Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-17
THE BOSSES PLAN
An Agreement Said to Have Been
Made by Quay and Platt.
PLEDGES ASKED FROM CANDIDATES
Intention to Get Control of the
Next Administration.
WITH WHOM THEY WILL DEAL

The presidential gossips are talking about
the "impersoral combine for the selection
of the republican candidate at st. Louis. 1t
is said that all talk of Quay or Plat favor
ing one candidate or another is without
foundation, that they have not made any
choice yet, and will not do so until certain
things have been arranged" 1t is said
that they have made a compact fast and
firm, not at present in the interest of any
individual candidate for the republican
| nomination, but for certain general results.
The idea is that the New York and Penn
sylvania delegations, under the control of
Plat and Quay, respectively are to act
together; that they for the present to
hold themselN IS free from obligations to
support any particular candidate, but shall
SO throw their votes to prevent nom.-
nation until they have succeeded in getting
the pledges they want from some candi-
date whom they can nominate.
Looking to Results, Not Individuals.
The New York delegation will nominally
support Morton, and the Pennsylvania del
| egaton will vote for any one, possibly
Quay, until the time GENES for them to
join forces to carry Out their plan. 1t is
said that they will look to results and not
to individuals, and will endeavor, by coop
Grating, to secure the nomination of some
man whose pledges to them will practically
give them the control of the administra-
ton. Both meE are tired of working dur
ing the campaign only TO have their influ-
ence end with the election of the President.
According to the story of their plan, they
intend to exact pledge from the candi-
date getting their support that they shall
name the Secretary of the Treasury; that
each shall have absolute control of the
patronage of his state, and that they shall
dictate the policy of the new administration
in certain respects.
The EOsses to Control.
More than this, he is to be bound by such
pledges as they may be compelled to make
to other delegations in order to secure the
nomination. 1t is declared that Quay's
first idea was to secure the selection of
Don Cameron for Secretary of the Treas
ury From the fact that Cameron is a silver
man, this may seem improbable. 1t is
fact, however, that Quay is not in the
least disturbed by CameronS financial
views. For other reasons, it is said. the
idea of Cameron for Secretary of the
Treasury was abandoned, and il was de-
| c;ded that the combine should endeaVor to
have Piatt put in that position. As out
lined. the plan is a cold-blooded proposition
10 place the bosses in control. On a bigger
scale il is the same sort of a combination
entered into for the selection of
officers of the House, the benefiCiares put
ting themselves passively in the hands of
the combine.
Will Deal With Any One Except
Harrison.
1t is said that Quay and Plat are willing
TO make deal with any of the candidates
except Harrison, but are inclined to the
opinion that they can succeed better with
a western man. They would willingly
throw the votes of Pennsylvania and New
York and such other votes as they may be
able to control to Allison if they get the
proper assurances from him, but they real
ly do not hope to get any OF the prominent
candidates TO go into the plan until situa-
ton develops which puts it in the power
| of the delegations from these two great
states to insure the nomination to the man
| of their selection.
If Davis of Minnesota could find enough
| strength elsewhere to make it possible for
Quay and Plat to nominate him. il is init
mated that they would endeavor to come
| to an unders landing with him, rather than
with either Reed, Mckinley, or Allison. 1t
| is understood that they have little hope of
getting such promises as they would want
! from Reed, though otherwise they would
| be well disposed toward him as a candi-
date.