The times., 1898-10-29
GENERAL PoLiT1CAL GOSSIP.

r
The Republican, outlook in Pennsylva-
MIA, from all accounts, was not improved
by the visit of President Mckinley to. the
Philadelphia peace Jubilee. If anything,
Senator Quay's prospects are injured by
the event. Mr.. Quay and his supporters
had counted on obtaining, SO it is assert
ed. some expressjonofrom the President
which might be made useful in whipping
the recalcitrant Republicans back into
line. but in this they were sadly disap-
pointed. No word escaped the President
during his stay in Philadelphia that could
be construed as an Endorsement of Quay
and his fight; nothing that could be used
by the Quay people to show that the ma
tional Administration was interested in
his success. a good word from the chief
magistrate would have been of positive
benefit 10 Mr.. Quay, but the failure of the
President to speak 1t will hurt Quay al
most as much as though the President
had openly condemned him. The office
holders and other thick k-and-thin support
ers of the Administration VIII be quick
to take the hint from McKinley's 81
ience. and they certainly will not exert
themselves over-much to try and save
Senator Quay from defeat. In the judg-
ment of the Pennsylvania senator's close
friends ii would have been better for their
favorite If the President had remained
away from the Philadelphia peace jubilee.
However, 1t is quite evident from the
way Senator Quays friends are talking
that they have by no means given up the
hight. They intend TO fight 1t out to the
bitter end. and if Quay should be over
wheimed in the wreck 1t is believed that
he will endeavor to take a good many
eminent statesmen with him. II is even
darkly limited that Mr. Quay's downfall,
If 1t takes place, will rattle some of the
window panes of the White House.
According to Postmaster General
Charles Emory Smith, Senator Quay is
one of the best buffers that ever figured
in politics. He has won most of his po-
litical battles, Mr.. Smith thinks, by play
ing a gigantic game of bluff. He ctes
the contest between Quay and Col. Gi-
kerson few years ago over the chair
manship of the State committee as a good
illustration of Senator Quay's methods.
Gilkerson had on his side nearly all of
the big corporations of the State. the
State administration and the additional
advantage of n long start in the race.
Quay started in apparently single-hand-
ed. Nearly two-thirds of the delegates
to the State convention" said Mr.. Smith,
had been instructed to vote for Col
Gilkerson. We had Quay beaten out OF
his boots the day before the State con-
vention met at Harrisburg, and no one
knew that fact better than Senator Quay
| himself. How do you suppose that he
checkmated US and turned defeat into
victory? Why. by just pure bull lie
| called a caucus of4his followers the nlSht
before the convention met. There was a
roll call and they result revealed more
than a majority ofCthe alleged convention
delegates for Quay OF course, all OF our
weak-kneed fellows made a rush TO get
in under the Quay blanket, and long be-
fore daylight Quay did actually have a
bona fide majority of the delegates
! pledged to his support We were moraiH
/ certain at the time that fully one-haH OF
! ouay's caucus was made up OF quay
| strikers who were not delegates: but be
| fore. we could verify this fact the mis-
| chief had been d6he-our forces were
| stampeded and Quay was the victor
The report is revived again in New
York that Gen. Stewart L. Woodford
will be Senator Platt's choice for the
| senate If the Republicans succeed In CON
! trolling the New York legislature this
Winter. There is only one reason ap-
| parent why Mr.. Platt should want Gen
woodford as a colleague. He certainly
would not be In Mr.. Platt's way, and
would obey orders faithfully. New York
| do ha1iayTa thar Mr. pat
will be able to deliver the senatorship tc
Woodford even If the Republicans are In
| control There are at least half dOZer
| distinguished gentlemen in Mr.. Platts
| party who think that the senatorshiT
| would suit them nightly. Mr.. Depew
| Is one of them Warner Miller
| is another, and the list includes
| Joseph II. Choate, Levi P. Nor
! ton, j. Sloat Fassett, and several more
| of almost equal prominence. They viii
| have something TO say about the choosing
| of Senator Murphy's successor, they de-
| clare, provided the New York Legislature
| contains a Republican majority on joint
ballot
Capt. William Astor Chanler. who
is making a lively fight for Congress:
against the irrepressible Quigg, in the
Fourteenth New York district, has givel
| form and substance to certain charges
against Abner Mckinley which have beer
In circulation for several months past
| Mr. Chanler comes out boldly and ac-
| cuses the brother of the President OF
! having made money out of contracts fol
furnishing the troops in Cuba with sup
| plies, and that the stuff furnished by tn,
| Abner Mckinley Company was of an In
| ferior quality, and not up to the specifi
cations in any particular. Capt
| Chanler gives some details to bach
up his statement. and promises. i
| he is elected to Congress. that ne viii
have the matter probed TO the bottom
But, now that the ball has been started
| rolling, the chances are that an investiga
ton will be had whether Capt Chanle
succeeds in defeating Mr.. Quigg or not
| There are several members of the Senat.
| who are satisfied that a careful inquir,
into Abner McKinley's relations with con
! tracing firms just before and during th
war with Spain will be productive o
some substantial results in the way o
providing interesting newspaper reading
| Even if Capt. Chanler should be elected
| it is not likely that these gentlemen
| will wait for him TO take his seat befor
they call this matter up In Congress
They think that there should be no un
| necessary delay in getting the inauir,
started after Congress assemblies in De