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uth about Roosevelt's going to Platt and breakfasting with him was very simple。 The Senator spent the week till Friday afternoon in Washington； then he came to New York for Saturday and Sunday。 Being somewhat infirm； although he was not； as we now reckon； an old man； he did not care to extend his trip to Albany； and so the young and vigorous Governor ran down from Albany and； at breakfast with Platt； discussed New York State affairs。 What I have already quoted indicates； I think； that no body knew better than the Boss himself that Roosevelt was not his 〃man。〃
One other example is too good to omit。 The Superintendent of Insurance was really one of Platt's men； and a person most grateful to the insurance companies。 Governor Roosevelt； regarding him as unfit； not only declined to reappoint him； but actually appointed in his stead a superintendent whom Platt and the insurance companies could not manage； and so hated。 Platt remonstrated。 Finding his arguments futile； he broke out in threats that if his man was not reappointed； he would fight。 He would forbid the Assembly to confirm Roosevelt's candidate。 Roosevelt replied that as soon as the Assembly adjourned； he should appoint his candidate temporarily。 Platt declared that when it reconvened； the Assembly would throw him out。 This did not； however； frighten Roosevelt； who remarked that； although he foresaw he should have an uncomfortable time himself； he would 〃guarantee to make his opponents more uncomfortable still。〃
Later that day Platt sent one of his henchmen to deliver an ultimatum to the Governor。 He repeated Platt's threats； but was unable to make an impression。 Roosevelt got up to go。 〃You know it means your ruin？〃 said the henchman solemnly。 〃Well； we will see about that；〃 Roosevelt replied； and had nearly reached the door when the henchman； anxious to give the prospective victim a last chance； warned him that the Senator would open the fight on the next day； and keep it up to the bitter end。 〃Yes；〃 replied the Governor； 〃good…night。〃 And he was just going out； when the henchman rushed after him； calling； 〃Hold on！ We accept。 Send in your nomination。 The Senator is very sorry； but will make no further opposition。〃* Roosevelt adds that the bluff was carried through to the limit； but that after it failed； Platt did not renew his attempt to interfere with him。
* Autobiography； 317。
Nevertheless； Roosevelt made no war on Platt or anybody else； merely for the fun of it。 〃We must use the tools we have；〃 said Lincoln to John Hay； and Lincoln also had many tools which he did not choose； but which he had to work with。 Roosevelt differed from the doctrinaire reformer； who would sit still and do nothing unless he had perfectly clean tools and pure conditions to work with。 To do nothing until the millennium came would mean； of course； that the Machine would pursue its methods undisturbed。 Roosevelt； on the contrary； knew that by cooperating with the Machine； as far as his conscience permitted； he could reach results much better than it aimed at。
Here are three of his letters to Platt； written at a time when the young journalist and the reformers of his stripe shed tears at the thought that Theodore Roosevelt was the obsequious servant of Boss Platt。
The first letter refers to Roosevelt's nomination to the Vice Presidency； a possibility which the public was already discussing。 The last two letters； written after he had been nominated by the Republicans； relate to the person whom he wished to see succeed himself as Governor of New York。
ROOSEVELT TO PLATT
February 1； 1900
First； and least important。 If you happened to have seen the Evening Post recently； you ought to be amused； for it is moralizing with lofty indignation over the cringing servility I have displayed in the matter of the insurance superintendent。 I fear it will soon take the view that it cannot possibly support you as long as you associate with me！
Now as to serious matters。 I have； of course； done a great deal of thinking about the Vice…Presidency since the talk I had with you followed by the letter from Lodge and the visit from Payne； of Wisconsin。 I have been reserving the matter to talk over with you； but in view of the publication in the Sun this morning； I would like to begin the conversation； as it were； by just a line or two now。 I need not speak of the confidence I have in the judgment of you and Lodge； yet I can't help feeling more and more that the Vice Presidency is not an office in which I could do anything and not an office in which a man who is still vigorous and not past middle life has much chance of doing anything。 As you know； I am of an active nature。 In spite of all the work and all the worry； and very largely because of your own constant courtesy and consideration； my dear Senator；I have thoroughly enjoyed being Governor。 I have kept every promise； express or implied； I made on the stump； and I feel that the Republican Party is stronger before the State because of my incumbency。 Certainly everything is being managed now on a perfectly straight basis and every office is as clean as a whistle。
Now； I should like to be Governor for another term； especially if we are able to take hold of the canals in serious shape。 But as Vice President； I don't see there is anything I can do。 I would simply be a presiding officer； and that I should find a bore。 As you know； I am a man of moderate means （although I am a little better off than the Sun's article would indicate） and I should have to live very simply in Washington and could not entertain in any way as Mr。 Hobart and Mr。 Morton entertained。 My children are all growing up and I find the burden of their education constantly heavier； so that I am by no means sure that I ought to go into public life at all； provided some remunerative work offered itself。 The only reason I would like to go on is that as I have not been a money maker I feel rather in honor bound to leave my children the equivalent in a way of a substantial sum of actual achievement in politics or letters。 Now； as Governor； I can achieve something； but as Vice…President I should achieve nothing。 The more I look at it； the less I feel as if the Vice…Presidency offered anything to me that would warrant my taking it。
Of course； I shall not say anything until I hear from you； and possibly not until I see you； but I did want you to know just how I felt。
ROOSEVELT TO PLATT
Oyster Bay； August 13； 1900
I noticed in Saturday's paper that you had spoken of my suggesting Judge Andrews。 I did not intend to make the suggestion public； and I wrote you with entire freedom； hoping that perhaps I could suggest some man who would commend himself to your judgment as being acceptable generally to the Republican Party。 I am an organization Republican of a very strong type； as I understand the word 〃organization；〃 but in trying to suggest a candidate for Governor； I am not seeking either to put up an organization or a non…organization man； but simply a first…class Republican； who will commend himself to all Republicans； and； for the matter of that； to all citizens who wish good government。 Judge Andrews needs no endorsement from any man living as to his Republicanism。 From the time he was Mayor of Syracuse through his long and distinguished service on the bench he has been recognized as a Republican and a citizen of the highest type。 I write this because your interview seems to convey the impression； which I am sure you did not mean to convey； that in some way my suggestions are antagonistic to the organization。 I do not understand quite what you mean by the suggestion of my friends； for I do not know who the men are to whom you thus refer； nor why they are singled out for reference as making any suggestions about the Governorship。
In your last interview； I understood that you wished me to be back in the State at the time of the convention。 As I wish to be able to give the nominee hearty and effective support； this necessarily means that I do have a great interest in whom is nominated。
ROOSEVELT TO PLATT
Oyster Bay； August 20； 1900
I have your letter of the 16th。 I wish to see a straight Republican nomination for the governorship。 The men whom I have mentioned； such as ex…Judge Andrews and Secretary Root； are as good Republicans as can be found in the State； and I confess I haven't the slightest idea what you mean when you say； 〃if we are to lower the standard and nominate such men as you suggest； we might as well die first as last。〃 To nominate such。 a man as either of these is to raise the standard； to speak of it as lowering the standard is an utter misuse of words。
You say that we must nominate some Republican who 〃will carry out the wishes of the organization；〃 and add that 〃I have not yet made up my mind who that man is。〃 Of one thing I am certain； that； to have it publicly known that the candidate； whoever he may be； 〃will carry out the wishes of the organization；〃 would insure his defeat； for such a statement implies that he would merely register the decrees of a small body of men inside the Republican Party； instead of trying to work for the success of the party as a whole and of good citizenship generally。 It is not the business of a Governor to 〃carry out t