The Washington times., 1910-03-07
Steady Stream of Callers
Bring Messages of
Coincidence.
HIS DEATH REMOVES
LAST OF "OLD GUARD
Body to Be Taken to Old Home
in Owego for In
terment.

NEW YORK. March There mas
been a constant stream Of callers at the
home OF Frank II. Platt, 2l2 West Sew
enty-fourth street today. Fsw entered
the house, but all left cards and mes
sages Of coincidence for the family as
former United States Senator Thomas
Collier Platt, one of the last survivors
OF the stalwart halfbreed fisht in Re
publican politics I'm the Stare OF New
York. whose body, emaciaued and worn
20 a shadow By four years illness. rests
in the darkened parlor of the uousa.
Many Of those who called were bene-
fciaries Of the lead man. Others were
part Of the machine he created, while
StllI others represented TIE ,reform-eIe-
mcnt Of tine Republican party. now I'm
the saddle IN the State. All expressed
regret over the death of q man whose
feeble figure could always arouse wild
and genuine applause at Republican
gatherings up 10 about foG- years ago.
Last of "Old Guard"
In Plat passed away the old guard.
There are few Of the old regime still
in politics, but their influence has
vaned. The pro-rcssives have captured
the machine and when the turf closes
up in Tioca county Thursday there viii
he buried with 10 all that is LETT oC the
- plat machine" which made and un-
made state and national politicians.
Tie family has decided that there Will
he no public funeral in this city. The
body will be taken away ON an early
train tomorrow 60 the OLD home. Iu
'Ovego, from which. I'm 1850, young Plat
started out 10 make his mark i'm the
political world as a singer Of songs. He
viii be buried IN the old village grave
yard, beside tie wife of his Youth
Prior TO the burial simple services will
he held I'm the old village church OF
which. as a Tember Of the drug firm
OF Piatt & Hull the dead man was for
years a deacon
Ill for Years.
His sudden death yesterday came as
o surprise 10 all who knew MIN. While
he has been I'm falling health for four
years. and for almost a year has suf-
fered from Brighrs disease. none knew
that his condition was serious.
Yesterday morning nc sat IN q chair
in his home. on West EleAenth street
and talked brightly with the members
or his family who make Sunday the
day for the family reunion. Toward
Goon he beCame il. and had to be put
10 bed, and, although the best of meci-
could be done. 9Hd his life passed out
as the day drew To a close.
The death o. Former Senator Platt
your years ago would have meant
great deal to the Republican party In
the State. but ne has passed into com
piete Oblivion since he left the United
states Senate. and TO longer had any
ACTIVE part in politics. He IS survived
10y his sons. Frank r.. Edward T, ard
Harry Flatt
Platt's Career.
Although time and the turn Of the po-
l'tical wheel had driven Thomas Col
lier Platt out Of the minds Of those ar-
lively engaged in the pressing affairs Of
The hour. more than passing interest is
being exhibited today in the career Of
the man who once held the Empire
state I'm the hollow Of his hand who
withstood assault after assault upon
his political position and his personal
character.
In the height Of his power. when hc
was national character, Thomas Col
lier Platt was a perfect type of tie
successful practical politician. He
PLAYED politics FOR what there WAS in
It" lie was comparatively Indifferent
20 money and his family and friends
express a doubt II he eft much Of a
for he was an excellent business man,
hut he liked IL only for what IL could
bring him and always spent fl la-lshly-
Love of Politics.
But his love % politics was Unsuitable.
Politics was 10 Platt what a drink is
20 the drunkard, cards or dice to the
gamble. He entered the political arena
In 1883, when he ran for comfy clerk
Of TioEa. y. Y. and was elected. He
quit only when forced out by the lapse
- time and the change in public opin-
ION brought about by Theodore Roose-
Welt, the man who became President as
the result Of PIatts own carefully laid
plan 20 shplve him
PlaTt'S career was one OF ups and
downs. But there were more ups about
it than downs once ne resigned from
the Senate. following the example O.
Roscoe Conkliug. his colleague, who re
tired In a spectacular manner for prin-
Ctple's sake PlattS imitation Of
tonklDg upon that occasion earned for
him the nickname Of Me. Too platt-
That was the last time PIatt ever did
anything FOR principle sake" so Ear
a. politics was concerned
The resignation Of IN. two New York
Senators occurred a- % result of r0E
with President Garfield aver the latters
appointment of William a. Robertson as
collector or the pom at New York. This
was agalnSt the wishes or the New
York Republican organization and Cnnk-
confirmation by the Senate. Garfeld
Immediately withdrew all the New York
nominations from the Senate and q
deadlock followed
Failed of VindicatiOn.
Conking resigned I'm dramatic style,
with the firm conviction. il was always
said. that the New York Legislature
would rC-elcrt hin, as q means Ot show
ing Garfield that New NOrk'S repre-
Eeutstivts i'm the Senate should be re-
spected. But the vindicatiou did not
come. The designations of Platt and
tonkling were accepted and The LcEis-
lature elected other men to take their
places after a long night This broke
tonklings heart and hastencd his
death.
Plat was declared politically dead,
NUt subsequent events showed nc was
only in trance. He had worked prInci-
lally among she northern counties Cf
New York up 30 thet timc and IL was
through them that .is individual power
spread. But with his sudden and uneN-
geCtCd downfall, lie turned his attention