Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-28
QUAY'S EYES OPENED
10 the Fact That lie Must Hustle to
Retain His Political Grip.
HAS NO USE FOR BARNACLES NOW.
Mcdowell and Lily Are Now Seated for Con-
gressmen at Large, But
FARMER TAGGART MAY MAKE TROUBLE

PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 27.-One of the
results of Senator Quay's visit here last
week. it now develops, was the practical
settlement of the contests for the two nomi-
nations for Congressman at large. The
Senator had sounded the Western leaders
on the situation, and all hands concurred in
the wisdom of having one candidate from
the West and one from the East. The first
will be Major Mcdowell. one of the Sena-
tors old-time antagonists and the last will
be General William Lily, of Mauch Chunk,
Carbon county. This last name is the rock
on which the Philadelphia politicians may
split with the Senator.
From the general drift, as brought out at
several conferences, there is no fight on the
Western end of the question. There is,
however, a very decided difference of opin-
ion on the Eastern section of the line. There
are three distinct and full-fedged candidates
Lily, who is wealty coal operator in Car
bon; George A. Castor, Philadelphia bus
iness man, and Austin L. Taggart, popu-
lsrly known as Farmer Taggart, Of Mont
gomery County. None Of them, to use the
now popular Western expression, are in the
contest ''for their health" Each one has
strong backing of a peculiar character.
Friend of the Party in Need,
General Lily is a veteran Republican,
much after the same character as Uncle
John Cessna, of Bedford. For years-in-
deed, farther back than the memory of some
Of the politicians of the present can look
l. L. 4,
publican campaign fund. This financial
most needed, and in politics, as in other
things, "a friend in need is friend in
deed"
1t is said that when Senator Quay was in
New York running the national campaign
of 1888 be conceived the idea OF calling on a
number of Pennsvlvanians for help. 1t
was near the close of the fight and the ex-
citement was at fever heat The Senator
selected The names of 80 men who were con-
ceded TO be at least semi-millionaires.
Twenty Of this rumber responded to the
appeal, ard it is said the check with the
largest number of numerals on it was sent
by General Lily. 1t is contended now that
when a man of this kind asks for anything
he should get it,
IF the nomination for Congressman at
large was rendered me-" said the General,
as he sat in the corridor Of the Continental
last night and slowly stroked his beard, 81
might accept it. OF course, If such an
honor comes I would like il with some de-
gree Of unanimity. / would not care to go
into an unseemlv scramble"
General Iily's Strong Backing.
1t is believe that General Lily has the
backing of such party men as Lieutenant
Governor Watres, Ex-State Chairman Will
lam H. Andrews. General Frank Reeder
and B. Frank Gilkeson.
The candidacy of Austin L. Taggart, of
Upper Marion, Will prove an important
factor in the race for Congressman-at-La
He has formally announced himself as
candidate for the place, and in a talk on
the matter says that, having been urged by
a number of grangers, and given them per-
mission to use his name, he cannot now de-
cline a nomination.
Farmer" Taggart will be remembered as
the only man with sufficient nerve power to
stand up as a candidate against Senator j.
Donald Cameron in the last Legislature
He will have the active support of the
various farmer organizations, and it is said
that Colonel r. H. Thomas, OF Mechanics
burg, and Leonard Rhone, of Center, may
take charge of his canvass. Farmer" Tag
Cart is essentially a practical man. If he
wins he will not be unduly elated, and if he
loses be will shed no tears
Mcdowell and Lily Have the Call.
Several candidates for the position have
been talked of in Philadelphia, but the
iroth has Simmered away and it now looks
as If George =, Castor was the choice of the
Quaker City politicians He is credited
with having the backing of City Chairman
Charles a. Porter and ex-Collector David
Martin. Mr.. Castor is not politician, but
the gentlemen who are urging his candidacy
think he would be the right man in the
right place. 1t is pretty safe TO assume,
however, that Mcdowell and Lily will be
the candidates when the time comes
A gentleman in this city who is pretty
close TO Senator Quay said to-day: f'Sena-
tor QUAY has no fear of his own election as
United States Senator this time, but he is
beginning to realize that some OF the men
who claim to be his friends are greatly
weakening his power in Pennsylvania poll
tics. For this reason he has gone into the
fight with something of his old-time vIgor
He realizes in a very forcible manner that
now is the time to shake of ali barnacles. 30
What do you mean by that?"
Qusy Looking Out for No. L.
Simply that Quay has had lot of men
cllnging about him who seek only their own
profit, comfort and self-advancement Men
come TO him and say, Senator, L am going
10 be candidate for this, that and the
other Won't you be for me?' QUAY, in
the good OF his heart, consents and what is
the result? All of the opponents of this
particular man become the opponents of
Senator Quay. Light is beginning to dawn
on the Senator's brain. He sees all this.
Consequently, he has shown some care in
the matter of candidates for Congressman
at-Large. The two men who will run are
Quay men now. If they run it is reasonably
sure thew will remain Quay men. That's
what he needs. He doesn't want men who
become flushed with victorv-that they
themselves were in no wise responsible for
and who then go off and start as political
leaders on their own account.
81 have reason TO know that Quay bit
terlv regrets the part he took in the contest
for the presidency of the State League of
Clubs. 1t has cost Sam Warmcastle the
loss of his official position, and has engen-
dered an amount of bad political blood
through the State that Quay may never be
able to entirely wipe out. And what was it
all for? Why, nething. The presidency of
a hurrah organization that doesn I amount to
picayUne IN practical politics"
These are blunt words but the truth does
not always feel as soft as velvet or sound as
low and sweet as an -Eolian harp.