The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1900-11-28
(speclal Correspondenee.)


Especial Correspondence)
Harrisburg, Nov. 27.-The political
sensation of the last week was the
publication of an interview with SEN
ator-elect Benjamin X. Focht, of Union
county, in which he recounted the cir
cumstances OF a visit which he and for
mer United States Senator John j. Pat
terson paid to p. A. b. Widener, the
street railway and gas magnate, who
has been prominently mentioned for
United States senator to succeed Col.
Nj. S. Quay.
The insurgents of Pennsylvania,
after trying all others who were re-
garded as available to be pitted against
Col Quay for the senatorship, agreed
that Widener was the best equipped
man to play up against Quay. His
special equipment was, of course,
the millions Of dollars which he has
invested in many enterprises, and
which they assumed would be drawn
upon to meet the ever pressing tinan-
cial needs of the politicians who have
been making the anti-Quay movement
their sole means of livelihood for some
time. These tTicksteTs have had diff
ferent men to meet their demands for
cash, all with ambition to fill Office and
all willing to be presented TO the pub
lie as great refOrmers who have only
the interests of their dear common
wealth at heart in making their cam
paigns against this terrible man Quay.
One after another of these good
fbfuucN f,r tbo 1,plitiaa1 r,tepars huua
gotten tired Of being bled by the pro-
fessional politicians, and these vam-
pires have been looking around for a
candidate who would produce liberal
y TO keep up the fight on Quay"
Widener evidently seemed to be their
last resort, and they Immediately pro-
ceeded to boom him for the United
States senatorship and pass the word
along the line that Widener would
produce big money" if he could get
the senatOrship.
Democrats were given the cue to in
innate that possibly after they found
that they could not elect a Democrat
to the United States senate they would
take up Widener in order to defeat
Quay. This was done to keep Widener
in line.
This sort of talk had been going on
quite freely, when Senator-elect Focht
happened to call upon Widener in re-
gard to some railway business in which
former Senator Patterson was interest
ed.
To these gentlemen, possibly without
thought of having his remarks publish
ed, Widener expressed himself quite
freely regarding Col. Quay. He intro
duced the subject himself and appar-
entity could not find anything too good
to say about the Beaver statesman.
Senator Focht declares that Mr.. Wild
ener not only made IT quite manifest
that he was not a candidate for senator
in opposition to Col. Quay, but express.
ed the opinion that he should and will,
be reelected.
WlDENER TALKED FREELY.
Regarding Col. Quays political rec
ord, Senator-elect Focht quotes Mr.
Widener as having spoken as follows,
Col. Quay has done much for tht
advancement of our industries. Hi
action in the United States senate whel
the Wilson bill was up for considera
tion was a master stroke. with th
introduction Of his many amendment
TO the free trade measure and his fill
clustering tactics, including his famou
speech, the longest on record as havinl
been delivered in the United State
senate, he saved the industries of Penn
sylyania from wreck and ruin wit
which they were at that time con
frOnted.
Senator Quay has really been tn
champion Of reform legislation 1
Pennsylvania instead Of the opponen
as some Of his adversaries would lik
to make II appear. Back in the 70'
as Chairman Of the committee on way
and means Of the Pennsvlvania 10,