The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1888-08-01
MATTHEW STANLEY QUAY.
The Pennsylvania Senator Who Is the
Chairman of the National Committee.

tnhlFnnu Oh the
"Dcar Beaver: Don't talk
This was the brief note addressed 20 the pres
ent Governor OF Pennsylvania by Colonel Mat
thew ,. Quay in the campaign of 1882, when a re-
porter wan5sd to Interview the candidate and
sought caid OF Introduction from Quay, SAYS
tho Now YORK Press he remark has alIeady
b come a part OF the history of Pennsylvania.
IL rived 10 call the attention of the whole State
to thu remarkable qualities possessed by ths
quiet iInper,ur LITTLE man from Beaver
County. But his record was by no means begun
thsn. Quay never ma e much noise about IA M
SELF, and be mud been "A big man and had known
himself to be one lon before The world found
IL ont
Born of a scosch-Irish fumily in York County.
Pennsylvania, in 1885, Matthew Stanley Quay
was the of IA preacher. When the boy was
six years old his faihaf brought home "A Bib o
and tin swCrl and offered him his choice. The
baby politician chose tho Bible because he
knew that his delighte father would give him
the tin sword anyhow, and then no would have
both Another instance OF his early develop
ment OF diplomatic insti CT is related. His
fathers arrival at church wa delayed one San
day, and the congregation began TO get restless.
Matthew quietly arose and ascending the pull
pit steps began TO turn tho leaves OF the big
Bible and ar ango the marks. The congregation
became interested md wondered what be would
do next. but he didn't do Il. He simply kept
their attention fixed and prevented their do
plrturs till his father S arrival
Young Quay was graduated at Jefferson Col
lega Pennsylvnnia, at the nre OF II, and read law
i'm the office o judge Sterrstt, now y member OF
years in Louisiana and Texas, where he picked
up much OF his profound knowledge OF human
nature. AS "A schoolteacher in Texas his great
est exploit TO cure his pupils Of the practice
OF carrying pistols. The average Texas school
boy was larger than Quay was, or, for That mat
ter, is now, and IL is needless 70 say that forco
was not the means used.
He returned TO Pennsylvania in 1853, and en-
tered politics i'm Beaver County, where ne was
elected and reelected To the Office OF prothono
tary. He cast his first vote at the lquor-law
election OF 1854, and voted for prohibit on.
Since then, however, he has become high
license advocate. He resigned his Office in 1851.
TO become first Lieutenant of the Penns ylvana
Reserves, but was Immediately appointed As
sistant Commissary General on Governor Cur
tins staff. He preferred however, TO GO TO the
'front.' and Governor Curtin asked him what APP
pointment he wanted. His reply was, Il should
ike % be Major" But Curtin offered him the
Coloaelcy OF the One Hundred md Thirty
fourth Penusylvania Infantry. Quay said he
would rather not but Curtin insisted, saying,
THAT Is the only commission you can have. '
Then Quay TOOK it.
His first act IA Colonel was 10 study book Of
tactics on his way to Virginia in the fall a S52.
He contracted typhoid fever I'm camp and had re-
signed to 60 hume when the battle of Fredericks-
burg was making ready. He withdrew his resiq-
nation i'm order 10 go TO the fight with his regi-
ment, which he did, carrying through 10 ahaver-
sack containing $4,000 that had been in
trusted him TO take horne. Gen. Tyler COM
mended his bravery in official report. Quay
thon became Gov. Curtins military -earetary.