Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-07-22

fortunes of Boss Quay, the Chairman
ship OF the National Republican Com
mittee, and, In remote possibility, the
electoral votes of the second State In the
Union, are involved in what is going on
there. The State was only partially
lost TO Quay last year. The election OF
Pattison was an important thing, but 1t
was not everything. Should Mr.. Quay,
however, lose the State again this year
aud lose il wholly-no scratch or doubt
about it-he would disappear from the
politics of the country almost as sud-
denly and quite as completely as
Tweed did. Aud the chances
are not few that he may do so. The
offensive character of his bossism has
not abated. The lesson Of last year has
had no effect on him or his friends. he
has named his ticket for this year
months in advance of the Republican
State Convention just as he had done In
years past. Chairman Andrews, lntl-
mately identified with Delamater and
Quay, is still at the head Of the State
Committee, and has Quay's pledge to
keep him there through the approach
ing canvass, Notwithstanding the al
most unanimous protest of the Repuoll-
can newspapers and the intense dis
satisfaction of the rank and file.
The Republican ticket to be placed IN
the field by Mr.. Quay's order will nat
urally be very unpopular, II Tor no
other reason than simply because II is
his ticket. Such is the eagerness OF the
better class of Republicans to be clear
4 dc nd Fni1AVe
themselves from the odium of his man
agement next year that this alone ought
to be sufficient 10 defeat his ticket. But
this is not his greatest difficulty. The
people of all parties IN the State, where
corrupt elections have proved so gross
and scandalous and so hideous curse,
are intensely DESTROYS Of ballot reform.
Seeing this, Quay would cheerfully yield
it were it not that ballot reform would
destroy totally his power and that OF
the machine or any machine. III any
thing would make the State Democratic
this would do so. At all events 1t would
unhorse him and all his kind. For
these reasons he resists, preferring to
encounter the strong popular tide in
favor Of reform rather tnan to sacrlhce
his boss-ship by concession.
On the other hand Gov. Pattison seizes
the great opportunity and is using 1t Tor
all il is worth. In order to concentrate
the fight for reform AID to utilize the
existing sentiment against bossism and
corruption for sweeping and final relief,
he proposed in his canvass and strongly
pressed after his election the calling or
a constitutional convention so to revise
the constitution as to permit the intro
duction OF the Australian ballot. The
bill authorizing a convention was passed
by the Legislature, the Quay hepuol-
cans acce1ing because they were AFRAID
to offend the labor organizations which
were united in favor of Pattison's plan.
The people will vote at the November
election for and against convention as
well as for delegates and for State DILL
GERS. Tho convention bill provides Tor
elegates-at-large, each voter 10
vote for IS only. This it was sup
posed would give the Quay machine
eighteen delegates-at-large, to be
named by him in the State Convention,
and the Democrats nine. But the Dem
ocrats will nominate eighteen and ex-
pect TO elect them. Their election
would beyond question carry the State
ticket with them, bring on in the Con-
stitution itself the Australian system or
secret voting, and so reform entirely the
politics of the State.
Meanwhile the boss declares himself
for Blaine and trafficS with Harrison.
He is also getting ready to defend him
self against the attempt of Clarkson to
seize his place as Chairman. But, under
all circumstances, tt would probably be
lust as we'll for Mr.. Harrison and Mr..
Blaine and Mr.. Clarkson to postpone
their delverances either with or against
Quay, inasmuch as an adverse vote In
Pennsylvania this fall would eliminate
the boss altogether.