The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-03-07

he was the only man that could beat
Blaine in the convention. Before the
nominating committee at the State con-
vention in 1879 they gave Hayes
token by nominating for governor Cor
nell, whom Hayes had turned out Of
the custom-house. and Arthur. whom
Hayes had turned out as collector or
the port Of New York, was made chair
man OF the Republican State committee
Cornell was elected, and resigned as Re
publican national committeeman from
the State. He was succeeded as national
committeeman by PIatt. who was also
made chairman of the executive commit
tee of the State committee. Gov. Cor
nell offered to make Plat superintendent
OF public works, but the latter did not
want the place. and IN January. 1850 he
was appointed quarantine commissioner
by Cornell
When the delegates were chosen for the
national convention in Chicago IN 1850, al
though Mr.. Blaine had many friends
among the members Of the Utica conven-
ton, where the delegates were selected.
Conl:ling insisted that the seventy dele
gates be instructed for Gen. Grant
Grant and Blaine both went down in the
struggle, and Garfield friend Of Blaine
was nominated. Then. lest Blaine go
down in defeat. Arthur was nominated
for the Vice Presidency.
Arthur now resigned as chairman OF the
Republican State committee and Plat
took his place, retaining also chairman
ship Of the executive committee
Garfield carried New York state by a
plurality Of 5,Sse
Success az Campaign Manager.
Plat as a campaign manager was
voted great success. He was different
in his characteristics from Conkling.
COnkling would neither bend nor break:
Plat was suave. persistent, determined.
conciliatory, and good harmonizer. He
demonstrated at every turn that he was
an adroit politician. and that in a cam
paign he brought the most hostile polit-
zeal elements together
Plat Is Elected Senator.
With Arthur Vice President and Cornell
governor. ii remained TO make Thomas
c. Plat United States Senator for the
humiliation of Hayes. The movement to-
ward this end was begun Immediately
after Garfield's election. Arthurs antag-
onism was aroused from the start. He
had for a candidate Richard Crowley, OF
Lockport, Niagara County. After one of
the bitterst fights the State has known.
Plat. on January Is, 1881, was elected
United States Senator
u. -.
did not intend to allow Conkling and
Plat to dictate to him regarding Fed
eral appointments for New York State
On March 81. 1881, he sent to the Senate
the nomination of William H Robertson,
of West Chester, to be collector of the
port of New York. At the request OF
Conkling, the Senate decided that all
nominations for Federal Offices in New
York State should lie over Until Deem
Der. on May 3 Garfield withdrew all OF
the nominations for Federal Offices which
were friendly to Plat and Conkling, and
on May is Senators Conkling and Plat
sent their designations TO the New York
State legislature. with the request that
| they be accepted Immediately Then be-
gan the fight to re-elect them, that the
| confidence of the State in its Senators
should be demonstrated. The Conkling.
Plat faction was beaten, and Warner
Miller and Elbridge G. Lapham were
elected United States Senators.
PIatt Names n Governor.
In this fight were developed the two
political camps the Stalwarts and tbs
Half-breeds, and the party in the State
was so hopelessly split that another Re
publican governor was not elected unit
the election of Levi P Morton, in 1894
Mr. Morton was nominated by Mr.. Platt.
When. at the death of Garfield. Arthur
became President, Conkling and Plat be-
lieved that he would recognize them as
the Republican leaders Of New York
State. BUT the new President disappointed
them.
Conkling returned to his law practice
and said that he would never enter poll
tics again. Piatt, although occupied with
his various business pursuits, did moi
give up, As soon as 1t was understood
that Conkling was out of the game. the
| Stalwarts gathered under the banner 81
Plat. The Federal patronage was in The
hands of Senators Miller and Lapham
the State leader OF the Haif-breeds.
| Plat, as q leader. was patient. perse.
vering, and resourceful. Miller and Lap
ham were no match for him in general
ship.
The first blow to President Arthur and
the Half-breeds came in the gubernatoria'
campaign of 1SS2, when. after President
Arthur had interfered and had dictated
the nomination Of his Secretary Of The