The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1899-12-01
HOBART WOULDN'T TRUST HIM.

doubt one of the "sleekest'' of poll
ticians but that the late Vice Presi-
dent Hobart knew just how little faith
could be placed in the Keystone State
Boss, the following anecdote related
by Mr. Hobart before his illness had
assumed serious phase will show:
Matt Quay, Of Pennsylvania, first
suggested me as a candidate for Vice
President, Mr.. Hobart began,
away back in the early sping of 1896
was riding on the Pennsylvania
Limited from New York, EN- route to
Canton, to see Major Mckinley, whom
l knew very we'll When the train
entered Philadelphia, Quay came
aboard and took seat near me. "
Chow far today, Hobart?" said
Quay. ~ told him my destination,
and after an exchange Of pleasantries
he looked up suddenly and said: Ho-
BART why don't you come out for
Vice President? You are pretty we'll
known in the East; everybody likes
you, and you would give strength to
the ticket. Now, I'll tell you what
I'll do. 1t you announce yourself
can assure you of the solid strength
of the Pennsylvania delegation in the
convention. Furthermore, I believe
we can swing New York to you.
II thanked him for his kindness,
continued Mr.. Hobart, and said I
would let him know my decision after
my talk with Mckinley. Quay got
off somewhere down the road. | con-
tinued to Canton, saw Mckinley, and
came away determined to make the
race. I notified Quay Immediately.
Then l started to get my fellows into
line. Well, to shorten long story,
let me say / confidently counted on
Pennsylvania votes; but, to make
certain, l did not stop until more than
enough votes to nominate me were
pledged. The next meeting between
Quay and myself occurred in ST. Louis
on the nth of June, 1896, as l remem-
Der it. [ was ill in my room at the
Southern Hotel when Quay came to
see me.
Hobart, said Quay, you remem-
Der my promise made on railway
train early this year?'
Irecalled it wildly.
g Well, Hobart, my friend, I'm
sorry / won't be able to keep it; there
are certain reasons which compel me
to place the Pennsylvania votes else
where
"That's all right, Quay. Go ahead
and do as you please with your votes.
| want to say to you, however, before
you leave this room, that / don t need
your votes I'm nominated without
them. :"
"Well, sir, Continued Hobart
laughingly, do you know, this took
old Quay clear off his feet He was
almost speechless, dumb founded,
amazed. He had been scheming with
Platt to nominate Morton again. Oh,
these promises ? Beware of poll
ticians,''. Mr.. Hobart concluded with
chuckles.
The probable wealth of Mr.. Hobart
can only be guessed at vaguely, be-
cause most of it is industrial stocks,
which have a doubtful value. If
shrewd management is used, the es-
tate ought to realize at least So, 900, 600
cash eventually, and probably a great
deal more. A Newark Sunday Call
man reminded him, couple of years
ago that once, long ago, he had said
that $3.50, 600 was the mark of his am
bition in money making He laughed
and said: 'That was passed a good
while ago; but times have changed
also. l hated to give up money max
ing, and that made me more indiffer-
ent to the Vice Presidency than many
supposed / was. You see, | had
learned to make money, and my time
had come for it, in years, in knowl-
edge, in business associations and in
financial conditions. If this office had
not come to me | should have been a
very rich man. Now, have given up
positions which paid me large sums,
am out of the running in financial en-
terprise, and my expenses are greatly
increased. You say have enough.
That is not the question. 1 have al
ways had enough, so far as money
can give happiness. But my occupa-
tion has been conducting great enter
prises for the benefit of all concerned,
and this is all abandoned now, and 1
am thrust into life which, while it
is extremely interesting, is not my
own natural occupation. Politics
with me have always been an outside
interest, and in the party sense, al
most a diversion. | never had my
heart fixed on anything political. My
real work lay in other directions.