The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-07

NEW YORK. March Following
the sudden death OF former United
States Senator Thomas Collier Plat.
Sunday evening, there has been con-
slant stream of callers at the home
OF his son, Frank II. Plat. 242 West
Seventy-fourth street. All united in
leaving cards and messages of condo
lence for the family of the former
statesman, one OF the last survivors OF
the stalwart half-breed fight in Re-
publican politics in the State of New
York, whose body. emaciated and
worn to a shadow by four years III
ness. rests in the darkened parior OF
the house.
Many of those who called were
beneficiaries of the dead man. Others
were part of the machine he created,
while still others represented the re-
form element of the Republican party
now in the saddle In the State. All
expressed regret over the death of the
man whose feeble figure could always
arouse Wild and genuine applause at
Republican gatherings up to about
four years ago.
In Plat passed away the "old
guard" There are few of the old
regime still in politics, but their in
have captured the machine. and when
the turf closes above the silent form
of the old senator up In Tioga county
Thursday there will be buried with 1t
all that Is left of the PLAT machine
which made and unmade state and
national politicians.
Simple Funeral.
The family has directed that there
will be no public funeral in this city.
The body will be taken away on an
early train tomorrow to the old home
In 9sWege, from While. ia-18b9,
young Plat started out to make his
mark in the political world as a
singer of songs. He Will be buried In
the old village graveyard, beside the
wife of his youth. and prior to the
interment simple services will be held
in the old village church, of which. as
a member of the drug firm of Plat
d. Hull, the dead man was for years a
deacon.
His sudden death yesterday came as
surprise to all who knew him
While he has been in failing health for
four years. and for almost a year has
suffered from Bright's disease, none
knew that his condition was serious
Yesterday morning he sat in chair
in his home on West Eleventh stree,
and talked brightly with the members
Of his family. who make Sunday the
day for the family reunion. Towards
noon he became i'll and had to be pu,
to bed, and, although the best OF
medical care was promptly at hand
nothing could be done and his life
passed out as the day drew to close
The death of former Senator Plat
four years ago would have meant q
great deal TO the Republican party
In the state. but he has passed into
complete oblivion since he left the
United States Senate and no longer
had any active part in politics.
He Is survived by his sons, Frank
Edward T., and Henry Plat.
Last Public Appearance.
Friends of the dead Senator, In dis
cussing his career and the impending
return to this country OF former
President Roosevelt, are recalling an
incident of one year and three days
ago. A year ago last Thursday Platt
who that day had been succeeded
in the United States Senate by Elihu
Root, was sitting huddled up In the
aleoye of a window or the Capitol
nj Washington. He witnessed the
departure of the retiring President
through the snow-covered streets thai
surrounded the Capitol. As he saw
Mr.. Roosevelt, the man he forced or
Mark Hanna at Philadelphia as an
unwelcome candidate for Vice. Presi-
dent. and thus unconsciously pitch
forked" him into the presidency, the
easy boss" grimly said to friend
standing by:
We'll he's going too: that is some
thing. I will never come back, MOI
will he
And with the cheers of the 2.00t
| men of the oyster Bay delegation
echoing in his ears. Plat leaned for
ward and took what was destined tc
be his last look at the man he most
cordially hated in political life.