Arizona republican., 1910-03-09
Thomas C. Platt.

day. As it is. his passing away will get scant attention from the public. This is because MT. Platt was, after all. merely great politician and not q great statesman, and because he for d long time had lived in retirement caused by i'll health.
 A summary of MT. Platt's achieve ments in the field of politics would be d history of the republican organiza- ton in New York from the early sos until about 1905. for during the period mentioned he was. for all practical purposes. the organization. His achievements in statesmanship were few. During his long term in the sen ate he left little impress upon legis- lation. To him. however, belonged the credit of having placed the repub- Iican party squarely on gold stand ard platform in 1896
 It was in 1881 that MT. Platt first became known to the people of the country. and the introduction was un- der conditions unfavorable to him. Having been elected to the senate from New York in January of that year. he resigned with Roscoe Conk- ling in the following May because of their controversy with President Gar field over the appointment of collector If 1n nf Mr at that time unjustly suffered in repu- tation because of the wit of a news paper writer. Conkling had long filled the public eye. and the public scarcely knew who his colleague was. When Cenkling resigned. the journalistic wit printed the news in a New York paper COZ CONKLING." "Me Too t platt" The grotesque caricature thus made in type. together with the phrase, "Me Too," for considerable time fixed the status of Mir Platt in public opin- ion. Both ConkIing and Platt eX- pected to be vindicated by a prompt return to the senate by the New York legislature It was after they had been disillusioned as to their ability to stand against the prestige of the national administration. after two comparatively unknown men had been elected to succeed them. and after Conkling dropped out of sight as political factor-which he speedily did that the political genius of Platt be- gan to be manifest; and it was then that the people began to revise their opinion of Platt and to learn that he was far from being the nonentity that the Me Too" legend supposed him to be. Indeed. it was many years after ward before it became known that in the row with Garfield it was the firm ness or stubbornness of the quiet. silent Platt, and not the courage of the boastful Conkling which was chiefly responsible for the resignation of the took the lead in the bold determina- ton to risk everything on that single throw of the dice.
 He and Conkling were no doubt glad enough to remain in the seclu sion of private life during the storm of public disapproval which attributed to them the moral responsibility for Garfield's assassination. But as soon as practicable. MT. Platt began quietly to rebuild his political fences. So well had he succeeded by 1884 that he was able to defeat President Arthur for the nomination. It was in Arthur's behalf that he and Conkling had warred with Hayes. and he was able to punish Arthur for the latter's for getfulness of him, Thenceforward he was the undisputed boss of New York state. Reams of paper have been used in efforts to explain Platts pe his state for so many years. After all. however there was little mystery about it. Platt did not care for office, but he did like power and he sys- tematically placed ambitious men un- der obligation to him by finding jobs for them and by obtaining nomina tions for them. Possessing great wealth. and loving the political game, he followed the game with the steady purpose of making himself all power full. Even when the great prize cleo tion to the United States senate was offered to him in 1897. following Me KinIey's election. he accepted it re- luctantly. IL is not difficult for any man Of ability. wealth. leisure. and the love of politics, to gain temporary ascendancy as party leader. Platt was able to maintain his ascendancy by following the simple rule of hon. est, square dealing with his lieuten- ants He was slow to give his prom ise, but his word once given, it was inviolable. He never spoke with