The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-09-07

promised II elected to make Levi p.
Morton Of New York Secretary OF the
Treasury. Garfield instead appointed
William Window Of Minnesota. Many
have supposed that the designations or
Conkling and Platt were primarily be-
cause Garfield insisted on the appoint
ment Of William II. Robertson to be
Collector of the Port Of New York. 1t
was the eliminating act Of a broken
promise. Conkling and Platt were re-
fused reflections at Albany, Garneio
was .assassinated, Warner Miller and
Elbridge @. Lapham succeeded ConK-
ling and Plat in the Senate, and
Arthur, Garfields successor, Conk-
ling's most intimate friend, declined to
change Garfield's policy In the matter
Of political appointments. Conkling
and Plat were publicly and personally
execrated. But they still fought.
They defeated Arthur for renomi-
nation in 1884, and Platt helped NOM
mate his ancient enemy, Blaine. The
result of that campaign was that
Elaine practically and Conkling effec-
tually were politically destroyed. War
ner Miller had control of the entire
party machinery of New York State.
He was considered a blunderbuss poll
tician. Plat, persistent, plucky
, pleasant, got around him the young
men of the party In 1888 he brought
about the nomination Of Morton for
Vice. President. Miller was defeated
for Governor in that year, and Platt
dictated the nomination of Sloat
F'assett at Rochester in 1891. He wai
easily defeated by Flower. In 1894
Platt nominated and elected as Gov
ernor Morton, whom Garfield rejected
in 1880, and in 1896 Warner Miller was
turned out of the Republican State
Convention at Saratoga and forever
| retired from politics. Mr.. Miller died
short time ago in New York very
poor.
Platt's complete ascendency was
considered one of the marvels Of
American politics. Most of the great
actors in the deadly feud Of fifteen
years before were in their graves and
there he was mountain high. He was
then twice elected to the United States
Senate. He fought at st. Louis in
1896 for the gold plank. Later came
' the bitter Odell fight, through which
Plat was supplanted by Odell.
| Platt's characteristics? Well, he was
never known to break his word. He
was very slow to give a promise, but
once made, his closest political ad-
1 wiser could not induce him to break 1t
He was a political strategist, with q
keen eye for perspective. Sometimes
he was sensitive over newspaper criti-
cism. but he quickly recovered and re-
called with zest the days when he was
an editor and carved up Horace Gree.
ley and other leaders OF the LIBERIA
Republican movement. Like Hamil.
ton he was the perfection Of neatnes:
in dress. Hamilton had bitter po
litical feuds in the State with the
opposition led by Aaron Burr. Plat
had for years almost identically in
tense struggles with David B. Hill
whom he supplanted in the United
States Senate. On the day he retired
from the Senate and left political life
forever, driving from the Capitol t.
he old Arlington Hotel he said. will
a wearied smile on his wan face, nod
ding slightly in the direction of tn,
Capitol, What does it all amount to p
Mr.. Plat now rests on the Hill II
the beautiful cemetery OF Owego, over
looking the Susquehanna, far from DO
litical envy. turmoil and strife and tn,
:oibles and frailties of life, and but
few steps distant now rests the IN
irepid. cool, courageous lieutenant o
quarter of a century and more
William A. Smyth. Ell, X.