The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-12-07
Democrats Have Three Leading Can
dIdAtes For Speaker, and Declare
That II wanamaier Wants Fusion
He Must Turn His Votes TO One OF
Them.
Especial Corresponderce5

of creating animOsities toward the Sc
nior senator. the Wanamaker politleai
bureau is sending out stories one day
naming one Of the candidates and the
next day picking out another as having
been slated for speaker. The fact Is
that neither Senator Quay nor Cover
nor-eIect Stone proposes to interfere IN
behalf of any aspirant for the speaker
ship. Any Of those named viii De
friendly TO Senator Quay aId absolute
iy in accord with the Stone administra-
ton.
In line with the campaign they waged
against the election Of Colonel William
A. Stone to the governorship. with their
leaders like Merrick. Of Tioga, and
Thompson. OF Allegheny, coming out
for his Democratic opponent. jerks.
Just before election day. the Wanama-
ker eOterie Of party wreckers are pursu-
ing like tactics In an effort To
break up the time hOnored Republican
caucus. which is always called for an
agreement among the Republicans for
speaker and upon Republicans from
different sections Of the state for the
various offices. chief clerk, resident
clerk. reading clerk and the many
minor positions. This patronage is al
ways filed by Republicans when they
elect a majority OF the members of the
house Now. in order to get control
OF these Offices to be used for their sell
fish purposes the Wanamakerites have
been going over the state making deals
with Democrats and Offering personal
inducements for Republicans 10 keep
out of the caucus. They are ready to
II
the Penrose fight viii give the people
some idea of the character Of iduce-
ments that might be offered.
They have met with disappointments
and rebuffs at every hand. Republi-
cans who have respect for themselves.
who hold loyalty to party above per-
sou2l a-Srandizement. and who expect
to maintain their standing with their
party organization. Indignantly resent
the mere suggestion that they refuse
to participate In a caucus of the Re
publican party. They recognize that TO
do so. to join hands with the Democrats
and be party to deal to advance the
interests Of the Democracy and hand
over to the minority important posi-
tions which tsV people. by their votes.
decided should be filed by Republ-
cans. would mean that they would be
ostracized by their Republican col
leagues. Practical politicians look
upon bolt from a Republican caucus
in such an important matter as the or
ganization of a legislature as the most
certain road to political suicide. es-
pecially in Republican Pennsylvania.
MAGEE SPEAKS OUT.
Senator c. l. Magee, of Allegheny.
while he has said he Is opposed 20 the
reelection Of Senator Quay. and that
he viii vote against him in caucus, IL
any other stalwart candidate shall be
named for the United States senate. has
expressed supreme contempt for the
tactics of the Wanamaker combine in
working up their fusion scheme. The
Wsnamaker men had predicted that
both Magee. of Pittsburg. and Martin.
in Philadelphia. would keep their fol-
lowers out Of the Republican caucus
These stories, however are simply on
par with the other campaign lies which
they have been spreading over the state
10 advance Wanamaker's political am
bitions. even though the Republican
party must be disrupted TO attain that
end.
fThe citizens of Pennsylvania" said
Senator Magee. in an authorized inter-
view. have just elected a Republican
executive and a legislature which Is
Republican In both its branches. The
people expect the Republican party to
administer the affairs OF the state and
make its laws. and the Republican par
ty will receive credit from them for
that which is good and condemnation
for that which is bad. The party must
meet its responsibilities. and il win do
so. No Republican who respects him
self and has any feeling OF loyalty to
his party in his heart can give any
valid excuse for refusing to participate
In the caucus OF the Republican mem
hers OF the Legislature. Let the fusion
Echeme succeed and no man can tell
what legislation VIII pass and what OBJ
noxious and dangerous measures shall
be saddled upon the Republican party"
This declaration from Magee, OF
course, means that every one of his fol-
lowers In Allegheny viii take part in
the caucus. Like Martin. in PhiIadel-
phia. Magee is greatly Interested in a
mayoralty election in February. and
neither Of these party leaders would al
low any OF his associates in the legisla-
lAAN ~ 1t Nst4NAAaAttl 70 d4OuSE
a feeling Of disregard OF disrespect for
party organization or party discipline.
None of the Philadelphia members Of
the legislature. with possibly one ex-
eeption. the single Wanamaker mem
Der Of the house. It Is declared. would
for an instant think Of keeping out Of
the Republican caucus.
The scheme OF the wanamaker poiitl-
cal bureau is to get the Democratic
members 10 support Koontz. OF Somer-
set. a Wanamaker Republican, for
speaker. with the understanding that
the Democrats are 10 get liberal share
of the patronage of the house and the
control of important committees. The
Wanamakerites viii make no specific
agreement on the United States sena-
torship. They want to elect Wanamaker
If they can; next they are for Gordon,
who is Wanamaker's Philadelphia DEM
ocratIc ally and adviser. and If they can
not get him they viii turn in for any
Democrat, With them IL is anybody to
defeat Quay. whom Wanamaker, Cor
don and District Attorney Graham, of
Philadelphia, are determined to wipe
out" at all hazards.
Democrats FOR THEIR PARTY,
But the Democratic leaders have not
taken kindly to the Wanamaker idea Of
doing business. They see that Wana-
maker is working his own political
game. and that although they would
represent the big end OF any successful
fusion deal that might be made. they
are only allowed to play second fiddle
according TO the Wanamaker program
Influential Democrats maintain that as
the Democrats have "A straight votes.
and only % Republican votes are neees-
sary to make up the l03 required to
elect speaker, a Democrat should be
supported for the speakership, There
are already three strong men in the De-
mocracy OF Pennsylvania engaged in
canvass for the Democratic caucus nom-
ination for the speakership. They are
Robert McCay Foster of Centre, Chas.
3. Spatz Of Berks and Captain George
w. Skinner Of Fulton.
They are all former members and
wei equipped for the position.
Mr.. Foster Is graduate OF the State
college and is recognized as a leading
and influential Democrat OF Centre. He
has had a valuable experience in mer-
camille life. and Is method cal and exact
in his habits. lie would make a good
speaker. as he always Commands the
attention and respect OF his colleagues.
His votes in the last session OF the
legislature should eoramend him to the
Independent Republic ans. who claim
that their only desire is that the spea;s-
er's chair shall be hlled by some one