St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-08-19
Story Of the Lives Of Pennsyl-
Vania'S Masters Of the
Game of Politics.
Senator Quay and "ChriS"
Magee and the Careers
They Have Led.
National Interest in Two Men
Who Will Meet at Harris
burg To-Mor row.
Simon Cameron's Influence
on Eaeh--Will They Engi-
neer a Compromise?

| Quay and Chris Magee are again to-day,
as they have often been before during
the past twenty years, two very pict-
uresque characters in American poll
tics. They are again to be brought TO-
gether by a master hand in the arts of
public affairs. Had they needed a great
mans advice of many years ago this in
terposition would not now be necessary.
| They were both educated under the
same strong manager, but since his
death have neglected his WatchwOrd:
Never fire your own camp" Some
times it may be necessary, but only the
gravest emergency justifies it. Yet it
| has been done, and this is how:
think it about eight years ago since
| Quay and Magee fell out over the NOM
| inatiOn of state treasurer, when
Magee broke Quay's slate and named
his friend Livesy. Most people then
thought this was game between them
and their assumed anger only bluff.
| But this was real split, and theiI diff
| ferenceS have grown into open rebel
| lion, until Mr.. Magee beat MIR. Quay's
candidate for governor last year. With
a presidential election approaching
and state campaign now on, with
many dangers threate ming the
party. comes the necessity of
! reunion between leaders and
read iustment of forces. You
find the best evidence of it where the
line has been broken and has not yet
swung well together. But VINO is to
harmonic the conflict between the i'm
pOrtant leaders? Nearly every man in
politics has tried to bring them to-
gether without avail. There is one
man that can do it, and. according to
general belief, will do it ere long. That
man is Blaine. They are both in favor
of his nomination for president, and
both will be in the convention that will
name the candidate. But the old
| grudge is still bar, and the question
is how both men are to labor in the
state convention Wednesday.
PreceptOr of Quay and Magee.
Both Quay and Magee were educated
in politics 10y Bob Mackey when he was
the autocrat of the Republican party of
this state in the Cameron interest.
Magee has in marked degree followed
his preceptS, while Col. 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 become local leader.
The two used to see each other every
day, and Mr.. Mackey guided the boys
footsteps in successful directions. Each
was useful to the other. l think the
Office of city treasurer was the only one
Magee ever held, and that was just
after he was twenty-one 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 different direction.
Just before his term as city treasurer
had expired he came TO Harrisburg to
see General Simon Cameron, the great
est politician of the generation in Penn
sylvania. 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:
"How old are you?"
about thirty" replied Magee.
chow much are you wOrth?'
"Hardly anything saved, "Said Magee.
''That is exactly it." continued the
old general. Leave politics alone UNI
til you have made fortune. Then you
may enjoy its play with independence,
and treat 1t as an amusement. But Of
ficehOlding and dealing in politics for
bread and butter is one of the worst &C.
| Iii WHICH Il lIldlI CNSI CIIS
l have often thought that | was foolish
to have anything to do with public af-
fairs. | had a great knack for business,
and would have been very rich man
had | left politics alone and stuck to it.
Let me advise you, young man; don't
hold Office until you are rich. Politics
is the finest game in the world, but the
poorest business"
CamerOn's Sage Advice.
"There's no man more useless in ordi-
nary affairs of life" continued the
veteran politician. than the habitual
officeh older. Once acquire the habit of
Officeseeking and you are never good for
anything else, and are at best depend
ent on somebody's pleasure. You are
city treasurer now: may be state treas
urer 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 inca
pable of doing anything except holding
office. All the force. industry. origin
ality, enterprise will be gone out of you.
Take my word for it, before you were
fifty you would be fit only for clerk
ship paying $1,000 year.
"A man can get so accustomed to
sucking at the public teat," ended the
Octogenarian politician, who had in his
own time been state printer, legislator,
United States senator, secretary of war
and minister to Russia, "that it be-
comes impossible for him to earn liy-
ing. Take my advice, Chris, and get
out of politics. You can do better in
business"
Simon Cameron's genius always in
spired absolute faith in his followers.
1t was impossible to efface the imprint
of that powerful mind when the great
politician became interested enough to
give advice. The influence of his coun-
sci was sure to haunt the 'mind of him
who received it with something like the
force of a prophecy.
poIeon of Pennsylvania politics, went
home the next day with Cameron's
words, already forgotten probably by the
the veteran, ringing in his ears. A
week later he dumfOunded his friends
by announcing that he should resign
the city treasurerShlp. an office worth
$4,000 year. He soon did so. and lit
orally began to earn his living in legIti-
mate business. He has never regretted
the step. To-day he is worth probably
S4OO, 900, and his only dissipation, bis
only amusement. is the game of poll
i tics, which he plays with all the greater
enthusiasm because sits not my bust
ness, you know"
Quay,s Different Experience.
Col. Quay took a different turn, and
has held office most of his life, all the
way from county clerk to United State:
senator. He is much the older of the
two. He was Mr.. Mackey's lieutenant
: when young Magee first tackled state
, politics The two men became friends
There were no divisions in the party II
those days. and probably never would
have been had not Mr.. Quay reached {
point in his ambitions where he believed
himself all-powerful, and accepted sug
gestious only with club. Mr.. Quay
and Mr.. Mackey approached politica
battles by entirely different routes
}, Mr.. Mackey was careful or
!; ganizer, and looked well after thu
}, counties, If there were differences
= cropping out in any locality he
!, was sure to put Oh the salve Of confer