The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-03-16
MADE A DEAL
Letter Left by 7. C.. Plat Exposes AL
legged Political Plot.
INVOLVES HARRISON

The Communication, Which Has On
" Come TO Light Since the Death
OF the Ex-senator, Charges Ben
iamin Harrison, Late President,
With Trickery and Deception.
The controversy as to whether
President Benjamin Harrison prom
ised to appoint the late Senator Thos-
C. Platt secretary of the treasury in
return for the support OF the Ne"
York delegation in the national Re-
publican convention Of 1888 contln-
ues. The story Of Mr.. Platt's declara-
ton that such a promise was ade
and broken Is Itself interesting.
William E. Curtis, a newspaper
writer, Of Washington, says that a
short while after the publication or
the John Sherman memoirs, in 1895,
Mr.. Plat gave him a sealed letter not
to be opened until both he, Platt'
and President Harrison should be
dead. Mr.. Curtis says he opened this
letter the morning after Mr.. Plat
died, that is Monday morning.
The letter he printed in n OF the
Washington papers. In substance 1t
says that at the Republican conven-
ton of 1888, Stephen B. Elkins, now
senator from West Virginia, went to
Senator Plat, at the head OF the
New York delegation and producing
a letter from General Harrison, said
that II the New York delegation
would vote for Harrison, Mr.. Plat
would be appointed secretary Of the
treasury.
It further says that for the same
consideration, as further payment for
his prospective job in the cabinet,
Mr.. Plat gave his personal check for
$4,000 for the election Of Harri-
son, which s150,000, MI. Plat says,
was what turned the election in
New York for Harrison and elected
him.
1t is all interesting, being very
much like the case Of Roosevelt and
Hartman. Roosevelt promised Har-
riman that II he would raise a large
fund to be used in the election In
New York he would invite him to
Washington to assist in the prepare
ton Of his message to congress. And
as in the case Of Hartman, Plat de-
clared afterwards that the bargain
had been violated.
First Of all come Mr.. Elkins and
denies that he, In the name OF Cen
Harrison, promised Mr.. Plat rhe
place in the cabinet. He says that
he did promise that Mr.. Platt shoI'd
be consulted about patronage In New
York. Now comes another alleged
posthumous letter, this tune from
Gen. Harrison, saying that he never
unmised Mr.. Platt a cabinet ap-
ointment, and that he never had
my idea until after the election that
Mr.. Plat wanted such all app int
nent.
But ]. Sloat Fassett, now a repre-
sentative from New York in congress,
who was associated with Mr.. Plat
and the New York machine at that
time, declares that the alleged post
humous letter Of Senator Plat IS
stu Substantially correct, that Mr.. Plat
was promised the appointment, and
that he himself, Mr.. Fassett, went to
President Harrison and urged upon
him the keeping of the promise.
1t is generally believed that there
vas some kind Of a deal with Mr..
Plat for the New York delegation
and that when he produced that
s150,0O0 to elect Harrison he had
some such thing in view. doubtless
believed he would surely get the APP
pointment as secretary Of the treas
ury: but il Is thought to V been
a misunderstanding. No such bar
gain would have been put IN writ
in.
Gen Harrison did write a letter
during that convention Of 1888 to
Tom Plat, and sent it by Steve Ell
kins. But the cautious Elkins in
stead of delivering the letter out
right merely read it to Plat and
kept 1t. Exactly what was in it Ell
kins does not say though he says he
has it still. Perhaps he will pro-
duce it. And perhaps he will not.
1t depends upon what Is in it.
But this is evidence to all Of the
methods Of bargaining and sale used
in these Republican conventions. 1t
is not the first time; and 1t is doubt
full If It will be the last. y
OTERTAEES OFFICER