The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1916-05-04
PLATT DISCUSSES
WAR AND POLITICS

Samuel Platt, probable Republican
candidate for United States Senator,
has returned to Reno from trip 10
Washington and other eastern cities.
AS Mr.. Platt is a keen observer of cur
rent events, as well as shrewd poll
-tician, the following interview with
him in last nights Reno Gazette will
be read with interest:
81 spent nearly three weeks in some
of the largest cities of the east, and
in these parlous times it is a delight
to be where history is actually in the
making" said Mr.. Platt. "The tele-
graph and the newspaper, however,
have brought us all very much to-
gether and the west is not behind the
east in the reliability of its informa-
ton or in the accuracy of its judg-
ment
cit seemed to me that along the At
lantic coast the American people are
befogged in a big hazy question mark.
Everybody is asking questions which
nobody else seems able to answer.
There is a halo of uncertainty every
where. / talked with prominent men
of affairs about the crowded hotels, the
swarming cafes, the prodigal spending
of money in and about New York City
and commented upon the evidences of
prosperity which seemed to be every
where and invariably I was told that
the times were abnormal; that such
prosperity was fieeting; that it was
just the lucky turn of the wheel; that
there was no substance to it and that
in fiieekr it might go out.
Zone man called it 'spasmodic pros
perity, and assured me that success
full business men were lying awake
nights wondering what would happen
when. the reaction set in. European
death and destruction have set us up
in business. When these gruesome
foundations are pulled out from under
us, we must find a way to stand by
ourselves. Instead of being supported
by grim disaster, we will be threatened
by live European business invasions.
There are grave business problems be-
fore us which we must solve speedily.
1t is uncertain yet when we will be
called upon to. protect ourselves.
And then as to politics. It is GER
tainly uncertain in the east who the
next Republican nominee for President
will be. 1t is likewise uncertain whether
it will be Roosevelt or Root or Hughes
or Burton or anybody else that has
been mentioned. A majority of the
delegates thus far chosen are un-
pledged and uncertain as to their spe-
cial choice. 1t is more than likely that
the greater number will enter the con-
vention hall still uncertain. / have
talked with leaders great and small,
good, bad and Indifferent, in New
York and in Washington, United
States senators and congressman, ma
tional and international figures, and
they are all uncertain. No active, re-
ceptive or Indifferent candidate, or any
American yet mentioned for this
honor, is either extolled or condemned
by any Republican making any preten-
sion to leadership.
The eastern Democratic and Repub-
lican press fill columns each day spec
ulating upon the possible Republican
nominee for the presidency. Interest
on both sides is at fever heat. The
whole country is talking about it and
the American people are eager to know.
This nationwide interest is not idle
curiosity. 1t is the one index to po-
litical certainty, that | have been able
to discover, and that is that the pres
ent administration is being rapidly
discredited everywhere in this country.
every courtesy was extended to me
by Congressman Roberts during my
stay in Washington. A prominent
newspaper man assured me that our
Nevada congressman held the enviable
record in the Congress office building
of always being on he job. There Is
probably no other man in Congress to-
day who more promptly meets the de-
mands of his constituents or is more
interested for his state than Congress
man Roberts. Despite the Democratic
majority in both houses, through his
engaging personality and wide ae-
quaintance, our congressman rarely
fails in his efforts for constituent.
understand he will be a candidate
again for Congress, and his nomination
and election are foregone conclusions.
81 met the ambassadors of two for
eign governments, had luncheon with
third, talked with a former secretary
of the interior and listened to leaders
of all parties discuss war and politics.
NY Judgment is that the war will last
some time yet, that Roosevelt will
support the Republican platform and
that the Republican convention will
nominate the next President of the
United States.