The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-06-11
MAKING a PRESIDENT.
Senator Platt's Own Story of Himself
and Roosevelt.

II Frank II. Platt. son of the late
United States Senator Thomas c.
Platt, had not pinched Theodore
Roosevelt on the leg just at the criti-
cal moment In conference of the
New York delegation at the Repub-
liCan national convention in Phila-
delphia in 1900 Mr.. Roosevelt then
governor of New York would not have
been president of the United States,
succeeding Mr.. Mckinley.
Instead of shelving Roosevelt
must plead guilty to the charge of
Kicking him upstairs, 1 believe
Roosevelt himself would convict me
of this"
So wrote Senator Platt in his auto
biography OF which part is publish
ed in the June number of McClure's
Magazine. The Senator. the Repub-
lican boss of New York state, dealt
with two nominations of Theodore
Roosevelt-that for governor of New
York state and that for vice president in
the Republican national convention
of 1900 in Philadelphia. Senator
Platt sought TO answer the critics
who had asserted that in nominating
Mr.. Roosevelt for vice president Platt
sought to send him to the political
mortuary chamber In which vice
presidents have reposed.
Senator Platt wrote:
~ pinch may lie said to have made
Roosevelt president. for had he ex-
ecuted the threat of declining (the
nomination for vice president) and
had II been accepted he would never
have reached the White House"
Again:
IT may be pardoned IL / remind
my readers that but for my insistence
upon his nomination for the vice
presidency Roosevelt certainly would
not have succeeded Mckinley in 1901,
and perhaps he never would have
been president of the United States"
AS to that pinch, Senator Platt
thus describes what happened in
Philadelphia before the convention:
Governor Roosevelt was in his
room. protesting to everybody that he
would. IL nominated for vice presi-
dent, arise In the convention and un-
equivocally decline. 1 heard about
this and asked my son Frank to go
to him and say that he would be
nominated. that he could not stop
that. and I wanted his promise that
IL he were made McKinleys associate
he would run. Roosevelt and my son
soon came To- my rooms The cover
nor was in state OF rare excitement
even Tor him. I shall go 90 the New
York caucus and toll the delegates
that I shall, II nominated for vice
president. arise In the convention and
decline. can serve you, Senator
Platt. far better as governor than as
vice president said Roosevelt pugna-
ciously.
But you cannot be renominated
for governor. and you are going TO
be nominated for vice president was
my retort.
II cannot be renominated?' querled
Roosevelt.
No; your successor Is In this
room, said l, pointing to Chairman
Odell. Now. 1 want your promise
that IL you are indorsed by the New
York caucus you will not refuse and
that II you are nominated by the con-
vention you will rum / added.
Roosevelt showed his teeth, paced
up and down the room and chafed
as horse does under a tight rein
and curbed bit.
Well, Senator Platt,' finally re-
turned Roosevelt reluctantly. L will
pledge myself not to decline formally
the New York caucus Endorsement.
But 1 shall certainly urge the caucus
70 nominate another
And remember that shall pinch
you II l see any signs Of your get
ting up and declining put in my
son.
z. All right; you may pinch me as
2 hard as you like answered Roose-
Welt as he and Frank hurried to the
caucus OF the New York delegation
then in progress on the main floor
OF the Hotel Walton.
Senator Depew was presiding. and
@ length Mr.. Roosevelt arose and
addressed him. lie reiterated in most
emphatic terms his statement that
ne was not a candidate for the vice
presidency and his associates rro,,,