The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1899-12-20
ELKINS GREAT EFFORT.
Mastery Presentation of tie Quay
Case at Washington.
MADE EDMUNDS sQUIRM.
He Quoted the Insurgents Attorney
Against Himself From His Speeches
In the United states Senate Fa-
voring GOvcrnors' Appointees.
Especial Correspondence.)

vOrfng GOvcrnors' AppOtntees.
Special Correspondence)
Harrisburg, Dec. 1s.-Attorney Gen.
eral John p. Elkin has returned from
Washington, where he scored a signal
triumph in his speech before the Uni
ted States senate committee on priv
ileges and elections in the matter Of
the seating of Colonel M. S. Quay,
upon the governors appointment
While the opponents of Colonel Quay,
the Democrats and the insurgents OF
Pennsylvania, were represented by Q
big array of counsel, Mr.. Elkin hand
led the case alone in support OF the
q governors commission. Even the op.
ponents of the Beaver statesman admit
that Mr.. Elkin made magnificent ef-
fort. There is no question that he out
matched the opposition in the presen-
tation of his case He has brought
home fresh laurels as constitutional
lawyer and added much to his reputa-
ton. His speech was one of the strong
est, cleverest and most conclusive ar
guments heard for a long time. He
showed that he was thoroughly famil-
lar with every phase of the case and
that he was prepared to answer and
combat every contention of the counsel
of the other side. Among these were
Former United States Senator Ed
munds, Hampton L. Carson and George
Wharton Pepper for the insurgents.
and William j. Bremen and Former
Attorney General Stranahan for the
Democrats.
The real fight, however, was between
Elkin and Edmunds.
The entire argument on both sides
was upon the issue of the interpreta-
tion of the constitutional provisions,
Mr.. Elkin contending that the consti-
tuition and the precedents favored the
seating of Colonel Quay and the other
side taking directly opposite view.
Attorney General Elkin made ex-Sen-
ator Edmunds appear ridiculous.
EDMUNDS VS.. EDMUNDS.
After Mr.. Eikin had made his open
ing speech and the other side had got
ten In their arguments the attorney
general again took the floor and liter
ally ripped the opposition up the back.
He made Edmunds his particular
mark, and quoted the former senator
from Vermont directly against himself
on the important question at issue. He
told the committeeman that Attorney
Edmunds held different views from
Senator Edmunds, now that he was re-
tanned on the other side of the ques-
ton.
He read from the ex-senator's speech
on the Bell case in 1879, in which Mr..
Edmunds argued that no state should
be without its full representation in
the senate, and contended for the broad
principle of governors right to fill a
senatorial vacancy by appointment
when the legislature was not in ses-
sion.
AS Attorney General Elkin thus
brought up his record to plague him
Mr. Edmunds moved uncomfortably in
his chair. lie fairly squirmed before
Mr., Elkin got through with him. This
exposure of the inconsistency of the ex-
senator seemed to tickle the risibilities
of some of his old time colleagues, and
many of them INDUCED in broad smiles
at his expense. The ex-senator angrily
protested that Mr.. EllIin was not quot
ing the full sense of his speech, but
only the parts that suited his purpose.
The attorney general promptly replied
that he would cheerfully yield enough
of his own time to Mr. Edmunds for
the purpose OF explaining his course
in 1879 if he could Mr.. Edmunds for
once was nonplussed. He sank back in
his chair and ignored the challenge.
1t is known that former senators
who appear before committees as paid
attorneys Of particular interests are
not usually given special considera-
tion on personal grounds from their
former associates, but it is rarely that
the pins can be knocked from under
any one as was done in this instance
by Mr.. Ell1in.
The whole presentation of Colonel
Quay's case was certainly creditable
to Pennsylvanlas attorney general.
Senator Hoar, who is always chary
OF praise, and who is admittedly the
hest constitutional lou,,o, L., A. -.
ate, remarked at the conclusion Of
General Elkin's speech:
THAT was a mastery presentation
OF Senator Quay's case" and judging
from the remarks of the auditors after
the hearing. everybody agreed with
him.
lNSURGENT RED FIRE.
There has not been much of sensa-
tional interest in Pennsylvania poll
tics during the last week. The insur-
gents have been seeking to keep in the
public eye the hope that something
may turn up to benefit them in their
campaign to elect members of the leg
lslature. They issued one of their
characteristic addresses" last week.
which did not make the stir in the DO
litical world they anticipated. The Phil
adelphia Inquirer in commenting upon
this deliverance had this allusion 10
the address under the headings en-
surgent Red Fire" and Impressions
Made by the Latest Address OF the
Only Simon Pure Reformers:"
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