The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1910-03-22
The Quarrel With Hayes.

The Quarrel With Hayes.
He and Conkling quarreled with
President Hayes over patronage, and
at the next state convention Mr.. Platt,
as chairman, denounced the president
Going to New York city in 1879, he
PiatD became secretary and treasur
er of the United States Express COM
pany and a few years later it's presi-
dent, an Office he held until death. He
moved to New York and took an ac-
tive hand in politics, becoming "stal-
wart," as opposed to the half
Breeds" who were led by w. II. Rob-
ertson, William M. Evarts, Cornelius
N. Bliss and Elihu Root
In 1881 Mr. Plat had achieved such
great influence he was elected to the
United States senate and became the
associate of Conkling. He served only
few months when Conkling had a
row with President Garfield over the
appointment of Mr.. Robertson as col
lector of customs at New York. Conk-
ling told him he intended to resign.
ME, too said Plat, and for many
years he was known as "Me Too
Platt."
Seeking reelection with Conkling,
both were defeated after long SEES
scandals. He took his defeat with the
stolidity of philosopher and imme
diately turned his attention to bust
ness. He accumulated reasonable
fortune and appeared to forget poll
tics But during the administration
of President Cleveland he began to
rally around him the remnants of the
lettering Republican machine, and in
1889 he forged to the front as polit-
ical chieftain.
He forced Warner Miller to accept |
the nomination for the governorship
and made no concealment of his activ |
ity in accomplishing the defeat of his
party candidate by Governor Hill as
a rebuke to the pretension of Miller,
who. with Judge Latham, had sue
ceeded him and Conkling in the SEN
ate The opposition of Miller was also
responsible for President Harrison's |
refusal to appoint Mr.. Plat secretary |
of the treatury. During the early nine
ties Mr.. Platt was occupied in build |
ing up the state machine he dominated
for many years afterward.
Back In the Senate.
In 1896 he was in full power. He
and Quay undertook to prevent the
nomination of Mckinley, but the SUI
perior generalship of Mark Hanna de-
feated them. One thing Mr.. Platt ac-
complished was to compel the inser-
ton of the gold plank" in the plat
form adopted by the convention. The
year following he was elected to the
senate. He was reelected six years
later. He made no objection to the
appointment of Elihu Root and Corne-
Illus N. Bliss, his old time enemies, to
the cabinet and devoted himself to
the maintenance of the state machine.
When he found it expedient to nom
mate Roosevelt for the governorship
he did so to save his party, though he
did not like Roosevelt. Judge A. A.
Van Wyck was the Democratic NOM
inee and looked to be the winner, and
Cookers refusal of a supreme court
nomination to Judge DAILY on personal
grounds was always regarded as hav-
ing been responsible for Van Wyck's
defeat, and Roosevelt won by $4,000.
He wanted demonstration, but Mr.
Plat wanted to get rid of him.
Odel Begins to Harass Him.
He offered Roosevelt the vice presi-
dental nomination. Roosevelt refused
it. Plat and Quay decided to nomi-
nate him anyway, and he was named.
Mr.. Plat then selected B. b. Odell,
Jr., AS the candidate for governor.
Odell was elected and at once assumed
the active direction of the party.
Odell forced his denomination and pre-
vented Platt from placing George r.
Sheldon on the ticket for lieutenant
governor
Hemmed in by opposition at Wash
ing and Albany, Mr.. Platt's power be-
gan, to wane. He made his last stand
| trying to force the nomination of Tim
othy l. Woodruff for governor in 1904.
Odell in full power, prevented 1t and
named the late Frank w. Higgins. who
Immediately turned against Odell.
From that time on Mr.. Plat exercised
lsAAl< q $780, s~.>xx,ow Ia s-.t4w.s..z