The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1897-01-14

that would be ehectual was too hideous
to attempt. Business men who wanted to
speak to their members were not per-
mitted to approach them. The 'heelers,"
as they are called, kept pushing them
away, using as much force as was neces-
sary. That was one scheme.
Some members were locked In their
rooms in the hotel, and before the doors
were stationed detectives to keep the peo.
pie away. This Is something for the mind
to dwell upon. Hired rufflans actually
standing guard over elected representa-.
vising with them. Where this would not
avail, other methods were employed. The
members from Bucks county, for instance,
where the sentiment Of '95 per cent Of the
people wa unquestionably for Wanna
maker, were kept under guard, this being
carried so far even as to compelling them
to sleep with their county leaders, so that
they could not escape.
In other instances open bribery was re-
sorted to. The use of money was reck less
and wasteful. 1t seemed to be very
abundant, and according to common
rumor the source Of supply was the trusts
and big corporations with which the Quay
machine Is identified, such rs the sugar
trust, the Standard Oil company, the
Pennsylvania Railroad company, the
Reading Railroad company, the Carnegie
Steel works, etc. Members who could not
be bribed were threatened with ruin II
they did not fall in line. In one case n
young lawyer was met with q threat that
the bulk Of his practice. which was mainly
among corporations, would be- taken
away from him II he voted for Wanna.
maker, and he, with tears in his eyes,
begged to be released from his pledge to
the latter. There were many affecting
scenes in the Wanamaker headquarters,
for 1t was heartrending to see strong men
moved to tears, with their honor at stake
on n side and their future interest
threatened on the other, feeling that all
the odious power Of q thoroughly dis
reputable combination would be brought
to bear against them.
When neither brides nor threats would
avail, the effort was made to influence
members through their relatives and
friends in whom they had deep interest.
Promises were as thick As showers In
April-and they will provo to be just as
uncertain. There Is a certain member
who has an invalid brother-in-laH. This
brother-in.law wa promised a %, loo posi-
ton, and o signed contract that nawould
receive 90 per day until the position was
secured for him II he would induce his
relative to vote for Penrose. There were
several instances Of the kind. A Phila.
delphia member was promised an appoint
ment as collector Of internal revenue IL he
would turn in. But he didn't do it.
The In which the caucus was
forced was a violation Of all precedent.
Never before has a senatorial caucus been
held so far in advance Of the day of election.
The Quay people knew that if given time
their plans would react. They knew that
their offers Of brides, their coercion, their
threats and their hired thugs would prove
their ruin. They knew they could not
much longer keep the members unde
guard, because in those who submitted
there YVES the danger that the small re-
naming spark Of manhood would assert
itself. They wanted the caucus before
this reaction came. So they forced it. If
the members who listened to the tempter
and who submitted to the disgrace Of per-
hitting themselves to be watched, awake
and asleep, are now suffuscd with shame
n modification 1t 10 too late. All that
Is left for them now is to despise them
selves and to realize that those for whom
they sacrificed their honor despiso them
even more.