The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-08-02
THE FIGHT AGAINST QUAY.
FORMER Supporters Reminded of Fa-
YOrS Conferred.

Washington, Aug, IA correspondent
OF the Evening Star writes as followsfrom
Beaver, Pa: TIE roony, old fashioned
mouse OF Senator Quay in this quiet
borough of Beaver is the headquarters
these days of a great political campaign
upon which many issues hang. From
the library of the mansion, surrounded by
the tiles and records of more than one
notify contested and victorious political
BATTLE, 1.-The old man'-for that is what
MS friend call him in affectionate famil-
lar1ty-is directing the greatest political
contest of his life
There are few signs of the great strug-
gle, however. On the surface all is peace
IuL The house is on quiet, shady
corner, and through the long summer day
the ladies OF the family sit on the veran-
da, motherly Mrs. Quay with her sowing,
which she drops to welcome the visitor.
When l called the old family doctor had
just dropped in for a neighborly chat,
and with hat ON the floor and chair tilted
back nodded greeting to theSstranger.
SENATOR QUAY AT WORK
Inside, the Senator with his secretary,
was working like a beaver. He is in
Geographic communication constantly
with all parts of the state, and occasionally
runs down to Pittsburg or drops over to
| Philadelphia, to meet his Heutenants,
and inspect the fences. But this is his
headquarters, and it is here in the seclu-
sion of his quiet home that he thinks out
the moves in the hot game he is playing.
Here is an instance of the way he works
He wants to write a letter. say, to man
IN a distant part of the state in his own
behalf He goes to his files and drags
out an ancient letter from that man to
him, probably making a request, which
the. senator has long ago fulfilled and
filed the communication AWAY. Upon the
back of that letter, then, he
writes his request to the
man. and the other fellow would be a
cold blooded individual, indeed, to go
back on the old man in the face of evil
dence received. That is where Mr.
Quays strength lies. He knows the poll
tlcal wire pullers in every section OF the
state, is acquainted with their political
history and understands how to GET at
them in the right way He is going at
them direct, putting them on record as
being either for him or against him !;
there is no middle course. If they are
under obligations to him he reminds them
of the fact and that now is their opportu
nifty to liquidate.
1t is just these resources of the man and
his known ability to utilize his advanta-
ges that makes his opponents fear him,
even with the terrific odds against him.
What Mr.. Quay fears is treachery. He
has had one or two instances of it lately.
He fears the possibility that the tickle
| ones will be lead away by the cry of his
opponents that "Quay is a dead duck -
and that they must keep up with the pro
| cession going out to worship the rising
son of hastings.
THE COMBINATION AGAINST
QUAY.
The friends of Mr. Quay, in explaining
the nature Of the fight now being made
to secure his overthrow, make the bold
charges that a combination has been
formed against him which has more than
political supremacy for it's object. They
| say it is an effort to turn the control
| of the state machinery over to ring
that desires to use politics to further its
business and corporation interests. They
claim that Gov. Hastings is merely the
political figure head of piratical craft.
Legislation: both state and municipal, is
what the Quay men charge their oppo-
nents as desiring, and, of course, legisla-
| ton of the kind wanted can be assured
| only through the control of the political
| machinery.
| The Quay people ask this question Sup
pose the senator is deprived of his power,
unseated from the position he has held so
long, who is it proposed to elevate in his
place?
mot Gov. Hastings, because he is not
| enough of politician. Not Martin of
Philadelphia, because Magee OF Pittsburg
would be jealous, and not Magee because
Martin would not stand it''
The only answer they find is that there
will be three factions in the party, widely
divergent upon questions of leadership
and harmony, but heartily supporting
each other in all questions relating to
business matters before city councils and
the legislature. From this state of things
they predict disaster to the party and dis
ruption of the magnificent Republican
majority now standing as a bar to demo
cratic eDcroachment upon the state.
MADE A STILL HUNT.
A signal disadvantage under which Mr.
Quay labors is the fact that his opponents
s'got the drop on him" in the early selec-
tion of some delegates to the coming con-
vention. Some of the counties selected
their delegates before the issue was
sprung upon Mr.. Quay, and before he
The combination it is charged. knowing
what was up, craftily packed those dele
cations with anti-Quay men, the Sena-
tors friends not dreaming it was neces-
sary to make a fight for him.. Efforts
have been made to secure reconsideration
of the action of the primaries in these
cases, but the anti-Quay men are in
charge of the machinery, and will not
permit it.
The Quay men assert that the claims of
strength in the convention made by their
opponents are over drawn. Outside of