The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-03-15
Johns Objective Point .

The Philadelphia Ledger is frank
enough to disclose the real animus Of
the present Wanamaker movement. 1t
does so in these words:
Senator Quays opponents are confident
of defeating him for reelection, no mat
ter what the outcome of the gubernato-
rial contest should be. 1t Is claimed that
Senator Quay's friends cannot elect
majority of the legislature under any
circumstances, and even should he be sup
ported by the majority of the Repuolt-
can members, this will not be sufficient,
II those Republicans who are not favor
able to his reelection, refuse to go into
the party caucus. Here is where Sena-
tor Quay's danger lies and he realizes II.
In the last legislature there were ZIG Re-
publicans and 3S Democrats. 1t is con-
ceded that the Democrats will come near
doubling their number in the next legis-
nature on account of Republican factional
contests in many districts principally,
and the election of Democrats in close
districts which they lost last time by
reason of the slump in the party vote.
Giving the Democrats 70 in the next as
sembly would leave 179 Republicans. At
the session in 1897 the Republican oppo-
nents to Senator Quay had seventy-six
members of both houses This number is
more likely to be increased than dimn-
ished, but should it stand at what it was
1t would leave 103 to support Senator
Quay for reelection. Should the sew
enty.six anti-Quayites refuse to go into
the Republican caucus, and it is under
stood that such is the purpose of the anti
Quay leaders, Senator Quay would lack
twenty-five of enough members to give
him q majority of both branches and in
sure his reelection, The result would
be a deadlock which could only be broken
by the retirement of Senator Quay from
ba Sn g.
termined in their opposition that they
will accept no other solution to the situa-
ton.
In other words, Mr.. Wanamaker's
gubernatorial candidacy is set up spe-
cihcally for the purpose of paving
the way to bolt. There will be a
show OF fighting for Wanamaker dele
gates to the June state convention, but
the real work of the Philadelphian's
campaign will consist of nominating
legislative candidates who can be re-
lied upon to jump the party traces
whenever Mr.. Wanamaker shall give
the word of command. 1t is not that
he wants Office himself-two senators
from Philadelphia could hardly be toll
Grated by the state at large. His pur-
pose instead is to pay off an old score
which is on his political account with
Quay. To facilitate this aim he is will
ing to serve as decoy candidate for
governor and afterward, when defeat
ed In convention, to set an example of
boiling. meanwhile paying current ex-
penses.
We had heard from soufces friendly
10 Senator Quay the intimation that
such was Mr.. r.Wanamaker's programme
but we had not expected that that
programme would be revealed by his
supporters in detail so soon. The Led
ger. h6Rever, is Mr.. Wanamaker's
chief advocate; it speaks by the card
Unquestionably it will add spice to the
situation 10 have it understood from
the outset that the Wanamaker move.
ment is a deliberately planned bolt
In the light of this information we
can readily understand why such stall
wart party men as Messrs. Martin an6
Mageeg are reluctant TO become part
ners in that kind of a venture. Per