The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1910-03-16
Letter Left BY I. c. Plalt Exposes A.
ieged Political Plot.
INVOLVES HARRISON
The Communication, Which Has On
" Come to Light Since the Death
OF the Ex-senator. Charges Ben
;amin Harrison, Late President.
With Trickery and Deception.

The controversy as 20 whether
Pres!den: Benjamin Harrison prom
;sed 20 appoint the late Senator Thos.
c. Plat. secretary .: the treasury IN
return for the support OF the New
York delegation IL the national Re
publican convention az 1888 contin-
ues. The story OF M7. Platts decla'a-
ton tha, such promise was made
and broken il itself interesting.
William e. Curtis. newspaper
writer. OF Washington. says that a
.ho.; while after the publication o:
the John Sherman memoirs. in 1895.
Mr.. Plat; gave him sealed letter not
10 be opened until both he. Pla;t.
and P7.siden, Harrison should be
dead. Mr.. Curtis says he opened this
letter the morning after Mr.. Plat
died. that Is Monday morning.
The letter he printed in one Of the
Washington papers. IN substance Ii
says that at the Republican conven-
lion OF 1855. Stephen B. Elkins. now
senate. from West Virginia. went to
Senator p!att, at the head OF the
New.Yoci delegation and producing
. letter from General Harrison. said
that II the New York delegation
would vote for Harrison. Mt. Platt
would be appointed secretary OF the
treasury.
Il su.,he. says that for the same
consideration. as further payment for
his prospective JOB IN the cabinet.
Mr.. Pla:, gave his personal check FOR
s1s0.o0o for the election Of Ha!r:-
soa. which s150.00o. Mt. Plat says.
was what turned the election liz
New York for Harrison end elected
him.
I: IS all interesting. being very
much ike the case OF Roosevelt and
Hartman. Roosevelt promised Har-
-,man that Il he would raise large
:unt to De used IN the election IN
New York he would invite him TO
Washington to assist n the prepaTa-
son OF his message 70 congress. And
as in the case OF Hartman. Platt de-
c!.red afterwards that the bargain
had been violated
First OF all come Mr. Elkins and
.!entes that he. IN the name o. Sec.
promised NJ. Plat, 'he
place in the cabinet. He says that
he did promise that M. Plat: ssol'd |
be consulted sbou. patronage 10 New
York. Now comes another s':eG"i
letter. this Gmc troln |
Gea. Harrison. saying that he never
promised NJ. Platt . cio.ne: ap-
/. o;n.m.H.. and that he never had |
ny .dea until after the election :het
Er. Pls,t wanted such az a2p int
.aent
But J. Sloae Fassett. now repre-
from New York il congress,
wno w.s associated with NJ Platt
and the New York machine at that
,!mo. declares that the alleged post
humous letter Of Senator Platt IS
correct. that MT. Plats
was promised the appointment. and
hat be himself. Mr. Fassett. went 20
President Harrison and urged upon
him .he keeping o: The promise.
Il is generally believed that there
was come kind OF deal With NJ.
Pl.tt 70. the New York delegation
and that when he produced that
s150,o0o to elect Harrison he had
some such thing in view. doubtless
believed he would surely get the ap-
poiEcment as secretary Of the treas
ury. but il IS thought TO have been
3 misunderstanding No such bar
gain would have been put il writ
Ia.
Gen Harrison did write lett":
during that convention Of 1883 70
Tom Platt. and sent It by Steve Ell
kins. But the cautious E!k!ns in
stead Of delivering the letter out
r!gh. merely read /; to Plat and
KEEP. Il. Exactly what WAS n It Ei-
kins does aot say though he says ne
hss Il still Perhaps be vii! pro-
duee Il. And perhaps he will not.
Il depends upon what IS in It.
Rus this IS evidence TO al! OF the
methods OF bargaining and sale used
in these Republican conventions. 1t
!s no. tie nrst time: .ad Il is doubt
70! /. Il will be the last.