The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-11-01
An Unfortunate Position.

That Mr.. Wanamaker has a per-
feet LEGAL right as a citizen to oppose
any candidate for public office whom he
plcaHes to oppose and to use honorable
means to encompass that candidates
defeat is indisputable. In the exercise
of this right he is at liberty to- observe
or disregard party lines; To seek his
object at the party primaries or as a
free lance to fight for it at the polls
But it must be said. nevertheless. that
he occupies at the present time an un-
fortunate position
This gentleman has within recent
years held one of the highest Offices
party. In his candidacy for postmaster
general in the cabinet of President Har-
rison he was aided most conspicuously
10y the mar whom he has now vowed
to exterminate-Matthe Stanley Quay.
What caused the breach between these
two men it is immaterial to consider
here. 1t is enough to note that not
until a personal motive of vindictive-
ness actuated the former did he dis
cover that Senator Quay was a bold.
bad man who ought to he put in Jail
and that tie so-called Quay machine
was desperate menace to the perpe-
tuity of Republican institutions. 1t was
not menace: on the contrary, it was
blessing so long as it served Mr..
Wanamaker's political purposes by
helping him to climb into a presidents
cabinet at Washington. 1t became an
abomination only after he discovered
that il would not minister to his amb-
tion to enter the senate Of the United
States.
We speak of these things because
they shed light upon Mr.. Wanamakers
character as witness against the
present leadership of the Republican
party in this state. Had he elected to
prosecute his campaign for revenge
against Senator Quay along lines which
would have confined the battle to him
self and Quay, leaving the better man
to win. while the public would doubt
less have had its preferences il could
have awaited the end of the duel with
Of that Mr.. Wanamaker, after hold
ing next to the highest office in the
Republican partys gift. has chosen
not only to attack Quay but to organize
and conduct widespread and desper-
ate war upon every interest of the Re-
publican party. Against every Repub-
lican asplrant for office throughout the
commonwealth who will not take oath
of allegiance to his intricate political
machine, a machine possessing all Of
the faults of the sO-called Quay ma
chine with few if any of it's virtues,
he has, it is assumed. issued the ukase
of destruction. This is the natural in
ference to be drawn from the acts of
his lieutenants. who are making in
nearly election district in the state
every kind of a deal that their inge-
nuity can suggest to effect the over
throw of Republicans who do not bow
submissively to their commands
A Republican president wants a Re
publican congress elected one week
from today to support him in solving
the difficult problems growing out Of
the war; but the former recipient of
signal Republican favors is doing
everything that his great wealth and
shrewdness can plan to beset the cleo
tion of Republican congressman in
Pennsylvania with difficulties; and in
some districts the fusion of Wanna
| maker lieutenants with the Democrats
extends beyond the Legislature, and
into the congressional contests. Addi-
| tional to that; while the interests of
this state are radically opposed to the
further encouragement of the free sill
Yer agitation, he is doing everything
| that he can to elect free silverite and
free trader to he governor of Pennsyl-
vania, on the plea that it is necessary
to the overthrow Of Quay. We regard
| this as an unfortunate position for Mr..
Wanamaker To be in. 1t is unfortu-
nate for the Republican party. but it
is even more unfortunate for him. The
! party will survive his attempts to as
sassnate il; but of his political sur
| vival we have doubt.