Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1910-03-07

thing he did Of his own initiative.
Twice in his life Platt was the center
of the national stage-once when ha
resigned with Roscoe Conkling from
the United States senate and was in
stantly niclSnamed .Me Too" Plntt, and
once when lac induced Theodore RooHe-
welt to run for vice president with No
Kfnley, very much against Roosevelt
better judgment, and in the face OF his
repeated declarations that nothing
could induce him to accept the noml-
nation. There could not be a better
instance of Platts powers OF manipu-
lation or of the irony that moclsed his
ripest wisdom. Mckinley was shot.
Roosevelt became president, and
Platts domination in the state lapsed
into desnetude His bodily strength
declined rapidly. He made a second
marriage which ended in the courts
and he was sued by Mae Wood. for
merly a clerk in government employ,
for divorce involving a third mar
ringe. never proved 70 have taken
place.
The episode with Conhing, which
was not exceeded in public excitement,
say the newspaper files OF that day,
by any event Of the civil war, was aa
follows:
Platt was elected to the senate in
1881 He and his colleague COnkling,
became embroiled with President Car
field in a bitter controversy over the
appointment Of William II. Robertson
10 be collector OF the port Of New
York. The nomination WAS dlstaste-
ful TO the New York organization, and
both Platt and Conking refused 20
confirm II I'm the senate. Thereupon
President Garfield withdrew all other
New York nominations made at their
instance, among which were those of
Gov. Stewart J.. Woodford 10 be Unit
ed States district attorney and Lou II.
Payne, recently remembered aa an
"accelerator OF public opinion" 10 be
United states marshal,
"a
deadlock. Platt and ConlSling both re-
signed. Conkling returned 10 the prac-
tice Of law, Was caught IN the great
blizzard OF 1893 and died Of pneumo-
mia. Platt was supposed 10 be frozen
out OF politics. Nothing OF the sort
he turned his attention TO building up
Influence in the southern tier OF New
York counties, became state leader
again i'm 1924. and 1897 was elected
o second time 70 the United states
senate, succeeding David Bennett Hili
He fell out with Gov, Frank Black, and
to defeat his denomination put for
ward Theodore Roosevelt type
whose undeyeloped possibilities he did
not justly estimate. II was Rooae-
velts rapid progress toward popularity
and power that later led Plat 20 sug-
gest him for the vice presidency, hop-
ing that IN the quiet Of that dignined
office he might be forgotten.
Platt was born In OweGO TioEa
county, New York, on July IS, 1888, ~
college with the class OF lS4g. but left
in the middle OF his Junior year be-
cause OF III health. His father wished
him TO study for the ministry. but ne
never advanced farther IN that direc-
tion than 10 sing in the church choir.
A brief apprenticeship AZ literature
was succeeded by more eongenial en-
ployment In business He proapered
in Michigan IN the lumber trade: re-
tured 10 Owego and became president
OF the TioRn National bank; was choa-
en- director and later president OF
the Southern Central Railroad COM
pany, and in 1879 was elected general
manager and secretary OF the United
States Express company, on which
company he became president In 1880
and so remained until his death
In physique, PlRtt, as a young man,
was pleasant IN appearance, delicatelY
built. restless and nervous. In later
years his visage took on grimneaE. BY
his first marriage TO Ellen Baratow OF
Owego he had three sons. Frank IT,,
Edward r.. and Harry u. Plat. His
health was feeble for some years be-
fore his death.