New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-27
ROOSEVELT BOWED
TOPLATT'S WISHES
His Correspondence Shows Ion
sultation with Easy Boss
at Every Step.

NuIldllOll WIN
at Every Step.
Probably for the first time in Amer
lean politics the entire correspond
o,co between Governor and the
boss of The state, with whom he was
working. is being revealed here. Will
lam Barnes. through his attorney
started to-day to read into the RECORD
Of HIS $4,000 libel salt against Colohei
Roosevelt every letter that passed be-
tween the Colonel when ne was uoV-
ornor in 1899 and 1900 and Senator
Plat. who dominated the Republican
organization at that time.
The letters Of Governor Roosevelt 70
Senator Platt were subppnaed from inc
executors of the estate of the easy
boss" The letters that Senator fiat'
sent TO the Governor were forced from
tbeir concealment in the files OF
Colonel Roosevelt IN the same manner
These letters show the motives be-
hind all the appointments Of Governor
Roosevelt. They indicate clearly how
hard the Governor tried to respect
every wish OF the leader of the organi-
cation.
Although most Of the letters were
on matters Of legislation and appoint
ments, one that referred TO the future
Of the Governor was most lntereSli ~
II was dated February !. 1900, and IN
II Roosevelt referred 70 the suggestion
that he be a candidate for Vice Presl-
dent. lie argued that he would be I'M
I able to achieve anything as Elce-Pres-
ident and that his great wish was 10
be renominated for Governor
Further, the Colonel asserted that
he could not stand the financial S tram
and would be unable to entertain ms
had Vice Presidents Morton and Ho-
bart
never been a money maker and that 50
long as he would be unable probably TO
leave much money TO his children he
felt that he ought to leave them an
achievement Of letters or public ser
vice. Such achievement he could not
see in the ce-Presidency. 81 feel /
ought to 90 on in public life" he wrote.
Colonel on Vice-Presidency.
In a letter dated in the State Ex-
ecutive Chamber, February ], 1900
Colonel Roosevelt wrote to Senator
Platt:
First and least important, II you
happen 10 have seen 'The Evening Post
recently YOU ought TO be amused, fol-
il is moralizlng with lofty indignation
over the bringing scrvility | have dis
PLAYED in the matter of the Insurance
Supernterdent. fear it will soon take
the view that il cannot possibly sup
port you as long as you associate with
me.
Vow. as serious matter. 7 have
done a great deal of thinking about
the Nicc-Prcsidency since the talk
had with you, followed by the letter
from Lodge and the visit from Payne,
of Wisconsin. | have been reservlng
the matter 10 talk over with you, but,
i'm view Of the publication in The Sun
this morning, | would like 20 begin the
conversation, as il were, by just line
or two now.
81 need not speak of the confidence
I have in the judgment OF Lodge, yet
can't help feeling more and more that
the Nice-Prcsidency is not an honor
in which / could do anything, and not
an office in which a man who Is still
vigorous and not past middle life has
much chance of doing anything, as you
know ] am OF an active nature.
an spite Of all the work and all the
worry, and very largely because OF
your constant courtesy and considera-
ton, my dear Senator, have thorough
ly enjoyed being Governor. ! have kept
every promise, expressed or implied.
made on the stump, and | feel that the
Republican party is stronger before the
state because of my incumbency Ger
tainly, everything is being managed
now on a perfectly straight basis and
every Office is as clean as a whistle.
Preferred To BE Governor.
"Now, ! should like TO be Governor
for another term, especially if we are
able to take hold of the canals in seri.
Gus shape, but as Nice-President
don't see that there is anything | can
DO. ! would simply be presiding Of
ficer, and that should find a bore. a,
you know, | am a man of moderate
means although | am a little better
off than The Suns article would indi-
simply i'm Washington, and could not
entertain in any way as Mr.. Hobart
and Mr.. Morton entertained. Ny chill
dren are all growing up, and find the
burden of their education constantly
heavier, so that | am by no means sure
that / ought TO 90 on in public life al
all, providing some remuneratiye work
provided itself.
The only reason that | should liks
to 80 on Is that, 6s l have not been q
money maker. ! feel rather in honor
bound TO leave my children the equiva-
lent H. a way Of a substantial sum OF
actual achievement in politics or let
tiers. Now, as Governor / can achieve
something, but as Nice-President
should achieve nothing The more
look at il the less / feel if the Vice.
Presidency offered anything to me that
would warrant ny taking H..
"Of course. : shall not say anything
until l hear from you, and possibly not
until | see you. But I did want you &c
know just how / felt"
on January -, 1899, Governor Roose
welt wrote to Piatt from Albany:
Locke has refused 20 act as counsel;
so has Milburn. | am at a loss to know
whom to suggest. George II. Adams
of New York, and Bowers have boti
been suggested TO me. Have ais,
thought of John T.. Parsons. In som,
respects Edward +. Shepard will be Z
good man, but | do not like him anC
do not wish to employ him. want e
get some man whose name will be
guarantee Of good faith in which W,
are acting. What do you advise
Would not Austin Fox be the best man
Has McDonough acted about hi
Second Assistant Secretary Of Stat,
in any way that would commit m,
about McMackin? The labor men OBJ
ject very strongly 20 him and tell ugl,
stories about his connection with III.