The sun., 1919-08-31

private conversation which took place
In Mr.. Platt's sitting room. Mr.. Platt
1 believed that his jealous and steadfast
support of President Mckinley would
prove to be OF far greater value than
any preliminary written or printed
word on the subject.
1 Mr.. Smyth and left the Airing
ton Hotel and met Mr.. James Phil
lips, Jr.. then the owner Of the
New York Press, that bright, newsy
paper which Mr.. Frank A. Mum
sey subsequently purchased. and which
Mr.. Munsey, the present owner OF
THE SUN, merged with THE SUN.
Mr. Phillips had large business inter-
ests in Massachusetts, and was familiar
with the politics of that State. He
lad Just come from q visit to former
Governor John d. Long Of Massachiu-
sets, whom President-elect Mckinley
had selected to be Secretary of the
Navy n his Cabinet Mr.. Phillips. I
believe, is still alive and in his usual
robust physical and mental health. Mr..
Phillips said that on his visit to Mr..
Long the latter had expressed grave
disapprobaHon of the effort to make
the late Theodore Roosevelt Assistant
Secretary of the Navy. Mr.. Phillips
added that the movement In favor Of
Mr.. Roosevelt originated with Senator
Lodge OF Massachusetts, and had the
support Of Senator Quay Of Pennsyl-
vania- 1t was my duty to call forth
with on Governor Long. Like Major
Mckinley. he was at the Ebbitt House.
During the conversation Governor
Long stated that It was quite true
that he was seriously opposed to Mr..
Roosevelt becoming one of his subor-
dinates in the Navy Department. Mr..
Long closed the conversation by speak
Ing of Mr.. Roosevelt's physical and
mental activities and added: II he
became Assistant Secretary OF the
Navy be would dominate the Depart
tment within six months"
Mr.. Roosevelt being a New York
man. 1t was naturally my duty to re-
turn to,Mr. Plat and learn, IL posi-
BILE, how he felt about the Roosevelt
proposition. Only a short time before
he was the gentle Mr.. Platt quiet.
unassuming. deeply impressed with the
kindness of his reception by Major
Mckinley. But at the first mention
Of the statement Of the movement to
make Mr.. Roosevelt Assistant Secre-
tary of the Navy he was the Mr.. Platt
whom various members of his party
knew altogether too well. He was de-
tesmined. forceful, quite arrogant,
when he said, 81 am against Mr.. Roose-
welt for that place or for any place.
The rule of the Republican party as
to Federal patronage from time imme-
mortal, as all know, is that the United
States Senator for the State from
which the aspirant comes shall be con-
suited, and this is the first time prac-
tically that have heard Of the move
ment In favor of Mr.. Roosevelt. Mr..
Lodge and Mr.. Quay should confine
their attentions to Federal patronage
in their own States and should not
NEEDLE with the Federal patronage OF
New York" That ended for the time
being the episode.
Returning to New York it was neces-
sary for me to see Mr.. Roosevelt. He
was stopping at the time at the home
of his sister. Mrs. Cowles. The situa-
ton was presented to him and he was
well aware that the attitude OF Sena-
tor Plat was based on the immutable
rule of the Republican party in such
matters, and that without Platts sup
port he could not hope to win. 1 heard
no more Of what appeared to be good
deal of personal politics until shortly
afterward when the late Charles A.
Dana, then editor OF The SUN, stated
to me that Senator Lodge had called
upon him and requested that he, Mr..
Dana, should write a letter to Senator
Plat in Washington urging the Sena-
tor to withdraw his opposition to Mr..
Roosevelt's appointment. Mr.. Dana
added that he had written such a let
ter to Mr.. Plat. and that was to re-
turn to Washington Immediately and
ascertain Mr.. Platt's decision. In that
same sitting room OF Mr.. Plat in the
old Arlington Hotel I told him my
mission. He replied that he had re-
ceived the letter from Mr.. Dana, and
asking me TO await his return he
picked up his hat and left the room.
Within a short time he returned and
said that he had been to the White
House and had told President McKin-
ley that he had withdrawn his oppo-
sition to Mr.. Roosevelt's appointment.
Meantime Mr.. Roosevelt was on his
way from New York to Washington,
and my further instructions were to
await Mr.. Roosevelt's arrival in WASH
ngton, and should Mr.. Plat heed Mr..
Dana's letter and withdraw his objec-
lions to Mr.. Roosevelt was requested
to ask Mr.. Roosevelt to call upon Sem
ator Plat and thank him for his act
The instructions were very explicit
that Mr.. Roosevelt should call and
thank Mr.. Plat, and this Mr.. Roose-
welt did Mr.. Roosevelt was nomi-
mated and confirmed as Assistant Sec
rotary of the Navy. and 1t should be
added that no member of the United
States Senate did harder work to bring
about Mr.. Roosevelt's confirmation
than the late Edward Murphy. Jr., OF
Troy, Democratic United States Sena-
tor and colleague of the retired Mr..
Hill and for a short time the colleague
OF Mr.. Plat. But that is another story.
Back at my old desk in THE SUN
Office an evening or two later Robert
Ferguson, a very bright young SUN
mani trust he still has those rosy
cheeks and is blooming as of yore-
who was stationed at Police Head
quarters, then in Mulberry street,
stopped and said to me, 1T wish you
had been at Police Headquarters this
afternoon. Jake Riis gave you hell"
Whats the row?" inquired.
ssyUIat'S troublipo, tba IJon Tao1h9D