endeavoredtomakeitcleartohimthatIwasnottryingtowresttheorganizationfromhim；andIalwaysgavehimindetailthereasonswhyIfeltIhadtotakethepositionIintendedtoadopt。ItwasonlyafterIhadexhaustedalltheresourcesofmypatiencethatIwouldfinally，ifhestillprovedobstinate，tellhimthatIintendedtomakethefightanyhow。AsIhavesaid，theSenatorwasanoldandfeeblemaninphysique，anditwaspossibleforhimtogoaboutverylittle。UntilFridayeveninghewouldbekeptathisdutiesatWashington，whileIwasinAlbany。IfIwishedtoseehimitgenerallyhadtobeathishotelinNewYorkonSaturday，andusuallyIwouldgotheretobreakfastwithhim。TheonethingIwouldnotpermitwasanythinginthenatureofasecretorclandestinemeeting。Ialwaysinsistedongoingopenly。Solemnreformersofthetom-foolvariety，who，accordingtotheircustom，paidattentiontothenameandnotthething，weremuchexercisedovermy“breakfastingwithPlatt。”WheneverIbreakfastedwithhimtheybecamesurethatthefactcarriedwithitsomesinistersignificance。Theworthycreaturesnevertookthetroubletofollowthesequenceoffactsandeventsforthemselves。IftheyhaddonesotheywouldhaveseenthatanyseriesofbreakfastswithPlattalwaysmeantthatIwasgoingtodosomethinghedidnotlike，andthatIwastrying，courteouslyandfrankly，toreconcilehimtoit。Myobjectwastomakeitaseasyaspossibleforhimtocomewithme。Aslongastherewasnoclashbetweenustherewasnoobjectinmyseeinghim；itwasonlywhentheclashcameorwasimminentthatIhadtoseehim。Aseriesofbreakfastswasalwaysthepreludetosomeactivewarfare。[*]IneveryinstanceIsubstantiallycarriedmypoint，althoughinsomecasesnotinexactlythewayinwhichIhadoriginallyhoped。
[*]ToillustratemymeaningIquotefromaletterofminetoSenatorPlattofDecember13，1899。HehadbeentryingtogetmetopromoteacertainJudgeXovertheheadofanotherJudgeY。I
wrote：“ThereisastrongfeelingamongthejudgesandtheleadingmembersofthebarthatJudgeYoughtnottohaveJudgeXjumpedoverhishead，andIdonotseemywaycleartodoingit。IaminclinedtothinkthatthesolutionImentionedtoyouisthesolutionIshallhavetoadopt。RememberthebreakfastatDouglasRobinson’sat8：30。”
Therewerevariousmeasurestowhichhegaveagrudgingandquerulousassentwithoutanybreakbeingthreatened。IsecuredthereenactmentoftheCivilServiceLaw，whichundermypredecessorhadveryfoolishlybeenrepealed。Isecuredamassoflaborlegislation，includingtheenactmentoflawstoincreasethenumberoffactoryinspectors，tocreateaTenementHouseCommission(whosefindingsresultedinfurtherandexcellentlegislationtoimprovehousingconditions)，toregulateandimprovesweatshoplabor，tomaketheeight-hourandprevailingrateofwageslaweffective，tosecurethegenuineenforcementoftheactrelatingtothehoursofrailwayworkers，tocompelrailwaystoequipfreighttrainswithair-brakes，toregulatetheworkinghoursofwomenandprotectbothwomenandchildrenfromdangerousmachinery，toenforcegoodscaffoldingprovisionsforworkmenonbuildings，toprovideseatsfortheuseofwaitressesinhotelsandrestaurants，toreducethehoursoflaborfordrug-storeclerks，toprovidefortheregistrationoflaborersformunicipalemployment。Itriedhardbutfailedtosecureanemployers’
liabilitylawandthestatecontrolofemploymentoffices。Therewashardfightingoversomeofthesebills，and，whatwasmuchmoreserious，therewasefforttogetroundthelawbytrickeryandbysecuringitsinefficientenforcement。IwascontinuallyhelpedbymenwithwhomIhadgottenintouchwhileinthePoliceDepartment；mensuchasJamesBronsonReynolds，throughwhomIfirstbecameinterestedinsettlementworkontheEastSide。OnceortwiceIwentsuddenlydowntoNewYorkCitywithoutwarninganyoneandtraversedthetenement-housequarters，visitingvarioussweat-shopspickedatrandom。JakeRiisaccompaniedme；andasaresultofourinspectionwegotnotonlyanimprovementinthelawbutastillmoremarkedimprovementinitsadministration。ThankschieflytotheactivityandgoodsenseofDr。JohnH。Pryor，ofBuffalo，andbytheuseofeverypoundofpressurewhichasGovernorIcouldbringtobearinlegitimatefashion——includingaspecialemergencymessage——wesucceededingettingthroughabillprovidingforthefirstStatehospitalforincipienttuberculosis。Wegotvaluablelawsforthefarmer；lawspreventingtheadulterationoffoodproducts(whichlawswereequallyvaluabletotheconsumer)，andlawshelpingthedairyman。
InadditiontolaborlegislationIwasabletodoagooddealforforestpreservationandtheprotectionofourwildlife。AllthatlaterIstroveforintheNationinconnectionwithConservationwasforeshadowedbywhatIstrovetoobtainforNewYorkStatewhenIwasGovernor；andIwasalreadyworkinginconnectionwithGiffordPinchotandNewell。Isecuredbetteradministration，andsomeimprovementinthelawsthemselves。Theimprovementinadministration，andinthecharacterofthegameandforestwardens，wassecuredpartlyastheresultofaconferenceintheexecutivechamberwhichIheldwithfortyofthebestguidesandwoodsmenoftheAdirondacks。
Asregardsmostlegislation，eventhataffectinglaborandtheforests，Igotonfairlywellwiththemachine。Butonthetwoissuesinwhich“bigbusiness“andthekindofpoliticswhichisalliedtobigbusinessweremostinvolvedweclashedhard——andclashingwithSenatorPlattmeantclashingwiththeentireRepublicanorganization，andwiththeorganizedmajorityineachhouseoftheLegislature。OneclashwasinconnectionwiththeSuperintendentofInsurance，amanwhoseofficemadehimafactorofimmenseimportanceinthebigbusinesscirclesofNewYork。Thethenincumbentoftheofficewasanefficientman，thebossofanup-Statecounty，aveteranpoliticianandoneofMr。Platt’sright-handmen。CertaininvestigationswhichI
made——inthecourseofthefight——showedthatthisSuperintendentofInsurancehadbeenengagedinlargebusinessoperationsinNewYorkCity。TheseoperationshadthrownhimintoapeculiarlyintimatebusinesscontactofonesortandanotherwithvariousfinancierswithwhomIdidnotdeemitexpedientthattheSuperintendentofInsurance，whilesuch，shouldhaveanyintimateandsecretmoney-makingrelations。Moreover，thegentlemaninquestionrepresentedthestraitestsectoftheold-timespoilspoliticians。Ithereforedeterminednottoreappointhim。UnlessIcouldgethissuccessorconfirmed，however，hewouldstayinunderthelaw，andtheRepublicanmachine，withtheassistanceofTammany，expectedtocontrolfarmorethanamajorityofalltheSenators。
Mr。Plattissuedanultimatumtomethattheincumbentmustbereappointedorelsethathewouldfight，andthatifhechosetofightthemanwouldstayinanyhowbecauseIcouldnotousthim——forundertheNewYorkConstitutiontheassentoftheSenatewasnecessarynotonlytoappointamantoofficebuttoremovehimfromoffice。AsalwayswithMr。Platt，Ipersistentlyrefusedtolosemytemper，nomatterwhathesaid——hewasmuchtoooldandphysicallyfeeblefortheretobeanypointofhonorintakingupanyofhisremarks——andI
merelyexplainedgood-humoredlythatIhadmadeupmymindandthatthegentlemaninquestionwouldnotberetained。Asfornotbeingabletogethissuccessorconfirmed，IpointedoutthatassoonastheLegislatureadjournedIcouldandwouldappointanothermantemporarily。Mr。PlattthensaidthattheincumbentwouldbeputbackassoonastheLegislaturereconvened；Iadmittedthatthiswaspossible，butaddedcheerfullythatIwouldremovehimagainjustassoonasthatLegislatureadjourned，andthateventhoughIhadanuncomfortabletimemyself，Iwouldguaranteetomakemyopponentsmoreuncomfortablestill。Wepartedwithoutanysignofreachinganagreement。
Thereremainedsomeweeksbeforefinalactioncouldbetaken，andtheSenatorwasconfidentthatIwouldhavetoyield。Hismostefficientallieswerethepretendedreformers，mostofthemmyopenorcovertenemies，wholoudlyinsistedthatImustmakeanopenfightontheSenatorhimselfandontheRepublicanorganization。Thiswaswhathewished，foratthattimetherewasnowayofupsettinghimwithintheRepublicanparty；and，asIhavesaid，ifIhadpermittedthecontesttoassumetheshapeofamerefactionfightbetweentheGovernorandtheUnitedStatesSenator，Iwouldhaveinsuredthevictoryofthemachine。SoIblandlyrefusedtoletthethingbecomeapersonalfight，explainingagainandagainthatIwasperfectlywillingtoappointanorganizationman，andnamingtwoorthreewhomIwaswillingtoappoint，butalsoexplainingthatIwouldnotretaintheincumbent，andwouldnotappointanymanofhistype。MeanwhilepressureonbehalfofthesaidincumbentbegantocomefromthebusinessmenofNewYork。
TheSuperintendentofInsurancewasnotamanwhoseillwillthebiglifeinsurancecompaniescaredtoincur，andcompanyaftercompanypassedresolutionsaskingmetoreappointhim，althoughinprivatesomeofthemenwhosignedtheseresolutionsnervouslyexplainedthattheydidnotmeanwhattheyhadwritten，andhopedIwouldremovetheman。Acitizenprominentinreformcircles，markedbytheCato-likeausterityofhisreformprofessions，hadasonwhowasacounselforoneoftheinsurancecompanies。ThefatherwasengagedinwritingletterstothepapersdemandinginthenameofuncompromisingvirtuethatIshouldnotonlygetridoftheSuperintendentofInsurance，butinhisplaceshouldappointsomebodyorotherpersonallyoffensivetoSenatorPlatt——whichlastproposition，ifadopted，wouldhavemeantthattheSuperintendentofInsurancewouldhavestayedin，forthereasonsIhavealreadygiven。Meanwhilethesoncametoseemeonbehalfoftheinsurancecompanyherepresentedandtoldmethatthecompanywasanxiousthatthereshouldbeachangeinthesuperintendency；thatifIreallymeanttofight，theythoughttheyhadinfluencewithfouroftheStateSenators，DemocratsandRepublicans，whomtheycouldgettovotetoconfirmthemanI
nominated，butthattheywishedtobesurethatIwouldnotabandonthefight，becauseitwouldbeaverybadthingforthemifIstartedthefightandthenbackeddown。Itoldmyvisitorthatheneedbeundernoapprehensions，thatIwouldcertainlyseethefightthrough。
AmanwhohasmuchtodowiththatkindofpoliticswhichconcernsbothNewYorkpoliticiansandNewYorkbusinessmenandlawyersisnoteasilysurprised，andthereforeIfeltnootheremotionthanarathersardonicamusementwhenthirty-sixhourslaterIreadinthemorningpaperanopenletterfromtheofficialsoftheverycompanywhohadbeencommunicatingwithmeinwhichtheyenthusiasticallyadvocatedtherenominationoftheSuperintendent。Shortlyafterwardsmyvisitor，theyounglawyer，calledmeuponthetelephoneandexplainedthattheofficialsdidnotmeanwhattheyhadsaidinthisletter，thattheyhadbeenobligedtowriteitforfearoftheSuperintendent，butthatiftheygotthechancetheyintendedtohelpmegetridofhim。I
thankedhimandsaidIthoughtIcouldmanagethefightbymyself。I
didnothearfromhimagain，thoughhisfathercontinuedtowritepublicdemandsthatIshouldpracticepurevirtue，undefiledandoffensive。
MeanwhileSenatorPlattdeclinedtoyield。Ihadpickedoutaman，afriendofhis，whoIbelievedwouldmakeanhonestandcompetentofficial，andwhosepositionintheorganizationwassuchthatIdidnotbelievetheSenatewouldventuretorejecthim。However，uptothedaybeforetheappointmentwastogototheSenate，Mr。Plattremainedunyielding。Isawhimthatafternoonandtriedtogethimtoyield，buthesaidNo，thatifIinsisted，itwouldbewartotheknife，andmydestruction，andperhapsthedestructionoftheparty。IsaidIwasverysorry，thatIcouldnotyield，andifthewarcameitwouldhavetocome，andthatnextmorningIshouldsendinthenameoftheSuperintendent’ssuccessor。Weparted，andsoonafterwardsIreceivedfromthemanwhowasatthemomentMr。Platt’sright-handlieutenantarequesttoknowwherehecouldseemethatevening。IappointedtheUnionLeagueClub。Myvisitorwentovertheoldground，explainedthattheSenatorwouldundernocircumstancesyield，thathewascertaintowininthefight，thatmyreputationwouldbedestroyed，andthathewishedtosavemefromsuchalamentablesmash-upasanendingtomycareer。IcouldonlyrepeatwhatIhadalreadysaid，andafterhalfanhouroffutileargumentIroseandsaidthatnothingwastobegainedbyfurthertalkandthatImightaswellgo。MyvisitorrepeatedthatIhadthislastchance，andthatruinwasaheadofmeifIrefusedit；
whereas，ifIaccepted，everythingwouldbemadeeasy。Ishookmyheadandanswered，“ThereisnothingtoaddtowhatIhavealreadysaid。”
Heresponded，“Youhavemadeupyourmind？”andIsaid，“Ihave。”Hethensaid，“Youknowitmeansyourruin？”andIanswered，“Well，wewillseeaboutthat。”andwalkedtowardthedoor。Hesaid，“Youunderstand，thefightwillbeginto-morrowandwillbecarriedontothebitterend。”Isaid，“Yes。”andadded，asIreachedthedoor，“Goodnight。”Then，asthedooropened，myopponent，orvisitor，whicheveronechoosestocallhim，whosefacewasasimpassiveandasinscrutableasthatofMr。JohnHamlininapokergame，said：“Holdon！Weaccept。SendinSo-and-so[themanIhadnamed]。TheSenatorisverysorry，buthewillmakenofurtheropposition！”Ineversawabluffcarriedmoreresolutelythroughtothefinallimit。Mysuccessintheaffair，coupledwiththeappointmentofMessrs。PartridgeandHooker，securedmeagainstfurtherefforttointerferewithmyhandlingoftheexecutivedepartments。
ItwasinconnectionwiththeinsurancebusinessthatIfirstmetMr。
GeorgeW。Perkins。HecametomewithaletterofintroductionfromthethenSpeakeroftheNationalHouseofRepresentatives，TomReed，whichran：“Mr。Perkinsisapersonalfriendofmine，whosestraightforwardnessandintelligencewillcommendtoyouwhateverhehastosay。Ifyouwillgivehimproperopportunitytoexplainhisbusiness，Ihavenodoubtthatwhathewillsaywillbeworthyofyourattention。”Mr。PerkinswishedtoseemewithreferencetoabillthathadjustbeenintroducedintheLegislature，whichaimedtolimittheaggregatevolumeofinsurancethatanyNewYorkStatecompanycouldassume。TherewerethenthreebiginsurancecompaniesinNewYork——theMutualLife，Equitable，andNewYorkLife。Mr。PerkinswasaVice-
PresidentoftheNewYorkLifeInsuranceCompanyandMr。JohnA。
