The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-01-26
AN HETEROGENEOUS.
Tho Story of Camcron's Ovcrthrow-in-
the PENNSYLVANIA Legislature OF
1874 Warning to Quay. 9S

Tho Story of Camcron's Ovcrthrow-in
the Pennsylvania Legislature OF
1854 Warning TO Quay. y
SNew-York Post:aThe deadlock In the
Pennsylvania legislature over the choice
of successor to Senator Quny..and the
brave attempt OF iifty-two Independent
Republicans to defeat powerful ma
chine numbering more than twice as
many votes IN tho legislature. recalls
the memorable senatorial contest OF 1851,
when. under similar circumstances.
flfty-slx Republicans maintained n
deadlock for ,thirty-iivc days. and came
out OF the. contest victorious. The fea-
lures OF that great fight are rchcarscd
daily at Harrisburg to encourage and
sustain the present opponents OF Quay.
The fight in 1881 In ono respect differ
cd materially from the present contest.
The machine was then controlled by
James Donald Cameron, and up to with
in few days OF the preliminary caucus
1t was supposed for once the people and
the machine were united on Il candidate
Aol GtildlOI. ~. pIoN, WIZ IL
now one of the conGressmen-at-la large.
and Is still great favorltc among the
people of that state. His canvass was
actively carried on, but as soon as It
was apparent that the Republicans
would control both branches of the
legislature rumors became current that
Cameron would desert Grow and con-
fer the honor on Henry w. Oliver, of
pittsburgh. 1t was not until just before
the senatorial caucus was called, five
days before the first ballot. that the
Grow forces realized that their candi-
date WINS In danger. The legislature of
that year contained 1854 Republicans. ~
Democrats and Fusionists. A major
ity In the caucus would be rs. and after
a hnsty counting OF noses the Grow
leaders discovered that they could only
muster GO votes.
On the night before the caucus, an
anti-caucus pledge was drawn up, the
signers of which simply expressed their
opinion that caucus at that time was
inadvisahlc, and declared they would
not attend. There were AZ signers,
but as was the case with Quay this
year the caucus was held. and on the
third ballot Oliver received 70 votes,
one more than majority OF all the Re-
publicans.
Those who remained out Of the caucus
In every instance were sustained by
their constituencies, and the leaders
began the formation Of n permanent
organization and to prepare for the in
evitable deadlock. a new pledge was
drawn up. the signers Of which agreed
not 10 vote for Oliver. but 10 continue
to support their individual choice until
two-thirds of those signing the pledge
should agree upon some other candi-
date. All pledged themselves to vote
as unit for the candidate. whoever he
might be. Forty-seven names were at
tached to this pledge, and before the
first ballot was taken they were Joined
by nine others. making Sc in all. Only
IS votes were needed to prevent an elec-
ton. provided the Democrats, stood
firm. and the Grow adhcrcnts were Sc
curely entrcnchcd.
The flrsl BALLET resulted In 95 votes
being cast for Oliver. 80 for Wallace.
the retiring Democratic senator; Sc for
Grow and scattering; necessary for an
election. l26.
The Democrats stood firm. and only a
few ballots were necessary to prove