was even more
notable for the new standard which it set for the relationship in which
the executive of a great State should stand to his office, to the public
welfare, to private interests, and to the leaders of his party. Before
Roosevelt's election there was need for a revision of the standard. In
those days it was accepted as a matter of course, at least in
practice, that the party boss was the overlord of the constitutional
representatives of the people. Appointments were made primarily for
the good of the party and only incidentally in the public interest. The
welfare of the party was closely bound up with the profit of special
interests, such as public service corporations and insurance companies.
The prevalent condition of affairs was shrewdly summed up in a satiric
paraphrase of Lincoln's conception of the American ideal: "Government
of the people, by the bosses, for the special interests." The interests
naturally repaid this zealous care for their well-being by contributions
to the party funds.

Platt was one of the most nearly absolute party bosses that the American
system of machine politics has produced. In spite of the fair warning
which he had already received, both directly from Roosevelt's own
words, and indirectly from his whole previous career, he was apparently
surprised and unquestionably annoyed when he found that he was not to
be the new Governor's master. The trouble began before Roosevelt took
office. At a conference one day Platt asked Roosevelt if there were any
members of the Assembly whom he would like to have assigned to special
committees. Roosevelt was surprised at the question, as he had not known
that the Speaker of the Assembly, who appoints the committees, had yet
been agreed upon by the Assemblymen-elect. He expressed his surprise.
But Mr. Platt enlightened him, saying, "Of course, whoever we choose
as Speaker will agree beforehand to make the appointments we wish."
Roosevelt has recorded the mental note which he thereupon made, that
if they tried the same process with the Governor-elect they would find
themselves mistaken. In a few days they did try it--and discovered their
mistake.

Platt asked Roosevelt to come to see him. The Senator being an old and
physically feeble man, Roosevelt went. Platt handed him a telegram from
a certain man, accepting with pleasure his appointment as Superintendent
of Public Works. This was one of the most important appointive offices
in the State Ad