Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1900-05-03

toms and usages of q party organ
ization. Therefore, the primary
elections, the county and state con-
I. ventions, the senatorial and con-
gressional conferences and the par
ty>caucuses have come to be an in
tegral part of the machinery of
party organization Tor the purpose
of ascertaining the will of the ma
jority of those who have q right to
participate therein. We declare 1t to
be the test of party fealty to OBJ
serve these rules and customs In
ascertaining the will of the majori-
ty by attending the party conven-
tion, conference or caucus, and
when the will of the majority has
been ascertained it is the duty Of
every person who claims to be
Republican to abide by that de-
cision.'
That plank was body blow to the
caucus boilers of the last legislature
and the manipulators of the fusion
schemes already on foot for the defeat
of regularly nominated candidates for
the next legislature.
ON RECORD FOR QUAY.
But it was the conventions declara-
tions as regards Colonel Quay that
gave the Finn Martin combine brain
crusher.
The news of the failure of the senate
to seat Colonel Quay had been re-
ceived the night before, and the plat
form makers were not slow in putting
upon paper the thoughts that ran
through their minds. The plank that
was agreed upon on this subject read
as follows:
1--WE again record our firm con-
viction that in the appointment OF
the Hon. Matthew Stanley Quay as
member Of the United States SEN
ate from Pennsylvania Governor
Stone was acting within his consti-
tutional authority, and the thanks
of the Republicans of Pennsylvania
are du to Hon. John p. Elkin, at.
torney general, for his mastery
and logical argument before the
committee on privileges and cleo
tions of the United States senate,
clearly demonstrating the existence
of this power in the chief execu-
tive of the state. We deplore the
action Of the United States senate
in denying us the right Of full rep
resentation to which we are enti-
tied under the federal constitution.
We still contend that the governor
had constitutional authority to
make the appointment. and IN Sc
lecting the Hon. Matthew Stanley
Quay he was acting in accordance
with the clearly expressed will OF
large majority of the Republicans
of the state. We express our con-
fidence in Senator Quay's leader
ship and we believe in his political
and personal integrity. A great
wrong has been done him, which
the people will right at the proper
time, and therefore we urge and in
sist that the Hon. Matthew Stanley
Quay shall be n candidate for re-
election TO the United States SEN
ate, in which he has SD long served
the people with such distinguished
ability and fidelity, and to this end
we pledge him our hearty and cor
dial support"
This naturally aroused the ire and
the hostility of both Finn and Martin.
Finn, who is the recognized leader OF
the anti-Quay organization, moved to
strike out all reference in the platform
to Colonel Quay. and when he called
for the yeas and nays on the motion
Senator Durham. of Philadelphia, q
Stalwart Quay adherent, seconded the
motion, as he wished the world to
know how the representatives of the
Republican voters of Pennsylvania
stood on that issue.
The roll was called and the result
was that 6S delegates voted with Finn
as against the Endorsement of Colonel
Quay and $50 voted for the above Quay
plank as submitted from the platform
committee. This showing of over four
to one in favor of Colonel Quay was
hailed with cheers of delight from the
stalwart element. When the opposi-
tion to Quay was analyzed 1t was
found that of the 60 votes 81 come from
the Finn machine in Allegheny and
II were followers of David Martin in
Philadelphia. This left but 81 dele
gates against Colonel Quay from the
entire state outside Of the organiza-
tions of the Finn and Martin interests
in Pittsburg and Philadelphia.