The times., 1899-03-19
is Eyes ON the Senntc.

position, and he received on election day q
plurality of 1856 votes.
His Eyes ON the Senntc.
And SO. when the smoke of battle cleared
away 1t revealed Colonel Quay undisputed
master of his party in the State. Those
who are in position to speak advisedly say
that he did not, as is commonly believed,
make the campaign for the treasurership
with the United States senatorship in view
However, from the counting of the votes on
the treasury election his succession to the
senatorship was conceded, and he was ac-
cordingly chosen the following winter. He
took his seat in the Senate on March 4
1887, and, reelected in 1898, has sat in
that body up to the present time. His ca
reer as Senator has been quiet one. Not
being a speaker, he has not spoken.
In truth, it is doubtful if Colonel Quay
has ever placed as high a value on the
senatorship do some of his fellows. He
has always taken keener zest in the get
ting than in the keeping OF thing low
ing pursuit better than possession, and
FAR more congenial to his tastes than law
making was the task he saw ahead of him
when, in 1888, his election to the chair
manship of the Republican National Com
mittee gave him his first opportunity to
display his abilities as a political strate-
gist on broad stage. When Quay took
charge OF the Harrison campaign the Dem
ocratic managers were confident that sue
cess lay in their hands, and that nothing
save accident could bring about a Repubii-
can triumph. They had been planning for
months. and everything was running
smoothly Quay went about his work with
confidence born of success. He planted
himself in New York City, and began his
great fight with Tammany Hall. In his
hotel room he had on the walls a map of
the country, map of New York State, and
map of the metropolis. He studied them
all with the eagerness and care a general
displays on the eve of a decisive battle
And he studied them to good purpose
| TammaDy was defeated in its own home
and Quay was hailed the country over as
The greatest of political geniuses.
Colonel Quay's fight for Harrison has
now become one of the glorious, abiding
traditions of party warfare, yet the politi-
cal methods which are peculiarly nis own
fnd happiest exercise in purely local
hght. When he sets out to master the
exact situation in a Pennsylvania cam
paign the whole State, thanks TO his re-
markable memory, his grasp of locality
and his genius for details is speedily
an open book to him He knows all the
county leaders, the origins of factions, and
the motives and temper of small politi-
clans. He knows where majorities can be
safely counted upon In any contingency,
where they may be Increased, and where
both parties are in almost equal strength
In all his career he has-avoided personal
warfare, yet when he deems it necessary
10 defeat candidate, whether party
friend or foe, Quay is prompt to tell him
that he is in the way of other interests
and must stand aside or be knocked down.
When he is desirous of forming COM
bination or negotiating a trade of votes,
the friendship he has long cultivated with
members of both of the great parties
renders his task a comparatively easy one
and it is made still easier by the fact
that Republicans and Democrats alike
know that his word is as good as his
bond and that 1t has never gone TO pro-
test.
Character of the Man.
What has just been written fails of its
purpose, If it does not make clear the ele-
ments that have brought Colonel Quay
success in his chosen field. Yet | should
state but half of the truth if l did not add
that he has always been much more than
mere politician. He is in many respects
composite character. He can content
himself alone or he can be happy in the
midst OF his friends and, although fond
OF lone fisherman habits. he Will, upon
falling in with one whom he trusts, open
the doors of his speech and talk interest
ingly hour after hour. And In his per-
sonal relations he Is, withal gracious and
unassuming and capable of fine magnan-
unity, have heard many stories about