Evening journal., 1914-01-23
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
One Reason for Tom PIott'S
Pol. .tiCal Success
By Holland.

The late Thomas Collier Platt, who
was three times elected United States
Senator from New York, and who
was for some twenty years the abso-
lute ross (although he called himself
the easy boss') of the Republican
organization Of New York, became at
times a quaint and interesting philos-
Opher. lt was his habit after a day
Of lively labor in disciplining his or
ganization or in preparing for State
conventions TO chat with a few
friends reminiscently, and always
with delightfully."- humorous
philosophy. For the Senator was
really true humorist. but that was
the side OF his character Of which
the pubic had little knowledge
Moreover. Senator platt was a very
careful and often an accurate student
of human nature. discovering fire.
quenuy in the politicians with whom
he was brought in contact queer or
unusual phases Of human nature
which he was fond of nursing or
stimulating so that he could have
good opportunity for further study
Of these peculiar cases.
He was also, excepting in cases
where resentments we're vigorously
stirred in him, reasonably just in his
dealings with that exceedingly diff
fcult class of men to deal with-the
politicians of New York State. And
1t was one of the causes for his sue
cess in gaining and maintaining alb
solute leadership of his organization
that he was accustomed to approach
the politicians upon their gentler
side, fattering the vanity of some,
speaking kindly words Of encourage
ment to others.
was sitting with Senator Platt
I'm the Office of the express company
of Nwhich he was for many years
president, a few days before the meet
ing of the national Republican con-
yention of 1883. The senator--he was
at that time X-senator-having re-
signed his seat in the Senate in 1881
not to resume it until sixteen years
later--made his business Office a con-
venient gathering place for poll
ticians, especially those who came
from other parts Of the State.
While I was chatting with him
there came into the Office a burly
New York city politician. He was a
perfect type of the politician Of the
east side Of New Yo.k of a generation
ago He was a Republican and it was
through his influence I'm great meas
ure that one OF the legislative dis
tricts in that densely-populated and
overwhelmingly-De region of
the city was able almost always to
elect a Republican member of the
Legislature, and sometimes a Repub-
lican congressman.
He looked as though his vocation
was that of a man who kept butch
er's stall in one OF the city markets,
as, In fact il had been in his early
days, before he became a ward poll
ticisn.
He took a seat by Senator Platts
side. The senator, with a customary
mvement of his hand. began patting
the extended hand of this big-framed
politician with a gentle and cordial
tapping. as though to indicate that
there wa. perfect confidence between
them. The conversation lasted only a
few moments and then the big poll
tilcian went away. on bis countenance
q look Of extreme content.
After the door was closed behind
him a young friend Of the senators
who was in the room during the IN
terview, said: Il don't see how you
can tic up to such a man as that
politician. He looks as though he had
just come from a butchers shop He
IS very coarse man. When he
laughs. he yells and he sits there
with his hat on. He looks Ike a
butcher with his apron of, and yet
you sat there patting his hand as
though you were very fond OF him
You must know really what kind OF
a man he is"
My son." said the senator. speak
ing gently and with a characteristic
smile playing upon his lips, when
you get to be as old as ! am now
you viii learn. if you have success.
ful dealings with men, that you can't
make men over You have got to take
them as they are. That is rule
which I have followed in my political
life
Copyright, 1914, by E. J. Edwards
All rights reserved).
Tomorrow Mr.. Edwards will tel
How Uncle Johns Prediction Was