Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-04-27
Value of Platt's Advice.


Value of Platt's Advice.
William L. Barnum, the cross examiner.
started off his inquiry by asking Col.
Roosevelt whether he had taken the ad-
vice Of Senator P1att in regard to the
nomination for the vice presidency in
1900
did you value Senator Platts advice?'
asked Mr.. Barnum
lam unable to say" replied Col Roose-
welt.
You were entirely friendly with him
then
"Oh. yes" answered the colonel.
Ibid he advise you to accept the nom
inaton?"
Don't say advise, sir. said Col
Roosevelt
well, as a result Of your Interviews
with Boss Platt, did he so advise you?"
Col. Roosevelt's counsel AFFECTED to the
question. which was ruled out
Mr. Barnum picked up the package
of letters. The first one read was from
Senator Platt to Col Roosevelt, dated
Washington. February 3. 1900. In the
letter the senator agreed to postpone
an engagement because Of the illness
Of Mrs. Platt. The senator also wrote:
Perhaps Henry Purroy would be a
wise selection for the charter commits
sion "a
y,
ed in a letter written by Col Roose-
welt read yesterday. Canal matters
were discussed at length in this letter.
Vice Presidential Question.
The following letter written by SEN
ator platt, dated February 5, 1900, was
read
Il have hardly had time to give the
| consideration it deserves to your letter
of February l and the matters in
VOWED therein and am inclined to take
more time for mature delibcration. The
vice presidential question is a very i'm
portant one and great deal depends
upon 1t.
Mrs. platt's condition is considera
bly, improved. and it looks now as
though ! should be able 10 get to New
| York soon, at which time we can per
| sonally discuss the vice presidential
ana other questions"
Did you discuss the question in pur-
suance Of that letter."
| Il did
Preferred to Be a Professor.
Then this reply from Col. Roosevelt,
dated February :, 1900, was read:
Your very kind note has just been
| received. l note that you expect to be
| In New York Saturday If so shall
not try to lunch with you, but If con
| venient | will call on you at the Fifth
| Avenue Hotel at pm. My train gets
in at 80. and / do not suppose
could get to the hotel In time to take
| lunch with you. VIII you wire me on
receipt Of this note?
| IS-l saw kerens and told him I
| had written to YOU that | would not
take the vice presidency. but that l
wanted nothing said until l had a
| chance to talk matters over with Won
| would a great deal rather be any-
thing. say professor Of history. than
! Vice President"
! Two other letters bearing on legisla-
| tion pending at Albany were then read
| In note to Senator Platt, the colonel
| suggested that he should "communi-
cate with Mr.. Odell on this subject at
once" In his reply Senator Platt said
! Il Will telegraph Odell at once, and
| forces unitedly in favor of the bill
! If you can find that any farther en-
deavors are necessary on NV mart T
| shall be only too glad to carry out any
! advice OF suggestion in his behalf"
I In the next letter Col. Roosevelt dis
| cussed the commission which was ap-
! pointed to revise the New York city
| charter.
Too Late to Help Railroads.
Then his telegram, dated Nav , 1eoo
from Senator Platt to Col. Roosevelt
was read:
Our friends of New York Central
are very anxious to have you sign Sen
ate bill 763, exempting from the fran
chise tax grade crossings of steam rail-
roads. l hope you can consistently do
| so. Senator Depew is very anxious"
| The following was Col. Roosevelt 8
reply:
| Il received your telegram and one
| from Ford yesterday. 1t was too late
| for me to act, l had already pub
/ Continued on Ninth ia a0e n