Platt, Thomas Collier, 1833-1910

Mae C. Wood angrily answers a letter from Postmaster General Wynne explaining her absence from the Post Office department for several days in 1903, referring Wynne “to yourself, J. Martin Miller, Mess. Platt, Loeb, et al,” and alludes to “the nasty details of the outrage and scandal.” Wood states that she has “no intention to longer endure the filthy lies and persecutions as engineered and carried out by your coterie, without retaliation.”

(Wood had alleged to be married to Senator Thomas Collier Platt, and claimed to have hundreds of love letters from Platt to her. She had traveled to New York in order to protest Platt’s 1903 marriage to Lillian T. Janeway.)

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

In the first vignette, President Roosevelt stares at bill no. 279671 and wonders what New York Senator Thomas Collier Platt thinks of it. Caption: Mr. Roosevelt–“I don’t know whether to sign this bill or not. I wish you would find out what Tom Platt thinks about it. Just tell him I have signed it.” In the second vignette, Platt gives his response, which includes a lot of expletives. Caption: Mr. Platt–“– –!!!–??” In the third vignette, President Roosevelt sees Platt’s response and smiles as he signs his name to the bill. Caption: Mr. Roosevelt– “It’s safe.”

comments and context

Comments and Context

Students of the era’s political cartoons might think, at first glance, that this is a cartoon by John T. McCutcheon. In fact it is by Ralph Wilder, who succeeded McCutcheon when the latter left the Record-Herald, Wilder’s paper, for the Chicago Tribune. McCutcheon graduated from being the most influential Chicago and regional-Midwest cartoonist, to a cartoonist of national fame and acceptance. Whether Wilder was advised to draw like McCutcheon, or could not help himself in the shadow of the master, is not recorded or heralded.

In the top half of the cartoon, President Roosevelt grabs a man holding a rake by the neck. Caption: 1. After you had made a thrilling attack on the Man of the Muck Rake, and you had swatted and lambasted him in the most merciless manner— In the second half of the cartoon, “the common people” point Roosevelt to the “national muck heap” and ask, “Why don’t you get busy about that?” A number of individuals are in the pile: “R.R. rebater,” “official bribe taker,” “official grafter,” “U.S. senator owned by railroads,” “trust-owned U.S. senator,” New York Senator Thomas Collier Platt, Chauncy M. Depew, Pennsylvania Senator Philander C. Knox, Chair of the Republican National Committee George B. Cortelyou, and Rhode Island Senator Nelson W. Aldrich. Caption: 2. If you suddenly learned that you ought to have attacked the Muck Heap instead of the Muck Rake. Wouldn’t it DEE-PRESS you?

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-04

President Roosevelt paints whitewash on “Dear Old Platt,” “Good Old Lou,” and “Bully Paul!”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-04-14

President Roosevelt rolls up his sleeves to write the “President’s Annual Message” while a “political grafter,” an “insurance grafter,” and a “public official grafter” watch from the window. A bear head is mounted on the wall. There are some handwritten additions on the message as well as a speech balloon coming from the bear’s mouth.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-09-20

In the first vignette, Benjamin B. Odell pulls New York Senator Thomas Collier Platt’s leg as he holds onto a tree. Caption: Rubber. In the second vignette, President Roosevelt—”the good fairy”—holds a “power” wand and taps an “inter-state commerce bill” on the stomach of the “oppressive trusts.” Caption: Roosevelt, “Tag, you’re it.” In the third vignette, John D. Rockefeller pours “Standard oil” into “Congressional waters.” Caption: In his great act.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-01-14

President Roosevelt reads a book entitled “The Simple Life” and has a rifle beside him as he sits on a tree stump. New York Governor Benjamin B. Odell’s face is on a bull dog’s body while he looks up at a raccoon with the face of New York Senator Thomas Collier Platt sitting on a stump. Caption: The hunter—”If I only hadn’t proposed that peace conference.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-12-20

Seating chart for a lunch held on December 4, 1901.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-12-04

New York Senators Thomas Collier Platt and Chauncey M. Depew led a durbar procession, which includes President Roosevelt, who holds a paper that reads, “the presidency compliments of the people,” sitting on a Republican elephant. Democratic party leaders, including Arthur P. Gorman, David B. Hill, Alton B. Parker, August Belmont, and Henry Gassaway Davis, watch from the side. Uncle Sam bows toward the procession.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-29

“Teddy” Roosevelt spurs a bucking horse which is branded “Rough Riders” on its right hip, while Thomas Collier Platt looks on from behind a wall. Roosevelt’s lariat forms the phrase “Nomination for Governor.” The caption reads: Uncle Tom Platt – “My, What stunts! I wish that fellow would stop. He makes me awful nervous.”

Collection

Sagamore Hill National Historic Site

Creation Date

1898-08-05

The unknown author raises doubts that President Roosevelt would have “snubbed” William Allen White at the request of Senator Platt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902

Buffalo Evening News, Vol. XLII, No. 134, September 16, 1901, p. 1-10 (complete):

Page 1: Banner headline: President’s Body Borne/Away to Washington! – “All That is Mortal of William McKinley Accompanied in Solemn Procession to the Train by Military Escort” – Scene in Buffalo of the procession from City Hall to the train station (cont. on page 4) – “Determine Whether Assassin’s Bullets Were Poisoned” – Public desire to know – “Senator Depew Suggests a Remedy for Anarchism” – Statement calling for restricted immigration – “Czolgosz Case Now Before the Grand Jury” – Report of witnesses that appeared – “Funeral Train Greeted by Thousands with Bared Heads” – Reports from Aurora and Olean – “Memorial for President is Now Planned” – Suggestions for monuments and plans for subscription to fund construction

Page 2: – Short editorials including some about McKinley’s death, Czolgosz and anarchists

Page 4: – “Mystery as to Whereabouts of the Assassin” – Police refuse to comment – “Departure of the Funeral Train” – “Simple and Dignified Service” – Funeral at the Milburn house – “President’s Body Lies in State” – Scene in the City Hall rotunda – “Police Handled Crowds Well” – How the police handled the crowds around City Hall

New York Herald, September 7, 1901, pages 3-14:

Page 3: Banner headline: Anarchists Shoots the President — Six of Clan/Arrested in Chicago — Doctors Are Hopeful – Black ink drawing the interior of the Temple of Music and portrait of William McKinley – “Leon Czolgosz, Pole, Fired the Shots While He was Shaking Hands with His Victim” – Details of the shooting – “Leading Interests Will Support the Market” – Statement by James Stillman, president of the National City Bank (cont. on pages 4-5)

Page 4: Banner headline: Vice President Roosevelt Hurrying on to Buffalo – Drawings captioned: Bird’s Eye View of the Pan-American Exposition Grounds; The Service Building – The President was Taken to the Hospital in This Building – “Description of the President’s Wounds” – Statement by George B. Cortelyou

Page 5: Banner headline: Mrs. M’Kinley Brave When Told Her Husband was Hurt – Drawings captioned: McKinley’s Birth Place; The Old Sparrow House, Poland, O., Where McKinley Enlisted in 1862; Mrs. Nancy A. McKinley, Mother of the President; McKinley, As a New Recruit – “Mrs. M’Kinley Bravely Receives Terrible News” – How Mrs. McKinley was told – “Mr. Roosevelt Hurries to President’s Bedside” – How TR found out about the shooting and got to the train headed to Buffalo – “William Jennings Bryan Says, Wipe Anarchy from the Earth” – Statement by Bryan – “Police Cannot Trace Either Assassin’s Past or Friends” – Attempts to locate where Czolgosz came from – “All Nations May Join In Stamping Out Anarchism” – Reaction of foreign diplomats in Washington and proposed actions

The heads of Chauncey M. Depew labeled “Compliments of New York” and Thomas Collier Platt labeled “From the Empire State” lie on desks in the “U.S. Senate” chamber, with Uncle Sam scowling in the background.

comments and context

Comments and Context

This over cartoon by Udo J. Keppler in Puck Magazine might have run any year while the twin graybeards Chauncey M. Depew and Thomas Collier Platt were senators, such was the routine assessment of the magazine and indeed much of the public (even of New York State’s citizens — this was at a time when state legislators, not the voting public, elected senators, a Constitutional system that had grown corrupt).

Several newspaper articles from The Commercial Advertiser primarily pertaining to New York state politics.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-09-11

Reflection on the potential that the New York State Republican Convention will not endorse President Roosevelt as the Republican presidential candidate in 1904.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902

Theodore Roosevelt writes his sister Anna Roosevelt Cowles that he is pleased and astonished to be named Assistant Secretary of the Navy. He credits Senator Lodge with fighting for him and awaits Senate confirmation. He regrets he will not be able to greet Anna when she returns home and compliments her husband William Sheffield Cowles.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1897-04-11

Theodore Roosevelt informs his sister Anna Roosevelt Cowles that her husband William S. Cowles has arrived in New York. Senator Lodge is “sanguine” over Roosevelt being made Assistant Secretary of the Navy, but Roosevelt does not hold much hope. He says Thomas Collier Platt and the machine politicians are his opponents.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1897-04-05

President Roosevelt expresses his happiness that Joseph Bucklin Bishop was appointed Executive Secretary of the Isthmian Canal Commission. He suggests that Bishop find a mutual acquaintance that could encourage Senator Thomas Collier Platt to be more amiable towards Bishop and his new position.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1905-08-28

President Roosevelt writes to Joseph Bucklin Bishop about the elections in New York, saying that Republican voters in New York who support him must also be supporters of gubernatorial candidate Frank Wayland Higgins.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1904-10-01