The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-08-23
Ouav,s Confession of Defeat.

throw popular government In Pennsyi-
vania and to substitute one-man power
are overplaying the game. Upon the
surface it would appear to observers
unacuuamted with the arts of politics
that they have acquired the lead: but
this impression speedily vanishss be-
fore the obvious desperation of their
tactics, desperation clearly born OF
fear and not inspired by the confidence
uf real strength.
On the day following the primaries in
Philadelphia, wherein Senator Quay
won, at the outside. only fifteen dele
gates. Walter Lyon, nominee OF the Re
publican state convention of 1894 for
leuteuant gorern.r, Amcs n. My lin
the nominee of that convention,
for auditor general, Theodore l.. Flood,
permanent chairman Of that convention
and Jaunes W. Laata, Its nominee for
secretary of internal affairs. united IN
sending to Hon. b. F. Gilkeson, chair
man of the Republican state committee.
a letter Of which this Is the essential
part:
THE indications being that there will be
contests in the Republican state conven-
ion, to be held on the 18th inst. for seats
q the convent tion, and as you are candl-
date for chairman of the state committee.
we submit that ii would be indelcate and
Improper for you to make up the roll OF
delegates, and thus yourself decide the
contests in which you are Interested ana
we believe that a meeting or the state
committee should be held to act in th.s
stx,er 81 tI. ct n "a
m.ttee has been held since its appointment
on May %. 1884, We suggest that a meet
ing prior to the expiration of the time Tor
which it was appointed would be aito-
gether fit and proper. we therefore, pc
Ing a majority Of the persons designated
under rule one of the Republican party,
adopted by the state convention on May
q 1894. who selected you as chairman,
respectfully request you to issue call ior
a meeting Of the state committee, 10 Oe
held in the city Of Harrisburg on Aug. 70;
1895. A prompt reply Is earnestly desired.
We contend that an analysis OF this
etter, in the light Of certain other
facts, will convince any fair-minded
man that Senator Quay in real truth.
regards himself as beaten. Saying
nothing of the disqualification Of the
men who, having made Mr.. Gilkeson
chairman, now announce In effect, that
their creation is unfit TO exercise the
customary duties Of his Office, we de-
sire to call attention, first, to the fact
that outside Of Philadelphia there are
only three contests as to delegates
one in Elk and two In Schuylkill-and
secondly to the signed assertion OF
do In, q fa1enrq tn
the editor Of the Truth, Of this city,
that he had majority of the conven-
tion without needing a vote In Phila-
delphia. Now. if he has majority re-
gardless of Philadelphia and IS con-
cedcd IA or 10 votes In Philadelphia.
why should he or his friends worry
over the making up Of the convention
roll call? They could lose the three
contests In the state-at-large and still.
with their IA or Is superfiuous Phila-
delphia delegates, remain away ahead
next Wednesday.
Does any man suppose that II the
Quay side had as many pledged dele
gates as the senator repeatedly says
he has, or anywhere near as many.
four Of the men who last year picked
Mr.. Gilkeson out from among a score
or more Of eminent Republicans as the
man best fitted to direct the party or
ganization. and who. when as result
of that direction the party last Novem-
ber rolled up the largest plurality in
ITS history. personally complimented
him in terms OF extravagant praise,
would today strive to blacken their
own handiwork by rejecting upon
Chairman Gilkesons honesty to no
needful purpose of their own? The
very idea is palpably absurd: so absurd
as at once to give substance to the
suspicion that the objective point in
this unprecedented action Is the forcl-
BILE prostitution Of the machinery Of
the party to contemplated revolution
Of the party's will.
Quay, seeing that he is beaten. SIM
ply proposes to steal victory. But
we suspect that the manhood Of the
party will have q word to say about
that.