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，tocreateaTenementHouseCommissionwhosefindingsresultedinfurtherandexcellentlegislationtoimprovehousingconditions，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；lawspreventingtheadulterationoffoodproductswhichlawswereequallyvaluabletotheconsumer，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。