Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-04-29
MAT Quay.

senator matthew .. quay, OF Pennsyl>
vania, who is also chairman of the repub-
licsn national committee, is being venti-
lated by the eastern press. QuaY's no.
torious and brazen campaign of 1888
brought him into prominence as man
who believed in carrying elections with
money. and the easiest way to secure
campaign Doodle was to fry it out of the
millionaire manufacturers. This man, re.
marks the Boston Herald, is the chosen
associate and colaborer in the field of pol
itics with perhaps the most conspicuous
layman of the christian church in Amer
lea, Mr.. John Wanamaker. He is reco g.
nized as more than any one else the adj
wiser and director of the policy of the
president of the United States in that
very important feature of his sdministrs-
ton, the appointment of men to office.
He represents the republican party in the
highest office 1t has to confer in the sec
ond state of the union. Its party man
agement was put into his hands in the
last presidential election. Involved in
this was the disposal of vast sums of
money, estimated by no one at less than
several hundred Thousand dollars, and de-
had a moral hearing in the campaign. 1t
r is OF more than usual interest, therefore,
to know what manner of man this conf
dant and adviser of the president, this
guide and mentor of the postmastergen
eral. this representative of a great state
in the senate, this absolute controller of
the direction OF a presidential campaign,
is.
We find the description of his character
and career set forth at length and with
minuteness in two of the leading news
papers of New York. Both are of the
highest responsibility. In the case of one
of them its proprietor is capable of re-
spending to the amount of millions of
money if his charges are questioned. They
are not questioned in any particular,
either by Mr.. Quay or by those who are
authorized to speak for him What are
these statements?
They are, first. that Matthew S. Quay
began his political career by taking
brides as a legislator. Second, that he
sold himself first for S13. 900 to one cam
didate for United States senator, and then
betrayed that candidate under the pay>
meDt of 100000 by another Third that
he conspired to defraud the internal rev.
enue of the country. Fourth. that he
procured 10y bribery the passage of bill
which created the Office of recorder in
Philadelphia. which he was himself ap.
pointed to fill. Fifth. that he conspired
to get bill through the legislature which
should wrong the state out of a large
amount of money as indemnity for the
Pittsburg riots of 1877, and after those
who were the active agents in the work
were sentenced to prison. one of them
having pleaded guilty, he Immediately
procured their pardon.
But he most formidable and specific
charge of all comes in two counts. 1t is
that Matthew S. Quay twice took from
the treasury of the state of Pennsylvania
the states money and used it for his own
private speculations. The first time he
distracted $3.50 600, and lost it all Ruin
stared him in the face. OF his two ac-
completes, one died from the effects of
the shock aid the other committed SUI
eide. Quay contemplated flight to Can
ada. He was spared the necessity for this |
by J. Donald Cameron supplying the |
money to make good his theft
The most of this was repaid ID
later years. but some of it is |
still owed. Perhaps the most amaz,
ing feature of the affair is that, |
with the knowledge of this in the
minds of the politicians he was actually !
elected to the office of state treasurer
of Pennsylvania. In that position he
the second time raided the state treasury,
taking S400, 600 for his use In this specu-
lation, which proved to be so profitable
an one that he was spared his earlier en-
This man, with this record, is in the
senate of the United States in equal as
ISOLATION with the senators OF the state Of
M Massachusetts, and with the self-re.
specting, God-fesring men of other
states of the union which hold merit and
morals to be the standard in selecting
heir representatives in that body. That
however. is compulsory. and
t may not be cordial fellowship. But
what shall we say of the state that sends
Quay to the senator What shall we say
Of that professedly christian member of
the cabinet who comes into office under
his auspices. and who is so identified
with him as to be recognized in and out
Of his state as in his career creation
Of Quay2 What shall we say of 8 presi-
dent, also a protessedly christian man,
who has so listened to Quay, has so fol-
owed his counsel, has so made him a
power in his administration that one of
he most distinguished republicans of
Pennsylvania has felt compelled to make
! public protest against such action, and
all his attention to the character of the
nanf
Above all, what shall we say of great
'arty of the nation which makes such
nan its chosen leader in its presidential