Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-09-14
QUAY'S RATIFICATION.
Secrets Of the Late Republican
Ratification Meeting.
WHY ]. HAY BROWN WAS SLATED
A Racy Description ofPolitical Events
Connected With the Late Republican
State Convention at Harrisburg.
Flinn,s Vigorous Kick

Flinn's Vigorous Kick.
Special Correspondence.)
Philadelphia, Sept. 13~-There is more
real downright interest taken In an
ordinary hog KILN in the country
than was displayed by the Republicans
in, as Bill Connell, the Lackawanna
king, who has strikes in his coal Mines
angrily termed the state convention
that met at the state capital.
The city and county machines, in
obedience to Quay's orders, had ground
out as grist the full quota of putty fig
ures that go by the name of delegates
The startling falling off In the alleged
vote returned for Colonel Stone for
governor in 1898, and upon which the
delegate representation was based, cut
| the ratification meetin' In point of
delegates down to low water mark. 1t
was the leanest in the history of the
boss ridden party. Yet this was not
unpleasing to Pasha Quay, since It
was easier to manipulate and less cost
ly to get together The insurgents in
only a county here and there, like
General Koontz in Somerset and Gen.
eral Hastings in Centre, had seriously
disputed with the machine for the dele
gates.
In Philadelphia the insurgents hav-
ing lost the mayor, which Is the key
to the control Of that great centre of
population and election rascality, and
which had wounded their leader, Dave
Martin, in the wing, he was powerless
to put up a fight.
Ashbridge, the new Quay mayor, was
instructed by his proprietor, Dave Lane,
to make kindling wood of every Martin
man bold enough to stand for delegate
outside of the few Martin Gibraltars
wherein the delegates were conceded to
the man upon whose forehead Quay
had tattooed the dollar mark. In the
districts where contests were thus
made there was the devil to pay. The
hospitals were crowded with cracked
heads and victims of murderous as
saults, decent Republicans were afraid
to approach the primary polls, which
were In possession of thugs and man
eaters, legal election officers were toss
ed out of the precinct houses, gangs of
repeaters were organized to roam from
Quay into Martin wards, and vote buy
ing and free liquor giving were shame
lessly carried on. Each side went the
limit to cheat and gouge. The party
of God and morality thus beat any
thing that Tammany Hall in the hey
dey of Tweed ever conceived or at
tempted.
In Allegheny county Magee was Ill.
His partner, Insurgent Chief Finn,
was rambling in Europe. Neither lost
an hours good sleep over the delegates.
John Wanamaker. the real leader Of the
anti-Quay mutiny, was travelling in the
land of the midnight sum-" and had
decreed that the fight against Quay
should not be made this year, but next
year. Pasha Quay thus had the white
light signal for clear and unobstruct-
ed road and boss freedom to paint
the name of any candidate that suited
his interest best upon the ticket.
Still the slate was not made without
family friction. A number of political
judges had the audacity to come for
ward with claims to soil the ermine Of
the supreme court and were encourage
ed in their ambitions by certain of
Quay's prentice boys, who, like the
Kentucky mule that went crazy and
imagined himself race horse, thought
they were powerful enough to dictate
to the ''old man."
But the old man had another fish for
the pan. There lived In Lancaster
lawyer of some eminence on the legal
staff of the Standard OIL company, as
of other corporations, who had long
enjoyed the confidence not only of
Quay but of the house Of Cameron
His name was ]. Hay Brown.
In 1896. after Mckinley had been
nominated at ST. Louis. his political
promoter, Mark Hanna, beating the
state boss combination, which includ-
ed Quay and Platt. he was dickering
at Canton with these defeated bosses
for their aid in his election, Quay made
journey to the home of the presi-
Dental candidate,
Mckinley wanted Quay's experience
In carrying New York with Doodle.
while Quay wanted his share of the
pork if Mckinley should be elected.
When one politician deals with another
in matter of business there Is always
certain amount of distrust on either
side.
Therefore, 1t came to pass that Quay
took along with him to Canton a wit
ness. j. Hay Brown was this witness,
and he was present when the bargain
was discussed between the candidate
and the boss and the terms agreed to.
Quay wa' to take department at
the national committees headquarters
and try and repeat his success In buy
ing votes in New York, as he had done
for Harrison. the pious. and was to
give the Mckinley administration a
loyal support in the senate.
Mckinley on his part obligated him
self to pitchfork the federal patronage
Of Pennsylvania over to Quay. Had not
j. Hay Brown been long underwritten
tor elevation to the supreme bench he
would have appeared as one of tho
eminent counsel for Quay's defense
when his enemies were trying in the
Philadelphia court to send him to the
penitentiary for stock gambling with
the money of the state treasury. 1t
was feared that If he had 80 appeared
that people would have said that Quay
was paying him his fee by putting him
on the supreme court.
VI