Democratic messenger., 1910-03-12
THOMAS C.PLATT
PASSES AWAY
ex-United States Senator Dies
In New York.
HE WAS II YEARS Of AGE

Had Suffered With Palsy For Years,
When He Was Stricken With
5right's Disease. Which fastened
His End.
Former United States Senator
Thomas Collier Plati. Republican lead
er OF the state of New York. died In
his apartments at 1873 West Eleventh
street. New York lie was seventy.
seven years OF age
The direct cause OF Mr.. Platts
death was acute Brights disease For
a number OF years he had suffered
with palsy OF the legs. which necessi.
tated his occupying a wheel chair most
/ Of the time.
Thomas Collier Platt was born in
| Owego. Tioga county. on July 10. 1888.
! His father was William Platt a law.
yer who practiced at Owego. His
mother was Lesble Hinchman. OF a
Jamaica. L. l.. family with Revolu.
tionary record.
Thomas G. Plat attended the public
school and academy In Owego and in
ls49 entered Yale college. His scholar
ship was good. but he was Obliged 20
give up his course because OF Ill
health.
Forced 10 abandon his idea OF TAX
Ing full collegiate course. Mr. Plat
returned to Owego. and started bust
ness as a country druggist, forming
co-partnership with Frederick NJ. Hull
under the firm name OF Platt 4 Hull
In 1854. when he was twenty-one yea
old, he married his cousin. Ellen Lnc'
Barstow. daughter OF Charles r. Bar
stow. originally OF Stockbridge. Mass.
Miss Barstow was then seventeen. He
had three sons Edwin r. Plat, now
treasurer OF the United States Express
company. Frank H. Platt. member
OF the law firm OF o'Brien Boardman,
Platt & l.ittleton. and Edward r
Platt The mother OF these boys died
in 1901
In 1872 Mr. Platt was elected 60
congress. He was reelected In 1874
and declined another denomination in
1876. In 1877 he was elected chairman
Of the Republican state committee.
In those days Plat was n national
power With the defeat OF James G.
Blaine for president. Platt became an
absolute power In New York state. In
1883 Plat and the late Senator Quay.
the national chairman. ran the Harrl-
son campaign.
II Is a matter OF history how Plat
did not break openly with Harrison
after the lndianian became president,
as did Quay: but when the Min
neapolis convention came around
Platt was there with most OF his dele
gates ranged against Harrison. who
was finally named only TO be defeated
Plat was one OF the three men who
told Harrison in September that his
election would be assured II he would
agree to certain conditions-whlch
were promptly refused. When the an.
swer was returned Senator Quay re.
marked: "All right He thinks the
Lord elected him in 1883. Let us seq
what the Lord will do this time" And
Cleveland was elected
Platt's last and greatest essay as
national Lender was made In Philadel
phIa at the Republican national con.
vention In May. 1900. He wanted Ia
get rid Of Roosevelt as governor OF
New York SO. on the night Of the
first day OF the Philadelphia conven
tion Plat had conference with
Quay. and the two decided to force
Roosevelt on the ticket as vice presi
dent But how was the serious ques.
tion.
Mckinley did not want him. Mark
Hanna Was dead against him. and
whatever power the administration
possessed was 10 be used for Secre
;ary John d. Long Plat left the de
tails 10 Qnay Quay waited until the
convention was nearly ready TO nd.
journ on the second day and then OF
fered his resolution calling for the fu
ture apportionment OF delegates 10 the
convention on the basis of the Repub.
lican vote That night the terrified
ofice.holding delegates from the south
came TO Quay TO know what he de
sired
They were taken 10 Plat and told
that Roosevelt was the man for vice
president. and that his nomination
would secure the withdrawal OF the
resolution. This news was conveyed
TO Hanna. who almost had ~ OF ap-
oplexy: but, seeing that there was
certain 10 be row he gave In The
next day Platt took train for New
York and Roosevelt was nominated.
The real finish OF platt's political
career came with the election Of
Odell as governor Of New York. Odeli
became then the real leader. with
Pla,t az fgurehead.