Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-07
His Desire to Again Head the Ma
tional Republican Committee.
SERIOUS DIVISION OF TIE PARTY LIKELY
Some Of the Objections to His Re-
Election Given.
WORKING ON THE QUIET

Senator Quay's campaign for reelection
to the chairmanship of the republican ma
tional committee will, if persisted in, occa-
sion a serious division in the party. Pre-
sumably it will be persisted in. Mr.. Quay
did not announce his candidacy without
consultation with his friends, and he Is not
the sort of man to turn back after putting
his hand to the plow. He exhibited his stay
ing qualities consp.cuously in his recent
fight for the recapture of the machine at
home.
Some of the Objections.
Those who oppose the Senator's aspira-
tions give three reasons for their attitude
o. Mr.. Quay's return to the control of
the committee would bring into the presi-
Dental campaign what to the republicans
would be an irrelevant, an unnecessary,
and, possibly, most damaging issue. The
leaders of the party realize the fact that
they have no holiday task before them for
next year. The democrats are certain to
put up stiff fight, and only a strong cam
d:date standing on well-constructed plat
form, can hope to defeat them. This being
the case, why complicate matters by under
taking the personal vindicat.on of the Penn
sylvania Senator? That, it is held, would be
the effect Of electing Mr.. Quay to the char
mansh.p Of the national committee. The
democracy would at once renew it's attacks
on him, and in all probability elaborate the
theme. Mr.. Quay would, Of course, reply,
as he did before, and as before, to the sat
isfaction of his friends, but this would not
insure cessation of the firing on the part
. Of the other side. The enemy's guns would
remain trained on him during the whole of
the engagement, and in such way as to
injure the party quite as much as himself.
The party, indeed, would be made to shoul-
der every accusation brought against the
man IT had selected to represent it in a
hn ol1rr y
with full knowledge of his record, and
therefore with champ:oning every feature
Of that record The less vulnerable the
presidential candidate might be, the more
the end, a campaign within a campaign
might grow up out Of that.
Others Could Do as Well.
e. 1t might be construed as confession
of a want of good material, and this as ap-
piled to managers might prove to be almost
as damaging as If applied to presidential
candidates. And is it true that the republi-
can party on that line stands so reduced? !?
Mr.. Quay's management of the campaign of
1888 is conceded on all sides to have been ex-
ceptionally satisfactory. He demonstrated
all of the qualities of a good general. But
the candidate that year was exceptionally
able and discreet, and his strong personal
qualities materially assisted the chairman.
Mr.. Quay was no more successful in his
plan than General Harrison was in his Mr.
Quay was under no personal fire himself
that year. He had only to keep his eye on
the main chance. And such, it Is held,
should be the freedom of the man selected
to manage next years campaign. He ought
not to have any side issues, personal or
otherwise, to wrestle with, but be in posi-
ton to give his whole time and attention
to the candidate and to the party. And as
for finding such man, the republican lead
ers assert that it will not be difficult at all.
They name a dozen men off-hand, any one
Of whom they contend would fill the place
acceptably and successfully.
He Needs No vindication.
g. Mr.. Quay needs no vindication at the
hands Of the party at large. The changes
which forced his retirement from the ra-
:ional committee related to affairs in the
state of Pennsylvania There was no COM
plant of him with regard to any matter
connected with his mana cement Of the ma
tional committee. His appeal naturally
and properly was to his home people, and
he made it. His vindication by them has
been complete. He has since his enemies
assailed him been reelected to the Senate,
and his triumph at Harrisburg in August
was the most signal in the whole of even
his successful history. But this would not
secure him immunity from attack in case
he should appear again at the head of the
republican national committee. Democratic
newspapers and orators would open on him
afresh, and what with looking out for the
party, for the national ticket, and then for
himself, he would become as distracted as
a man at a three-ring circus.
Working ON the Quiet.
1t is not known what encouragement Mr.
Quay Is meeting with. He is a secretive
man. and Is working his boom on that line
The newspapers of the party are not Civ
ing much space in support of it. But Mr.
Quay's opponents as has just been shown,
are finding their voices, and are very earn
est against his scheme