The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-07
E3ENATOR PLATT'S CAREER
ONE OF STRANGE CONTRAST
HI Political Activities Eydencng Marked Executive Ability Inter-
spered by Frequent Ami ours Which Drew Him
Into Conrt-Was An Easy Boss

Ex-senator Plat was born In
oMeeo. Tioga county, N. r., July 10,
l13x. and FOR half q century or more
was prominent In the politics OF the
nation. AS president Of the United
c1ates Express Company he has. IN
addition to national affairs, been a
noted fignre in business. Compare
t1vely recently, when a suit for re-
celver for the express company was
N Med. he declared his service IN tas
v United States Senate had worked 10
no disadvantage TO the business.
Besides his part In the proceed
\ mrs OF the Senate, he gained noto-
riety b. hts matrimonial affairs ia's
first wife. his cousin, Ellen Lucy Bar
STOW. bird al tfTe Fifth Avenue Hotel
February II, 1901. In oes ,her, 1908,
Senator platt married Mrs. Lillian
n. Janeway OF Washington. Then
In 1897 Mae Wood sued him for d.
vcrce. alleging she had been married
r. him secretly November .. 1901,
and the divorce papers named Mrs.
Janewax q correspondent. This SUIT
was later dismissed, after exciting
trials. In which Mae Wood was ac-
cused OF perjury.
The trial was Of national impor-
lance. High government officials
were named in stories of an alleged
conspiracy to get marriage papers
away from Mae Wood. Mfr. Loeb
OF Wash inEton." was once mention
ed, hut this was never proved. Be-
fore this, In 1905. after a little more
than a year OF married life, Senator
and the second Mrs. Plat parted.
They signed a statement saying tina
after reports Of scandals involving
t~k. 4fAn q ffas a.k nE
had agreed upon seraFatfon, giving
simply unhappy differences" as the
reason
An office-hoider at rs. Plat climb
ed rapidly. A 40 he was In the House
Of Representatives. In eight years
more he was Senator of the United
States
THE passing Of Plat" as his last
term was called began In 1908, when
the easy boss" WIS elected Senator
for New York for the third time.
Piatt's power had been In the ascend
ancy. In 1881 he had been at tho
climax.
Association with Roscoe Conkling,
then the imperious and Imperative
director Of republican policies Tor a
vast following in New York. was per-
haps OF greater advantage to Conk-
ling than 1t was to Platt, but Conk-
ling early discovered that his politi-
cal lieutenant was equipped with
qualities FAR more potent To control
than were the accomplished states
manshsp and fascinating oratory or
the tremendous personal dignity OF
the peerless" leader OF republicans
CoEkliag's school OF the politician
was one IN which acceptance of the
dietuEa OF the organization was tht
xEt AT rash.7 tfatS Il
Scholar, When the teacher revoited
against President Hayes because ~
had violated the demands OF the or.
ffedo1 Republicans of New York and
set over them. in the best Offices. thost
who had reheiied against tho ma.
chine Flatt identified himself with
conkling's fight against Hayes ane
most Of the acts of his administra.
lion.
His First Election.
When conkling made his famou'
light 10 obtain Grants nomination a
Chicago in 1850. and the Blaine con
hneenf from New York helped to hu
initiate Gonkling and Plat and tn,
5tfers OF the 'ss06" by nominating
Garfield for President. Piatt shared
Ssonkling'g bitter disappointment ant
resentment. that was not fully as
suaged by the nomination OF Chester
& n. Arthur ApF ltF~ III eSthtut- SNp
until Conkitag was willing. rather
late in the campaign, to say that New
York should help elect Garfield die
Plat help, The factions went ints
the Gnntsst with knives snoWing under
their sleeves. ready for use upon eacf
other The dis,rast of Garfield b,
conkiing was shared by his lieuten
ants, of ~l,efH Plat was chief aa'
when Plat WAS suggested as a candi
date for senator the Blaine men a
Albany and ell over the State nut
tered and sneered.
Mr. Plat WAS sworr IN as senate
the day before Garfield Was inaugu
rated
Then he and Garfield had "a figh
over Federal appointments and tn
foxy" and easy" boss won out afte
sensational deings. Lou Payne an
others who gained rotoriety thereb
first came TO the front in New Yorl
affairs. Plat was boss Tor the frs
time.
Al home Mr.. Plat was power dur
Ing Harrisans administration. TIL
tHEk he hHd set himself TO perform
Ito grasp ard hola every wire OF con
frei of the machine, 10 gain the credi
fur 1t of tit7wrfrtg Hit to get hit
friends in Office and % keep his foe
out--ec cupied his time, The po@e
OF the "boss" over the Legislature be
ran to be fell as never before. Com
j pleta abdication of It's authority U
makes It's own officers, to arrange IL
committees. to originate and perfec
legislation. may not then have beei
In contemplation. but the steps weri
taken toward that now-accomplishe'
subyertioH.
Power OF Machine.
Not able men. out political ciphers
were needed 10 fll the seats at Al
bany. So the ohpdient ciphers wer'
provided through the agency OF th'
machine. and the head Of the ma
chine was great among them LAW
making. legislative Investigation. th'
movement 10 secure the Columbian
Exposition for New York, were al
dealt with strictly upon their poiitt'
cal merits Mass meetings to express
New york's desire 70 have the fall
sitsa no.