The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-10-04
THE STORY OF
COLONEL QUAY
INTERESTING CAREER oT THE
SENIOR SENATOR.
One Who Has Been in Touch with
the ex-National Chairman Writes
of Him-Story of an Eventful
Life-A Brave Soldier and
Statesman.
rom the PHILADELPHIA Inquirer.

From the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Matthew Stanley Quay, the son of a
Presbyterian clergyman, was born Sep
tember 30, 1893. He has. therefore,
reached the ripe age Of sixty-five years,
forty-three of which have been spent
before the public. Like an open book
is his life. He has held various Offices
he does not deny that. Not few of
them have been elective Offices. where
the people have had chance to vote
for or against him. He has never been
defeated. Nearly every Office held by
him he has resigned, in almost every
instance to step up higher. by a vote
of the people or as the choice of their
representatives. If it is a sin to be
chosen to public Office by the voters
themselves, or those representing
them, then Is Senator Quay a grievous
sinner. Those who denounce the hold
ing of Office as a crime must be saints,
for in almost every case they are men
who have been beaten for office when
ever they have presented themselves,
which, usually. has been pretty often.
Many of the peripatetic orators now at
large in the state, denourcing office
holding as a sin, and Senator Quay a
to the class indicated above.
A BRAVE SOLDIER.
Before becoming conspicuous in civil
life, Senator Quay attained distinction
In military circles. When less than
thirty years of age he commanded the
One Hundred and Thirty fourth regi-
ment of Pennsylvania Volunteers. At
ter the battle of Antietam he became
Frustrated and enfeebled by typhoid
fever, the dread disease which, dur
Ing our recent war with Spain, has car
rled TO the grave so many gallant
American heroes. On account of phys
ical disability he resigned and his res
ignation was accepted. This was i'm
mediately before the battle of Fred
ericksburg, Dec. 13. 1862. When it be-
came known that the battle was to
take place, he asked to be restored to
his command, in spite of the fact that
he was yet weak from his severe ILL
ness. But 1t was too late: he was out
of the service. Then he applied to
General Tyler, who commanded his
brigade, for place as volunteer aid on
his staff. The surgeon objected most
vociferously.
IF Colonel Quay goes into battle"
was the surgeons decree, "he will die
as a fool dies"
Il would rather die like a fool than
live like coward" was the response
of Colonel Quay.
He went upon the staff. That battle
was among the bloodiest of the whole
war. For his valor the United States
government awarded him a medal of
honor. tribute accorded to only a
handful of the hundreds Of thousands
OF gallant men who wore the blue.
General Tyler, the brigade command
er. in his report of the battle, said:
Colonel M. S. Quay, Of the One Hun
dred and Thirty-fourth, was upon nv
staf as volunteer aid de. camp. and to
him l am greatly indebted. Notwith-
standing his enfeebled health, he was
in the saddle early and late, ever
prompt and efficient, and especially so
during the engagement"
Surely, it was not sin to have held
that office!
His first memorable achievement
was in securing the passage in 1890
or the Mckinley tariff bill. 1t had
been hung UP in the senate all sum.
mer, the Democratic opposition pre-
venting Its coming to a vote. Only
politician like Senator Quay could
nave effected the arrangements where
py action was expedited, and an early
vote taken when, of course, the bill
passed. This measure was of inesti-
maple advantage to the immense and
oiVersifed interests of Pennsylvania.
HIS SKILL AND ADRoITNEss.
This is what the Bulletin of the
American Iron and Steel association
one OF the most conspicuous trades
organs in the United States, said In
reference to Senator Quays connec-
ton with the Mckinley bill:
Both in the senate and in the COM
mittes of conference Senator Ouay's
assistance was invaluable in securing
the adoption of the rates Of duty which
were embraced in the Mckinley bill
as IL passed the house. His effort TO
secure the retention Of the original
mckinley rates were in the main sue
cessful. But this was not the only
service Senator Quay rendered to the
industries of his state and the coun-
try in connection with the Mckinley
tariff bill. The bill was jeopardlzed
In the senate by the Federal elections
Dill or that year, the so-called Force
Dill" which Republican senators were
determined to pass, and which Demo-
cratic senators, who were in the min
ority, were determined to defeat bv
obstructive tactics. or in other words.
by talking the bill to death. If this
scheme of the Democrats had been
carried out, they would not only have
succeeded in defeating the Force bilr'
but they would also have prevented
the passage of the Mckinley tariff
bill through the senate, as the time
consumed in killing the Force bill'
would have prevented the considera
ton of the Mckinley bill. Senator
Quay had the skill and adroitness to
rescue the Mckinley bill from this
serious dilemma by securing the adop
tion of an order of business which
gave II the right of way over the
Force bill" Thenceforward the Nc
Kinley bin had plain sailing in the
senate.
1t was chiefly the passage OF this
measure that gave us our magnificent
president, whose name II bore, and
who was the original author OF II.
AEuin. III 1894. when the Democratic
Wiison taTtn hll was before congress-.
Senator Quay l'splayed his great gem
eralship in legislation. and his devo-
vouon TO the cause OF protsction as
understood and practiced In Pennsyi.
vania- Coon this occasion he found
vo,cs enough to talk Indeed. he
threatened to talk the Wilson bill to
death unless the interests OF Penn
sy1vAnaa received bsttsr treatment in
h. H.