第 21 节
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ce might sometimes be allowed a voice in Machine dictation; journeyed to Montauk and had a friendly; frank conversation with the Colonel。
* Platt and Quay were both born in 1833。
Quigg spoke for nobody but himself; he merely wished to sound Roosevelt。 Roosevelt made no pledges; he defined his general attitude and wished to understand what the Platt Machine proposed。 Quigg said that Platt admitted that the present Governor; Black; could not be reelected; but that he had doubts as to Roosevelt's docility。 Republican leaders and local chairmen in all parts of the State; however; enthusiastically called for Roosevelt; and Quigg did not wish to have the Republican Party split into two factions。 He believed that Platt would accede if he could be convinced that Roosevelt would not 〃make war on him。〃 Roosevelt; without promising anything; replied that he had no intention of making 〃war on Mr。 Platt; or on anybody else; if war could be avoided。〃 He said:
'that what 'he' wanted was to be Governor and not a faction leader; that 'he' certainly would confer with the organization men; as with everybody else who seemed to 'him' to have knowledge of and interest in public affairs; and that as to Mr。 Platt and the organization leaders; 'he' would do so in the sincere hope that there might always result harmony of opinion and purpose; but that while 'he' would try to get on well with the organization; the organization must with equal sincerity strive to do what 'he' regarded as essential for the public good; and that in every case; after full consideration of what everybody had to say who might possess real knowledge of the matter; 'he' should have to act finally as 'his' own judgment and conscience dictated; and administer the State Government as 'he' thought it ought to be administered。' *
* Autobiography; 295。
Having assured Roosevelt that his statements were exactly what Quigg expected; Quigg returned to New York City; reported his conversation to Platt; and; in due season; the free citizens of New York learned that; with Platt's consent; the Colonel of the Rough Riders would be nominated by the Republican State Convention for the governorship of New York。
During the campaign; Roosevelt stumped the State at a pace unknown till then。 It was his first real campaign; and he went from place to place in a special train speaking at every stop from his car platform or; in the larger towns; staying long enough to address great audiences out of doors or in the local theatre。 In November; he was elected by a majority of 18;000; a slender margin as it looks now; but sufficient for its purpose; and representing a really notable victory; because it had been expected that the Democrats would beat any other Republican candidate but him by overwhelming odds。 So; after an absence of fifteen years; he returned to dwell in Albany。
Before he was sworn in as Governor; he had already measured strength with Senator Platt。 The Senator asked him with amiable condescension whether he had any special friends he would like to have appointed on the committees。 Roosevelt expressed surprise; supposing that the Speaker appointed committees。 Then Platt told him that the Speaker had not been agreed upon yet; but that of course he would name the list given to him。 Roosevelt understood the situation; but said nothing。 A week later; however; at another conference; Platt handed him a telegram; in which the sender accepted with pleasure his appointment as Superintendent of Public Works。 Roosevelt liked this man and thought him honest; but he did not think him the best person for that particular work; and he did not intend as Governor to have his appointments dictated to him; because he would naturally be held responsible for his appointees。 When he told Platt that that man would not do; the Senator flew into a passion; he had never met such insubordination before in any public official; and he decided to fight the issue from the start。 Roosevelt did not allow himself to lose his temper; he was perfectly polite while Platt let loose his fury; and before they parted Platt understood which was master。 The Governor appointed Colonel Partridge to the position and; as it had chiefly to do with the canals of the State; it was most important。 In deed; the canal scandals under Roosevelt's predecessor; Governor Black; had so roused the popular conscience that it threatened to break down the supremacy of the Republican Party。
Jacob Riis describes Roosevelt's administration as introducing the Ten Commandments into the government at Albany; and we need hardly be told that the young Governor applied his usual methods and promoted his favorite reforms。 Finding the Civil Service encrusted with abuses; he pushed legislation which established a high standard of reform。 The starch which had been taken out of the Civil Service Law under Governor Black was put back; stiffened。 He insisted on enforcing the Factory Law; for the protection of operatives; and the law regulating sweat…shops; which he inspected himself; with Riis for his companion。
Perhaps his hottest battle was over the law to tax corporations which held public franchises。 This touched the owners of street railways in the cities and towns; and many other corporations which enjoyed a monopoly in managing quasi…public utilities。 〃In politics there is no politics;〃 said that elderly early mentor of Roosevelt when he first sat in the Assembly。 Legislatures existed simply to do the bidding of Big Business; was the creed of the men who controlled Big Business。 They contributed impartially to the Republican and Democratic campaign funds。 They had Republican Assemblymen and Democratic Assemblymen in their service; and their lobbyists worked harmoniously with either party。 Merely to suggest that the special privileges of the corporations might be open to discussion was sacrilege。 No wonder; therefore; that the holders of public franchises marshaled all their forces against the Governor。
Boss Platt wrote Roosevelt a letterone of the sort inspired more by sorrow than by angerto the effect that he had been warned that the Governor was a little loose on the relations of capital and labor; on trusts and combinations; and; in general; on the right of a man to run his business as he chose; always respecting; of course; the Ten Commandments and the Penal Code。 The Senator was shocked and pained to perceive that this warning had a real basis; and that the Governor's 〃altruism〃 in behalf of the people had led him to urge curtailing the rights of corporations。 Roosevelt; instead of feeling contrite at this chiding; redoubled his energy。 The party managers buried the bill。 Roosevelt then sent a special message; as the New York Governors are empowered to do。 It was laid on the Speaker's desk; but no notice was taken of it。 The next morning he sent this second message to the Speaker:
'I learn that the emergency message which I sent last evening to the Assembly on behalf of the Franchise Tax Bill has not been read。 I; therefore; send hereby another。 I need not impress upon the Assembly the need of passing this bill at once 。。。。 It establishes the principle that hereafter corporations holding franchises from the public shall pay their just share of the public burden。'*
* Riis; 221。
The Speaker; the Assembly; and the Machine now gave heed。 The corporations saw that it would be suicidal to bring down on themselves the avalanche of fury which was accumulating。 The bill passed。 Roosevelt had set a precedent for controlling corporate truculence。
While Roosevelt was accomplishing these very real triumphs for justice and popular welfare; the professional critics went on finding fault with him。 Although the passage of one bill after another gave tangible proof that; far from being Platt's 〃man;〃 or the slave of the Machine; he followed his own ideals; did not satisfy these critics。 They suspected that there was some wickedness behind it; and they professed to be greatly disturbed that Roosevelt frequently breakfasted or dined with Platt。 What could this mean except that he took his instructions from the Boss? How could he; who made a pretense of righteousness; consent to visit the Sunday School political teacher; much less to sit at the table with him? The doubts and anxieties of these self…appointed defenders of public morals; and of the Republic even; found a spokesman in a young journalist who had then come recently from college。 This person; whom we will call X。; met Mr。 Roosevelt at a public reception and with the brusqueness; to put it mildly; of a hereditary reformer; he demanded to know why the Governor breakfasted and dined with Boss Platt。 Mr。 Roosevelt replied; with that courtesy of his which was never more complete than when it conveyed his sarcasm; that a person in public office; like himself; was obliged to meet officially all kinds of men and women; and he added: 〃Why; Mr。 X。; I have even dined with your father。〃 X。 did not pursue his investigation; and the bystanders; who had vague recollections of the father's misfortunes in Wall Street; thought that the son was a little indiscreet even for a hereditary reformer。 The truth about Roosevelt's going to Platt and breakfasting with him was very simple。 The Senator spent th