Evening star., 1895-10-24
His Game of Politics in the Present
Campaign.
WANTS 4 Big MAJORITY NEXT MONTH
The Menace He Holds Over Mem
bers Of the Combine.
SYMPATHY OF DEMOCRATS

The dispatches announce the presence in
New York of Senator Quay on an errand
of conference with certain members of the
republican national committee. He had
been expected for over a week, but was
detained at home by business connected
with the state campaign, which. now that
he is again at the helm, he is very solicitous
about. 1t Is not question of winning.
The republicans are certain to win. But
Mr.. Quay wants the majority at least to
approximate that of last year, when the
figures ran up very close to quarter of a
million votes. He is said to be a little
afraid of lukewarmness on the part of the
combination he overthrow at Harrisburg in
August, without whose cooperation at the
Polls next month he cannot hope to make
anything of a gratifying showing. Some
members Of that combination are suspected
OF disposition to take it out of him. by
remaining inactive, or by scratching the
names of the Quay men on the ticket and
it is on those gentlemen the Senator has
his eagle eye fixed
His Game of Politics.
MIR. Qusy's game of politics has been
much commented on for success and in
genuity, but one play he is now making is
regarded by his admirers as probably his
very best. This is the special investigation
ordered at the last session of the Pennsyl-
vania legislature into the municipal affairs
OF Philadelphia. The Quaker city was at
that time, and still is, the hot bed of anti
Quay republicanism in the state, and the
investigation ordered was considered to be
counter move on the Senator's part to
bring certain of his opponents to terms
The original program called for the be-
ginning of the investigation at once. But
practically nothing SO far has been done
Nor is 1t known how soon, il ever, the
work is to begin. In some quarters the
whole thing is looked upon as being only
a DluH-aS menace to those who, with
out some such demonstration, would have
felt inclined and altogether free to strike
the Senator as hard blow as they could
deliver.
The Investi&a ton Menace.
This menace, according to this explanation
of the matter, is so constructed as to be
capable of three distinct applications. 1t
had one application in the fight at Harris
burg. 1t was reported then that if Mr.
Quay lost that battle through the instru-
mentality of the Philadelphia opposition to
rim the Investigation would begin at once
He won, and things went on as before. The
menace is now in its second application.
The rumor is afloat that ii the republican
vote in the aEti-Quay strongholds is allow
ed to fall off next month the screws will be
put to the combine before Christmas. The
opportunity for still third application
will come after next months election. when,
whe ther the vote is heavy or light, atten-
tion will at once be directed to preparing
for the national convention. Shall, or shall
rot, the delegation be put under Mr.. Quays
control? If the way is cleared for the Sem
ator, the investigation is to be dropped. If
rot-if the combine again raises it's head
and disputes the way, insisting upon
liberal share of the delegates and inde
LeLdent action by them-then the long
deferred work is to begin, and not only
BhiladelDhia. Subjected n
Thorough overhaullng.
Why He Wants "a Big Majority.
Mr.. Quay's desire for large majority at
home this year is based upon two reasons
In the first place. his work as state chair
man will come into comparison with that
of Mr. Gilkerson last year. The Gilkerson
campaign was conducted under exception
ally favorable circumstances. and an enor-
nous vote was thrown. This cannot be re-
peated this year, but Mr.. Quay is anxious
that the falling Off shall be no greater than
natural causes will easily explain. Then,
in the second place, he has his candidacy
for reelection as chairman of the republi-
can national committee to consider. That
might be retarded by the falling off of only
a small vote in Pennsylvania this year. 1t
might be difficult to explain to those at a
distance why, with the return of the old
chief to power at home, greater enthu-
siasm was not aroused. And the awkward
questions might follow: Does the old chief
possess his old power? Did his triumph at
Harrisburg cost him too much? Is it the
same old Quay that is presented for ma
tional consideration again?
Sympathy of Democrats.
It is an interesting feature of the situa-
ton in Pennsylvania that in the scrap be-
tween the Senator and his republican op-
ponents he has the sympathy of the demo-
Gratis Of the state. This is said to be true
h.
had the very hardest knocks from him. and
yet they like him, and all of them wished
him success at Harrisburg. The only ex-
PLANTATION offered is that they naturally
admire good fighter, and, having proved
the Senator's steel themselves, they sup
port him when he turns it against faction
of his own side. They probably remember,
too, that in all the tariff contests he has