Evening journal., 1914-07-18
New News Of Yesterday
A Political Coup Which
Blasted a Career
By HOLLAND.

The late Frank Hiscock gained
greater notOriety as a member of the
once-conspicuOus, but now forgotten
big Four" of New York State, than
was brought about by his service in
the United States Senate, or his
earlier leadership in the House of
Representatives He was one of the
quartet which made the nomination
of Benjamin Harrison for President
IA 1888 possible. The other three
members of the so-callUd Big Four
we're Thomas c. Platt, not then the
supreme boss of his party in New
York State, Warner Miller, and
Chauncey NJ. Depew. All of these
served at one time or another in
the United States Senate Miller was
the successor of Thomas c. Plat,
taking the seat in the Senate which
Platt resigned in May, 1881. He was
also 10 be the candidate of his party
for governor in 1888. Depew and
Plstt we're afterward twice elected as
United States Senators and both
served full terms.
Hiscock was not especially graft
| fed that he should have been dis
/ tinguished by the naming of him as
ore of the big Four The name
applies TO these men because they
we're elected as elegates-at-large
from New York to the Republican ma
tiOnal convention of 1855
Shortly after Mr. Platt was re-
turned to the Senate Tor the second
time, l chatted with him for an hour
a. the Fifth Avenue hotel in New
York. He was occupying his favorite
seat, which became widely known as
Amen Corner" I asked the Sena-
ter what Mr.. Hiscock was doing, say
ing that he seemed to have lapsed in
to obscurity, as Warner Miller did
after his defeat for governor.
The Senator seemed to be inclined
to indulge in a little reminiscent con-
yersation, as I discovered from q
characteristic mannerism which al
ways indicated that he was in good
spirits. He began gently and 10 tar
OF stroke the back of my hand with
his own while talking.
II suppose Frank Hiscock is taking
things easy" he said He wa'
. ]
lent If lie had the tremendous en-
ergy that was characteristic of James
G. Blaine he would have had a grea
career.
, "Hiscock never fully got over hi
surprise. as well as his disappoint
ment. when he was defeated at tn
, Republican caucus in the fall of 1SS
! ! tor the nomination for Speaker. HI
never knew exactly how it happened
; lie never was able 70 understand
fdlly the extraordinary brilliant AM
sudden piece of politics which wa
! piayed by Don Cameron which re
! suited in the nomination of Genera
! Iieifer for Speaker. Had Hiscoc
, been elected, I think he would hav
had great career, He was gifte
. With one very fine qualification. Yo
- may remember that he was esteeme
the handsOmest man in either hous
Of Congress. II was a dignified an
Z. manly quality, not in any way ei
! Terminate. He knew how to pose.
: think he knew that visitors in tn
. gallery Of the house were attracte
Z TO him because they noticed ths
. among such a great body of plain
u looking men there was a man of 81
. perb manly beauty. He also had tn
; physique which appropriately SUI
: plemented his strikingly handsom
10 features. He possessed a good dei
OF tact, and knew how TO avoid NAL
= ing enemies, so that had he bee
= elected he would first of all hay
been very conspicuous for his vi
usual personal appearance and char
Of manner. and would have callt
upon his reserve powers of industl
and energy, so that 7 am sure
would have gained very great pre-
II tige as Speaker But he was defeatt
l. by magnificent stroke of politics an
he almost eat his heart out over Il
/, defeat He never was exactly Il
same man, although he did get
. the Senate five years later, becaui
n ie was brought forward as a con
al promise candidate upon whom tv
le struggling factions could agree
- Copyright. 1914, by (. J Edward
ID All rights reserved).