The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-10
Pennsylvania Chances.

The great ado made by the anti-Quay
contingent In this state over the re-
cent interview in which Congressman
Robinson proclaimed with flourish his
belief that Senator Quay would take
occasion q week from next Thursday,
ut the Harrisburg convention, to with
draw his name as a presidential can
~lidate and advise the selection of del
egates.at-large in favor Of Mckinley
has noticeably simmered down since
Colonel Stone, Richard Quay and Cen
eral Grosvenor, each in turn. gave the
assertion an unqualified denial. We
germane to the interview because
It had been asserted that this
move on the part of Senator Quay
was to come as the result Of over
lures proceeding in McKinley's behalf
from, Grosvenor himself The fact that
Grosveror denies having held any COM
munication with Quay removes the mo-
tive. which in such matters is an essen
tial factor.
In such a connection the testimony Of
an outside observer has value. Colonel
J. Sloat Fassett, of Elmira, worked
with Quay In 1888 at national head
quarters. He Is also familiar with po-
litical sentiment and political methods
the country over. In his Elmira news
paper he says: ut won't do to regard
Quay's candidacy lightly. He is in
earnest. He is not candidate for fun.
He IL not a candidate merely for the
sake Of preventing Mckinley from
gaining strength in Pennsylvania. Sem
ator Quay is a candidate because Of
the solicitations of his friends who
know his popularity with the party
workers and the party builders in the
much abused by the Democratic press,
but for all that he is great political
general. He Is q big man. He Is well
acquainted with public affairs: he is a
scholar; he is deeply versed in the his
tory of our country and in all the erudi-
tlon Of the statesman. He is magnetic,
approachable, clear sighted. indefatig-
' able. He never yet has been defeated
in any matter to which he gave his
undivided attention, and people make
a mistake in regarding Quay's presi-
Dental canvass as mere by-play. 1t is
being conducted in great earnestness.
His relations to the tariff and the
money question are such as to bring
him great strength in the national con-
ventlon. He is not only liked, but be Is
greatly beloved by the members of the
national committee who have been
thrown in contact with him and appre-
ciate his worth and his great abilities.
His conduct Of the campaign Of 1855.
which resulted In the election of Har-'
rison and Morton, was q marvellous
piece Of political generalship, and his
contest last summer with Magee and
Martin was one of the most astonish-
ing political triumphs of the century.
1t was an amazing revelations of the
affection which the plain people Of the
state of Pennsylvania have for this
silent statesman from Beaver"
We literally discount the theory that
Colonel Quay is in any sense hostile to
Mckinley; but we believe that he has
assurances as to the actual strength
Of the Ohio mans candidacy in the
convention which convey a different
story from the roseate claims put forth
from day to day by the Mckinley man.
ayers; and we further believe that
these assurances 60 to the extent of
justifying in the senator's mind the
hope that there is yet q possibility,
equal to one chance In two or three,
OF his own nomination. Under these
circumstances 1t would be exceedingly
strange II, with his enemies in this
state lighting him from behind the
Mckinley breastworks. he should sud-
denly decide to abandon the field and
take up arms alongside William Finn
and c. L. Magee. In the meantime,
Pennsylvania should not be too anx-
ious to give up as hopeless the one
chance t has had in thirty years to
supply the country. with a president.
Mr.. Martins paper. the Philadelphia
Bulletin, settles one point when It re-
marks that no long a. Mr.. Quay re-
mains In the neld he Will receive the