Evening star., 1895-07-27
The Battle Among Pennsylvania
Republicans.
IT Is QUAY AGAINST TIE FIELD
The National Delegation the Real
Object.
HOW THE FIG HT GOE S
From a STAFF Correspondent.

PITTSBURG, Pa. July 27.-The most in
teresting political contest. now being waged
in this country Is the fight which Senator
Quay is making in this state. The interest
is derived from the importance Of the strug-
gle in connection with national politics and
its bearing upon other than mere state and
local issues. Upon the surface it is a con-
tention for the craftsmanship of the repub-
lican state committee, but there are pow
erful unlercurrents, setting in many d.
rections, and whose depths are difficult to
fathom.
Briefly stated, the main elements of i'm
portance in this matter. aside from the
petty subterfuge of the state committee
craftsmanship, are these: The control Of
the Pennsylvania delegation to the repub-
lican national convention and the attitude
of the keystone delegates toward the pres
idential candidates, the naming of one
United States Senator in the near future
and another at a later date, and the fur
therance of business and corporation in
terests of immense magnitude OF course
there Is also the question of the political
supremacy of Senator Quay personally, but
that Is probably of secondary Importance
to the general public.
The figure which the corporation and
business interests cut in this matter is the
subject of considerable discussion and
speculation. That Is one Of the undercur-
.,
deep-sea soundings, trying to fathom Its
depths It Is known that the great and
powerful Pennsylvania railroad Is arrayed
against Mr.. Quay; that the Elkins- W1dener
traction syndicate of Philadelphia is align
ing its forces in opposition to him, and has
recently been Joined by the Ptttsburg trac-
tion syndicate while other corporations OF
lesser Importance but with similar interests
| are falling into line in the enemy's camp
The Heroic Phase of 1t.
{S Iii ho fphf n
| waging 1t alone and single-handed in the
face of overpowering numbers that would
discourage an ordinary man, and against
| combination of patronage money and poiit-
| ical power almost appalling in Its strength
| For once in his life he finds himself on the
| side which has no money. The other 1ei-
| lows have the barrel. and 1t Is regarded as
| a unique experience for Mr.. Quay.
The other side say they are conducting
| campaign against a political autocrat, try
! ing to relieve Pennsylvania repubhcanisIii
| from the domination OF tyrant, anu ,' ~
| vest. in the people of each community, con-
troll of the political patronage OF tneir ses
ticn Mr. Quay asserts that the otrer sue
are undertaking a campaign OF pontlcal as
sassination and division OF the Vlcthh as
| sets This statement, of course. premises
| the confession that he does regard ninhseii
| as the head of republicanism IN the s.a.e
| and in possession OF some poit.ioai 60, ases dis
| IT was early last June that Mr.. quay us
| covered the existence of a strong comhiha-
| tion against him, having for It's op1ect ms
| complete overthrow. The men at the heao
| of II were Mr. Chris. Magee of Pittspurs
| and M David Martin of philadelphia AS
| scciated with them was Governor f1ds',
| ings Mr.. Hastings had oeen put 1orwaro
| as nucleus around which 10 ga'her an
| element that neither Mr.. Magee or MT.
! Martin could control. He was named as
| the trustee Of the political assets, which II
| was proposed to wrest from Mr. Quay, ana
the heir of the political power remaining
| Nv npla axr's
| When Mr.. Quay became aware OF .his
state of affairs he Immediately resolved 10
issue a challenge and meet mis- opponents
I in a fair fight. He announced himseH as
| a candidate for chairman of the state COM
| mittee, and said he would explain upon
the floor of the state convention, which
| meets August 2S his reasons for asking
the selection. Thereupon the opposition de-
clared that Col. Gilkeson the present chair
man, must be reelected, and the ball was
opened. The contest has hinged upon the
| selection of Quay anti-Quay delegates
to the state convention, which has been
progressing rapidly for the past six weeks
Both sides claim that they will have a
majority of the delegates. but the anti
Quay people are most confident in Their
assertions. The contest has grown exceed
ingly bitter and personal. Mr.. Magee's
paper. the Pittsburg Times Is going fol-
the Senator hammer apd tongs, while Mr.
Quay himself is giving out some very
snappy interviews. This is at variance
with his time-honored course, and by some
| IS regarded as an eNiueHCS VI "edhHess
1t has always been Mr.. Quay's custom te
let the other fellows do the talking wher
things were going his way.
The Ultimate object.
1t is known here that Mr.. Quay's mair
object in attempting to secure the state
committee craftsmanship is to strengthen
his hold upon state politics, to the enc
that he may. contro. the delegates to thu
national convention next summer. He de
sires to regain the position which he hell
in national politics at the time he HANDLED
the first campaign of Mr.. Harrison. H
wants to go into that convention with
him a potential factor in the events o
the occasion.
, At this time Mr.. Quay is favorable t
! the nomination of Mr. Reed of Maine. H
does not believe that, with the money ques
ton a disturbing element, the republican
party will take any risks in a western man
and he thinks Mr.. Reed is the stronges
+ man the party possesses. All OF this tai
j about Mr.. Quay desiring to further tn
presidential aspirations of Senator Do
! Cameron on a free silver platform is re
,, garded as the veriest nonsense by the bes
posted politicians. He will doubtless al
; Mr.. Cameron's senatorial fight. for pei
! sonal and friendly reasons, but no on
. seriously believes he will countenance a
, effort to swing Pennsylvania republican
= into any free silver camp.
If MIR. Quay is Overthrown.
! If Mr. Quay's enemies succeed in over
!. throwing him the result will be badl
mixed state of affairs with regard to TIL
e presidential convention. The triumvirat