The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-01-24

HARRISBURG, Pa. Jan. e3.-The
following statement was issued to- night
by the steering committee Of the anti
Quay Republican organization:
We, the undersigned, u committee
representing and acting for and by the
authority OF the anti-Quay Rcpubll-
can members of the Legislature, hereby
enter our protest against the unwar-
ranted and unusual attempted interfer-
encc Of the chief executive of our state
with the members of the legislature for
the purpose Of influencing their votes
for the election Of NJ. S. Quay to the
United States senate.
We regard the open letter of Gov
ernor Stone, published by the press of
the state this morning, as an improper
Interference by the executive branch
OF the government with the rights and
duties Of the legislative department of
the commonwealth.
The material question In controversy
IN the contest Is the fact that indict.
ments are now pending against Mr..
Quay in the criminal courts Of Philadel-
phia county. trials of which he has thus
far successfully evaded, as the follow
Ing history will show:
At the herring before Magistrate
Jermon. in Philadelphia. on October .,
Mr.. Quay's counsel loudly proclaimed
the innocence OF their client. and pro-
tested against the unfairness of their
position in that. under the law, only
the evidence Of the commonwealth
could be heard before IL committing
magistrate, and the defence had no op-
portunity TO show how falsely he was
charged. District Attorney Graham at
once waved the commemorative right
In this respect, and offered to allow Mr..
Quay the opportunity of going upon the
witness stand TO explain the incriminat-
Ing evidence that had been offered
against him. Mr.. Quay. however. re-
fused to avail himself OF this opbor-
tunity. According to the practice of
the Philadelphia courts. the case could
not be returned for trial before the No
vember session. This was also 4 sub
ject Of complaint by Mr.. Quay's coun-
sci. Mr.. Graham again offered to i'm
lnediately submit the indictments to
the grand inquest. and to fix day for
the trial in October. Mr.. Quay again
failed to avail himself of this privi-
lege.
Wiped Aside All Prcccdcnts.
Then Mr.. Quay started for Florida.
and Mr.. Graham sent note TO his
counsel suggesting that 4 protracted
stay would be unwlse. as an early day
would be set for the trial. Mr..
Quay replied - will not crafty my
enemies by moments delay in the
trial OF the cases" Upon the day
fixed for Mr.. Quay to come into court
&c plead to the indictments he appeared
with his counsel. and prayed for more
time. This time was granted. Five
days afterward his counsel came into
court and demurred TO certain bills and
filed motions to 1uash others. AL
most one entire day was used In the
argument OF this phase OF the pro-
cecdings. Upon the filing of the ad-
Verse opinion Of Judge Finletter day
was fixed for the trial. Subsequently
Mr.. Quay asked for more time. and
December IL was fixed. Shortly before
the day set for trial, Mr.. Quay filed
his celebrated petition in the supreme
court, asking for n rule to show why
q writ OF certiorari should not be is
sued.
The petition was granted. and made
returnable on January I. 1899. To this
petition the district attorney filed his
answer, in which. among other things.
he solemnly set forth that for years
hundreds OF thousands Of dollars OF the
sacred trust funds OF the state had been
set aside for the personal and sole use
Of NJ. S. Quay.
While these proceedings were TO be
To-, I,a -
seventh of January. Mr.. Quay attempt
ed to force n caucus on the third day
OF January, eight hours after the or
ganiZation OF the Legislature.
Qnay's Delay.
This monstrous proposition wiped out
all preccdents, and We declined to vote
for NJ. S. Quay until he had been ac-
quilted of these criminal charges which
he had adro!tly lodged.
The argument before the full bench
OF the supreme court took place on
January :. where MIR. Quay was repre-
sented BY able counsel. when. after due
delibcration, the court. without n dis
scntlng voice. sent the cases back to
the Philadelphia courts for trial. re-
gardless OF the statements OF Mr.. Quay
under oath as contained In his petition.
and the argument OF Mr.. Watson, to
which the governor gives 80 much
weight.
Notwithstanding the above. the gov
crnor OF this commonwealth brushes
aside the court and jury. and all the
criminal charges th the cases. and upon
the naked statement OF d. *. Watson.
the paid attorney OF ~. S. Quay, de-
clarcs Mr.. Quay innocent, and the VIC
tim of political persecution.
Upon the ground of party regularity
alone the governor urges the election
Of NJ. $. Quay. while. NJ the same time.
he. us well as all others. know that
Mr. Quay cannot he elected by Rcpub-
lican votes. and that Mr.. Quay and his
leutenants are desperately soliciting
Democratic votes us the only means OF
rc-elcctlng him tu the United States
senate. For these reasons we do most
cmphatcntty dissent from the senti-
mcnts expressed in the open letter OF
the governor. believing that nine
tenihs of the people of the statc agree
with us and endorse our action,
(SigncU
WM. FLINN.
T.. 4. rORAY. JR.
NyM II k0nNJ'I