Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-07
POWER IN POLITICS.

| LrhOM A STAFF CORRESPONDENCE
HARRISBURG, April 6-There is no mistak-
/ ing the victory won by Messrs Andrews and
! Delamater over Mr.. Magee on Friday. The
| vote was so nearly unanimous that the future
Governor and the State Chairman fairly
| beamed after it was all over. 1t was great
display OF powers and the preliminary dress
parade OF the Philadelphia leaders and num-
Der of their most influential following was
hardly less interesting than the determined
manner in which Mr.. Magee was Jumped on
after he had laid down and confessed himself
beaten. 1t was a marvellous display of strength,
and remarkable exhibition of the bitter feel
! ing between the Quay leaders and the Pitts
burg chieftain. But this was not all of it
| Mr.. McManes, MIR. Leeds and Mr. Lane
| were all present from Philadelphia the day be-
| fore the vote was taken to see that such of the
legislators as they could control were training
| on the right side. Martin, Mercantile Ap-
| praiser of Philadelphia, Mr. Quay's especial
LIEUTENANT In the Quaker City TWO of the City
| Commissioners, the Mayors clerk and a con-
| tractor or two formed the rest of the conting-
enJ. Beside there were men here from various
counties laboring with members on the quiet.
All of them were present ostensibly on other
business entirely, but the remarkable feature
of the whole matter was their opposition to
Senate bill No. 20.
The Bone of Contention.
Mr.. Magee's principal weakness lay in the
| fact that the measure he advocated was not
one in any degree calculated to arouse popular
enthusiasm, while on the other hand it gave
the opposition an opportunity to make great
many representations that were not lost sight
of in the circular distributed among the mem
bers by ex-Speaker Long. But the merits and
dement's of the bill were almost entirely lost
sight Of early in the fight. The measure was
merely an excuse for a trial of political
strength. NThe result is before the public in
the vote on Mr. Graham's motion to in
definitely postpone consideration Of Mr.. Laf-
ferty's resolution.
A More Successful Effort.
Mr.. Capp, of Lebanon, had different ex-
perience. Three weeks ago the necessity for
a street railway incorporation bill was pointed
out in The DISPATCH, in connection with the
statement that Mr.. Quay had given orders that
all street railway legislation be killed. 1t was
shown in the same connection that the neces-
sity. which is vital one in many Of the third
class cities, furnished the opportunity for Mr..
Magee or some of his friends to make fight
that would at least jar Mr.. Quay's power. Mr..
Magees friends did not take advantage OF it,
but Mr.. Capp, on the Tuesday following the
publication, did and won his fight He OBJ
tanned a large majority on his motion to sus-
pend the rules for the purpose of placing the
bill on the calendar. He needed two-thirds
vote at the tima and his motion did not prevail.
But on Friday majority of quorum would
have been sufficient, and Mr.. Capp's claim that
he would have it at that time was recognized
in compromise by which the test of strength
was avoided, and satisfactory street railway
incorporation bill promised him and his sup
porters.
Politics in Legislation.
Since Chairman Keyser, of the Street Rail-
ways Committee of the House, moved the re-
committal of one of the street railway incor-
poration bills, in accordance with promises made
to Mr.. Capp. Mr.. Magee has made his fight and
suffered defeat. If Mr.. Magee had not waxed
belligerent another step toward redeeming the
promise made to Mr.. Capp would probably
have been taken ere this in the shape of the
favorable report of the bill from committee
1t has been stated from time to time as a reason
for the delay that various amendments were
under consideration, and that it was deter
mined to make the bill as perfect as possible
before reporting it. Beyond question there was
great deal of truth in the statements. But
likewise beyond question the gentlemen who
into the Magee fold while the bill was yet the
property Of the commirIee than if it was before
the House. Another peculiar circumstance is
that Mr.. Fow, Democrat secured special
order for his liquor license transfer bill Just
after Mr.. Magee had been jumped on, while
Mr.. Brooks, who has hitherto opposed all tam
pering with the high license law never said
word. And among those who jumped on Mr..
Magee on Friday morning none jumped with
more vigor and abandon than Mr.. Brooks. The
mittee last week Of 81, 900 for the purchase Of
the William Penn farm in Bucks county, also
brought the Democratic delegation from that
district into line with Mr.. Andrews. These are
only some of the straws showing the kind of
rock-ribbed circumstance with which Mr..
Magee collided.
After the Smoke.
Mr.. Magee is supposed to be buried out of
sight Nevertheless, he is not entirely disposed
of. All who voted against him are not his ene-
Andrews did not vote SO much for him as for
their temporary selfinterest. If their self
interest could have been served by voting for
Mr. Magee they would have voted that way.
The victory was won by using the party whip
where it could be used with effect and by max
ing promises where it could not be used. In
other words, it was victory over the head
and not over the heart. But hearts don't figure
much in politics, and as an exhibition of
shrewd party management and manipulation
it is one of the finest on record.
There is some question though as to whether
the thing was not carried too far Even thick.
and-thin followers of Mr.. Quay have been
heard to remark that it was rubbing it in a tri1e
too hard and that Mr.. Latfertv's confession
of defeat should have contented Messrs. Della
mater and An0rews. With this feeling abroad
among their own friends it is not surprising
that those who at heart are unfriendly to them
should have warmer regard for Mr.. Magee
after helping to defeat him than they had be-
fore. Consequently Mr. Magee is not SO
appear. Besides there are those who voted
against him who did not fully make up their
minds to do so until he had confessed defeat,
when they thought it advisable to get in out Of
the shower.
The Milk In the Cocoanut.
Jumping on Mr.. Magee so severely as to cre-
ate sympathy for him atfirst glance looks like
bad politics. Undoub tedly both Chairman
Andrews and Senator Delamater enjoyed. do
ing it. But they had weightier reasons than the |
mere pleasure it afforded them. Had there
been nothing in it but enjoyment they might |
have considered magnamnity much the |
better policy as well as tie wiser course.
But an impression that needed correction had |
gone abroad, growing out of the Capp compro- |
mise in the House and the virtual defeat in the |
Senate of the resolution to adjourn on April !
25. That impression was that Mr.. Quay was |
losing his grip the Pennsylvania Iegislat- |
ure. 1t would never do, for reasons that will |
Immediately present themselves, to permit |
such belief to gain ground at Washington. |
1t was felt to be no time for display of mag |
nanimity. and none was shown. The powers
at Washington are duly notified that Mr.. Quay
still owns the State of Pennsylvania and they |
will be expected to act accordingly.
MIR. Quay's Problem.
One very interesting point to remember Is
that Matthew Stanley Quay's power in Penn
sylyania politics has been shown at its full. Its
retention is now the particular thing to occupy