Evening journal., 1913-09-30
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
Senator Tom Platt'S Opinion
Of Political TriumphS
By Holland.


One hot August afternoon in 1882
I called upon Thomas c. Platt at his
request. | had just returned from a
visit for newspaper purposes to ex-
Senator Stephen W. Dorsey, who at
this time was living upon his ranch
in New Mexico. Senator Platt was
anxious TO get from me some details
Of my conversation with Senator Dor
sey. particularly relating to the presi-
dental compaign of 1880 In that
campaign Senator Dorsey was secre-
tary of the Republican National Com
mittee. Senator Platt was elected
United States Senator in January,
1881, and took his seat as the col
/ league Of Roscoe Conkling on the day
Of the Inauguration Of President Gar
field, but a few weeks later he and
Senator Conkling resigned on ac-
count Of differences which arose be-
tween them and President Garfield
The general presumption was that
Senator Platt had retired permanent
| ly from public life. found the
Senator sitting at his desk near an
waistcOat. for the day was oppressive
! ly hot He was very cordial and as
! J thought, communicated his plans
to me with remarkable franKness. He
then spoke substantially as follows:
They think | am a past number in
| politics, while ! think that they will
| by and by discover their mistake. ]
expect to regain considerable infu-
| 4
| ! have my plans pretty we'll laid. I
want factional troubles in New York
State to cease. cannot recover
political power by cultvating faction
al feeling"
ventured to ask Senator Platt II
| he contemplated returning to the
United States Senate.
He replied very impressively: "If
| live and have my health L shall be
back again. in that body, although an
interval of some years probably will
pass before get there. think Il
is likely that the Legislature Of New
York will be Democratic for some
years"
More than a quarter of a century
later ! again met Senator Platt He
had just retired from the United
States Senate. having completed his
second term. Including his first cleo
tion Of 1881, he was three times elect
ed to the United States Senate.
found the Senator in a kindly.
contemplative mood He told me that
with single exception he had buried
completely all his resentments, and,
with that exception, cherished no i'll
will against any man. He asked me
If I recalled the conversation that
I had with him in 1882. ] was aston
ished that he should have remembered
the date and the incident told
him that my meeting with him at that
time was one Of the most prominent
in my recollection.
Well" said the venerable former
, Senator. II have been PRINTED to
accomplish, with a single exception.
all that my ambition led me to de-
sire, all that l then told you | should
do"
Tho exception he referred to, had
no doubt. was the refusal of Presi-
dent Harrison to appoint him secre-
tary of the treasury.
II have gained such authority that
they have called me the easy boss, "
he continued II have been the un-
disputed head OF my party in the ses-
sion ] have been of influence In
! party councils. ! have Just finished
my third term as United States Sena-
tor ! have had a pretty full meas
ure Of success
He was silent for a moment. Then
he reached down and took one Of my
hands between both of his and said
half dreamily, as though he were
hardly conscious of my presence;
"And yet, was it worth while? What
we're all these triumphs worth? Moth
ing
! Copyright. 1913. by f. J. Edwards
All rights reserved)