Jonathan Plat, was a
member OF tie Provincial Congress OF 1745,
and. with his son, Jonathan, served n Gen
sad Sullivars army, which drove ,le Ind
iSns out OF Wyoming Valley IN lbs.
William Plat. his father was for many
ye2Ts lawyer and land agent N the town
al owego. &c wanted his son 20 become a
minister, ard after Thomas c. Platt had
finished course at = local academy he
s-ss scit, in 1919, 10 New Haven 10 become
= student n Yale His record there was
fuli or promise, but his health failed and he
Was forced 10 leave his studies I'm the middle
oi his Junior year. A. the same time he
announced \ Discrimination 10 - into the
ministry a-d decided 10 go into business.
For time Thomas G Platt was ii rler-
chant in his home town, where re gained
some prominence as a singer in d church
choir and leader OF class in 4 singing
school. lie was at that time a TALL. lanky
young fellow, with fair tenor voice His
year and a half at Yale had given him
some incentive for literary pursuits. and he
Started a publication in Owego, calling il
The 81. Nicholas Magazine" oS which lie
was the Joke editor
Looking Tor a larger field OF activity he
Ne1t 10 Michigan, where he carried on a
llnlpcT business Tor time with success
Returning 10 Owego, lie was made president
az the Tioga Nations! Bank upon its or
kanization In January. 1865. He was also
CHOSEN a director and later president OF the
southern Central Railroad Company.
His First Office.
In 1865 lie Was elected clerk Of Tios.a
county, and during the two years he held
fhe Office lac instrumental with his
sFiend Alonzo Il. Cornell tafterwlrd Coy
einer of New York;, in advancing the no
4uical interests Of Roscoe Conkling tbrouC,
1losa and TomplIins counties. Air Platt's
position IN the Republican party RAPIDLY
increased III power.
Nj Platt was nominated for Congress In
4s4, as the result of a deadlock between
ONo candidates, TO one OF whom lie was
pledged He declined 10 ACCEPT the non1i-
nation. and finally his man Won Two wears
llatef he MAS however, elected. and again
III le'4 reelected. In tho latter year he
represented his state in the Republican Ma
uonai Convention.
During his first term in Congress- he
served on the Committee on Postoffices. and
Fosi Roads and III The next Congress
served on the Committee on Pacific Rail-
roads Upon the election Of President TIaves
ne was an unsuccessful candidate for The
place Of Postmaster General. Failing TO re-
celNe this appointment, he retired from of.
nee and devoted himself 10 business. In
A'S he was elected general manager and
secretary Of the United States Express
COMPANY
The next appearance of. Mr. Platt in poll
ueS Vas at the state convention of 1877, at
Rochester. AT that time he was a pIeasa Mt
looking, delcately built man, restless and
nervous. He had made a good start in the
financial world and he had served his ap-
lireiluceshiIs in the political world Presi-
dent HAYES had removed Mr.. Arthur from
tle Office Of Collector Of the Port OF New
York and Mr, Cornell from the Surveyor
snip This action brought on war between
she administration and the ConkIing ma
chine
Senator ConknE had been chosen TO pre-
side over the state convention but he
named Mr. Platt in his stead. and the lat
ter opened fight on President HAYES bv
reading bitter speech attacking the ad-
innistrati0u aud the Civil Service reform
policy. The more noted speech by George
William Curtis and the savage reply OF
Senator Conkiing took place at the same
Convention.
Fight for Senstorship.
The contest for the United States Sepa-
torsllip 10 succeed Francis Herman, in 1881
WAS a lively onn. The principal machine
candidates were Richard Crowley, OF Lock
sort, and Thomas {. Platt Vice-P President
elect Arthur favored Mr. Crowley, while
Governor Cornell favored his old friend
from the Southern Tier Mr. Platt carried
The caucus and was elected Senator on Jan
rary IS, 1851. His career in the Senate had
hardly begun when Senator Conking broke
with the administration on the question OF
the disposition Of New York patronage
The President. on March %. 1881, sent tC
the Senate the name of William H Robert
son TO be Collector of the Port OF New
York. Judge Robertson had been a dele
gate 10 the Chicago convention in 1880, and
organized the bolt against the unit rule in
the New York delegation, which had been
instructed for General Grant and so con-
tIibuted materially to the possibility OF
General Garfields nomination. Senators
ConkIing and Platt bitterly opposed Rob
cTtsOn's confirmation.
Finally the President was driven by their
opposition TO him to withdraw from the
senate the other New York nominations
which had been made with a view Of con-
e;latinG the machine. Among these were
those OF General Stewart J.. Woodford, 10
be United States District Attorney, and Lou
J. Pawn. 10 be United States Marshal. All
these nominations were renewed after
Judge Robertson's confirmation.
conkling and PIatt Resign.
Finding that they had undertaken what
promised 10 be hopeless struggle with the
administration, Messrs. Conkling and Platt.
on May Is. 1881, sent their designations
from the Senate TO Governor Cornell, to-
gether with a letter explaining their course
announcing The difficulty they found in rep
resenting the state 10 their notion, and say
ing:
THE Legislature is in session. II is Re
publican in ma jOrity. and New YO-k abounds
in sons quite as able as 10 bear heI
messages and commissions in the Senate o
The United States. With profound sense
~ ibe obligations We owe. with devotion
10 tie Republican party and its creed oi
lIBeity and right. with reverent attach
s1ients 20 TIE great state whose Interests
and honor are dear to the United States. Ne
itoid Do respectful and becoming TO make
room FOR those who may correct al errors
rra nave made and interpret ali GItes we
have ,1iscoaceIve6."
Iastead. however OF giving somebody else
chance 10 correct their errors they went