Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-16
The Nation Interested in the
Meeting of Quay and Ma
gee at Harrisburg.
DIFFERENCE IN METHODS.
Simon Cameron's Talk That Changed
the Younger Mans Career.
POLITICS Is A GAME WITH HIM.
With the Beaver Statesman It Has Been
More of Business.
BLlINFS NAME WILL BRING HARMONY

| FgPECIAL TELEGRA4 TO DISPATCH.1
HARRISBURG, Aug 15.-Matt Quay and
Chris Magee are again to-day as they have
often been before during the past 20 years,
| two very picturesque characters in American
| politics They are again to be brought to-
| gether by master hand in the arts of public
affairs Had they needed great mans adj
vice of many years ago this interposition
would not now be necessary. They were
| both educated under the same strong man
| sger, but since his death have neglected his
watchword: "Never fire your own camp"
Sometimes it may be necessary, but only the
gravest emergency justifes it. Yet it is
done and this is how:
| think it is about eight years ago since
| Quay and Magee fell out over the nomina-
| ton of State Treasurer, when Magee broke
Quay's slate and named his friend Liyesy.
Most people then thought this was game
between them, and their assumed anger only
bluff But this was real split, and their
differences have grown into open rebellion,
until Mr. Magee beat Mr.. Quay's capdidate
for Governor last year. With Presidential
election approaching and a State campaign
now on, with many dangers threatening
the party, comes the necessity of reunion
between leaders and a readjustment Of
forces. You find the best evidence of
| where the line has been broken and has NOS
yet swung well together.
| BLAINE BRIDGES THE CHAsM.
But who is to harmonize the conflict be-
\ tween the important leaders? Nearly every
man in politics has tried to bring them
together, without avail There is one name
that can do it, and, according to general
belief, will do it ere long. That name is
| Blaine. They are both in favor of his
nomination for President, and both will be
in the convention that will name the candi-
date. But the old grudge is still bar, and
| the question is how both men are to labor in
the State Convention next Wednesday,
| the 18th
Both Quay and Magee were educated in
| politics by Bob Mackey when he was the
autocrat of the Republican party of this
| State in the Cameron interest Magee has,
in a marked degree, followed his precepts,
while Colonel Quay has not. When Mr..
Magee was yet boy Mr.. Mackey lived in
| Pittsburg and had large financial interests
there. He helped the young man to be-
come local leader. The two used to see
each other every day, and Mr.. Mackey
guided the boys footsteps in successful di-
rections Each was useful to the other.
| CAMERoN's ADVICE TO MAGEE.
| think the office of City Treasurer was
the only one Magee ever held, and that was
| lust after he was 81 years of age. Mr..
| Magee has never been politician in the
| sense that Mr.. Quay is, but he might have
! been had he not received some good advice
| early in life that turned his ideas in diff
ferent direction. Just before his term as
| City Treasurer had expired he came to Har-
/ co. CaparaI Sinoop CornaroY1 tha
| greatest politician of the generation in
| Pennsylvania The veteran had taken a
| fancy to him before that visit, and asked
| him about his future. Young Magee said
| that he was going to be reelected City
Treasurer of Pittsburg. Cameron asked:
GLOW old are you?'
"About 50" replied Magee.
"How much are you worth?"
"Hardly anything saved" said Magee.
''That is exactly it, continued the old
General ''Leave politics alone until you
have made fortune Then you may enjoy
its play with independence and treati as an
amusement. But Office holding and dealing
in politics for bread and butter is one Of
the worst occupations in which man ever
engaged.
ADVISED TO GET RICHES FIRST.
"I have often thought that L was foolish
to have anything to do with public affairs.
/ had great knack for business, and
would have been very rich man had left
politics alone and stuck to it. Let me ad-
wise YOU, young man. don't hold office until
you are rich. Politics is the finest game in
the world, but the poorest business"
'There's no man more useless in ordinary
affairs of life" continued the veteran poll
tician, ''than the habitual Office holder
Once acquire the habit of Office seeking and
you are never good for anything else, and
are at best dependent on somebody's pleas
ure You are City Treasurer now; may be
State Treasurer three years hence, and if
you have extraordinary good luck you
might be elected Governor of Pennsylvania
after that. You can't go any higher than
that. BY that time you will be incapable
of doing anything except holding Office. All
the force, industry, originality, enterprise
will be gone out of you. Take my word for
it, before you were 80 you would be fit only
for clerkship paying 81, 200 year"
SIMON SPOKE FROM EXPERIENCE
"a man can get so accustomed to sucking
at the public teat," said the octogenariaa
politician, who had in his own time been
State Printer, legislator United States Sen
ator, Secretary of War and Minister to Rus
sia, 'that it becomes impossible to earn q
livingl You take my advice, Chris, and
and get out of politics. You can do better
IN business"
Simon Cameron's genius always inspired
absolute faith in his followers. It was i'm
possible to efface the imprint of that power
full mind when the great politician became
interested enough to give advice. The in
fiuence of his counsel was sure to haunt the
mind of him who received it with some-
thing like the force of prophecy.
Christopher Magee, the young Napoleon
of Pennsylvania politics, went home the
next day with Cameron's words, already
forgotten probably by the veteran, ringing
in his ears A week later he dumbfounded
his friends by announcing that he should re-
sign tie city treasurership, an Office worth
SO, 600 year. He soon did so and literally
began to earn his living in legitimate busi-
ness He has never regretted the step. To-
day he is worth probably $4,000 and his
only dissipation, his only amusement, is the
game of politics, which he plays with all
the greater enthusiasm because sit is not
my business, you know"
MR.. oUAY's DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE.
Colonel Quay took different turn and
has held Office most of his life, all the way
from county clerk to United States Senator.
He is much the older of the two. He was
Mr. Mackey's lieutenant when young Magee
first tackled State politics. The twomen
became friends. There were no divisions in
the party in those days, and probably never