The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-02-17
Quay Reads to the World a Record
Of His Misdeeds In
Office.
Charges OF Mesfeasance and NAL
feaeance Accumulate After
Each Term.
To tho Serious and Specific Charges OF
Corruption He Returns AN Unsup-
ported Denial.

charges circulated against him. lie Sai0,
in part: "Ncver, probably. since Alexander
Hamilton was hunted to his death, has one
in public life been pursued so persistently
and Indignantly. The field Of malign
effort has been the entire union. The as
saults were of character 80 moDstrous as |
largely to carry with them their own refu- |
tation. Were il otherwise, could not re-
main, nor would my constituents permit
me to remain, member Of the senate. |
Now, when no heated political conflict is
raging: when neither hope nor fear can be
deemed the inspiration of my utterance. l
choose briefly to confront the accusation
with the truth. It 10 not my purpose to
weary the senate by a rehearsal of each de-
tail of the mass of misrepresentation.
Nevertheless, avoiding prolixity, will en-
deavor to make this statement specific, and
10 complete as to be final. The first asser-
ton concerning my official acts is that at
| the time or continuously between
the years of 1879 and 1882, alone, or
acting with another, or others, used moneys
Of the state Of Pennsylvania for speculative
or private purposes. I denounce the state
ment as absolutely false. In 1877 the dem
ocratic party OF Pennsylvania elected a
cial officers of the commonwealth. A year
or two later, pending their terms of Office.
| became engaged in stock operations. In
some transactions was associated. jointly
interested, with the gentleman who was at
that time cashier of the late treasurer.
These transactions proved seriously disas-
trous and was compelled to pay portion
of his losses as well as Of my own. In do
ing this it became necessary to supply an
alleged deficiency he had caused in the
treasury. As portion of the fund for this
purpose borrowed 500, 600 from the gen.
tleman who is at present my colleague in
the senate. gave my Judgment note
therefor, the amount of which note
II paid to him, dollar for dol
lar, years ago. Not until the
beginning of tho settlement Of our losses
wss.s aware that the deficiency existed, and
had every assurance that my associate
WAS able to carry his share of the losses.
Regarding the charge that again / used
moneys belonging to the commonwealth of
Pennsylvania to purchase bonds, or stock, of
Chicago street railway, would say bor-
rowed the money upon my own collateral
from the Peoples bank in Philadelphia.
The only negotiable securities held by the
state of Pennsylvania are registered bonds
of the United States, transferable only in
the books of the national treasury by the
auditor-geueral. secretary of the common
wealth, and state treasurer acting conjoint
ly, after having filed a certificate with the
governor, in their official character. The
charge that l defrauded, or attempted to
defraud. the state, is also absolutely false
There breathes not upon earth a man or
woman who can trufhfuliy say l ever de-
frauded, or attempted to defraud him or
her, of dollar. Upon this point, charity
to the dead and to the. living forbids my
making any personal explanation. Sam
adelphia, and president of the
Young Mems Democratic association,
of that city, is one of several thoroughly
conversant with the facts. who can give
them to the public If they are proper;
Referring to his action as member of
the board of pardons of Pennsylvania, Ill
voting for the pardon of certain members
of the legislature and others upon whom
sentence had been passed for bribery. Quay
SAID the facts were thoroughly discussed
before his election as state treasurer, and
subsequently to the senate. He had no per-
! sonal interest in legislation involved. His
vote was in accordance with the law and
with the action of his colleagues, and COM
PEELED by the fact that the sentence i'm
posed by the court was illegal. The attor-
decision. The charge that he attempted to
3 procure the pardon of a man named Lynch,
, under sentence for forgery. by threats de-
livered personally to MI. Byers. of Pitts
. burg, is a lie. Equally false is the story of
! his escape from the Pittsburg rioters of
Q 1877. under the tutelaee of Dalzell.
Quay said he would have to delve into
ancient history to dispose of the charge of
bribery and corruption rs member Of the
Pennsylvania legislature, nearly twenty
4 N,..,, t,s.,
: tion for libel against the then editor of the
Pittsburg Commercial. with character
istic malignity my assaiiants have been care
full to emphasize the fact that the case was
never pushed for trial. They fail to state
that the libel was retracted and defendants
paid the costs OF the case and the fees OF
n counsel. In the preliminary hearing an
. effort WAS made 10 show that WAS IA rich
3 man, the innuendo being that my wealth
was unlawfuliy acquired. had been
,s1S to for 1861 Beaver wsen count,
signed to go into the Union army
: l served as private secretary to Gov. Cur
tin military agent of the state in this city.
chief of the state department of Transports.
ton and telegraph. and for three terms had
been u member of the Pennsylvania legisla-
, ture. My recollection 10 that examination
: disclosed the fact that after nearly twelve
: years of industry and opportunity my for
tune was $1,000. The accusation that over
twenty years ago l attempted To bribe
4 Alexander r. Tuition. then supervisor OF
inland revenue for the eastern district OF
Pennsylvania, to prevent the seizure OF an
. illioit distillery. il n wicked and malicious
falsehood. Tuition IL now living at Dow
inQton, Pa. and his reports are on file.
Q presume. in tho inland revenue bureau.
Q | The statement has been made that when
. the present high license statute was pond
ing in the legislature of that state, liquor
dealers in Philadelphia and Pittsburg raised
sum specified ~ $4,000 and
: gave IL To mo and TO federal officer in
!, Philadelphia. who will not be named, for
u the purpose of securing an amendment to
= that legislation in their interests. This,
: also. denounce nv an absolute faischood.
Finally. l reach the charge that, III some
9 mysterious way. bought the defeat OF the
: proposed amendment to the constitution Of
Pennsylvania prohibiting the sale OF intoI-
icnting liquors in that state, which WAS sub
mitt0d TO the vote of The people III 1889.
' Others. understand, have also exploded
the silly falsehood OF the publication from
o which this charge arose, and specially de-
: MED II at the time'it appeared"
In conclusion, Quay said: II have en-
deavoSed to answer every specific charge Of