Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-21
THE COMING CONFERENCE
Quay and Mckinley Will Not Talk Money
but Practical Politics.
The PennsyIvanian's Real Ambition
Committee Chairman.

The prediction is made that the money
question will not be elaborately discussed
at the coming conference between Mr.
Quay and Mr.. Mckinley. The truth is said
to be that Mr.. Quay is not consumed with
anxiety on that subject. He is a sound
money man, but not an extremist, and is
understood to stand about where Mr.. Nc
kinley does. Moreover, he approves Of Mr..
Mckinley's silence at this time under the
pressure of those who are not seeking light,
but political advantage. He is a man of
well calculated silence himself and the ex-
hibition of self-restraint that Mr.. Mckinley
has shown is said to have had great in
fiuence in bringing Mr. Quay around to his
candidacy.
Politics the Theme.
Politics-every day, practical politics
will be the theme. Mr.. Quay has never
been a presidential quantity. He had an
object in view in announcing himself a
candidate for the st. Louis nomination,
and under ordinary circumstances he would
probably have played his game out. But
extraordinary circumstances have changed
The whole face of things for him, as for
others. one OF those popular movements,
which few men ever foresee, and which
lew men fer long ever essay TO resist, has
pointed out The party's preference, and Mr..
Quay bows to that. He may be bowling in
time, TOO il is thought, 10 accomplish his
original object. He changes his play TO
meet the new conditions, and will be as
well satisfied to win his game under the
new system as he would have been under
the Old.
Quay's Real Ambition.
Mr.. Quay's real ambition was pointed out
in Tie Star full year ago 1t was stated
then, upon good authority. that Mr.. Quay
desired to return to the craftsmanship of
the republican national committee. In the
first place, he felt that he had been forced
out of the place by unfair means. His
management of the Harrison and Morton
campaign seemed to him to have gone for
nothing, so far his own personal for
tunes were concerned. And, in tfc second
place, that campaign had developed his
full power as a party manager. The work
had fascinated him. He wanted op
portunity to repeat that success-to show
the country that he was not merely
"one-campaign' man. But subsequently
the figure Of Gen. Harrison loomed up
large in the fight,a and Mr.. Quay was forced
to new considerations. If Gen. Harrison
was to be the candidate he clearly could
not hope to be the chairman again, for
it was the Harrison influence that had
forced him to the rear. He joined there
fore IN the effort to divide up the vote as
much as possible by tie favorite-son ma
neuver, and became favorite son himself
Then came the withdrawal of Gen. Harri-
son and the forging ahead of Mr.. Mckin-
ley, and now Mr.. Quay is on the eve of
starting for Canton 10 confer with the
man whom nearly everybody expects to be
the nominee of the St. Louis convention.
As to the Combination.
Can the combination be effected? Will
Mr.. Quay be acceptable to Mr.. Mckinley
in the capacity Of chairman? He is ac-
knowledged to be a good general. He plans
and executes equally well. A campaign on
protection lines. with the great apostle of
protection as the candidate, would put him
on his mettle. And success at the rolls
would probably yield him rich results. His
friends would be their guard to see
that the raZZle-dazZle of 1855 was not re-
peated in his case but that the eminent
laborer should be properly remembered in
the division of favors. But it is for Mr.
Mckinley and Mr.. Hanna to say. Will it
be Chairman Quay again this year?