Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1900-11-29
WDENER GAVE
GANG A SHOCK
Eulogy ofQuay by the Philadelphia
Millionaire Upset Their
Calculations.
HAD EYES ON HIS BARREL,
Insurgents Hoped to Swell Their
Corruption Fund to Continue Their
Fight Against the Regular Repub-
licam Organization I'm the LeginIa-
ture mt HarrtshurY.
Especial Correspondence

Especial Correspondence
Harrisburg, Nov 27.-The political
sensation of the last week was the
publication of an interview with Sem
ator-elect Benjamin X. Focht, of Union
county, in which he recounted the cir
cumstances of 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.
M. 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 finan-
cial needs of the politicians who have
been making the anti-Quay movement
their sole means of livelihood for some
time. These tricksters 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
things" for the political macers have
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
ly 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 WiGener 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 Democrat
ITO 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-
emily could not find anything too good
to say about the Beaver statesman.
Senator Focht declares that Mr.. Wild
ener not only made 1t quite manifest
that he was not 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 Quay's political rec
ord, Senator-elect Focht quotes Mr..
Widener as having spoken as follows:
"Col. Quay has done much for the
advancement OF our industries. His
action in the United States senate when
the Wilson bill was up for cOnsidera-
tion was master stroke. With the
Introduction of his many amendments
to the free trade measure and his fill
clustering tactics. including his famous
speech. the longest on record as having
been delivered in the United States
senate. he saved the industries of Penn
sylvania from wreck and ruin with
which they were at that time con-
fronted
Senator Quay has really been the
champion of reform legislation In
Pennsylvania instead of the opponent,
as some OF his adversaries would like
to make it appear. Back in the 70's.
as chairman of the committee on WAYS
and means of the PENNSYLVANIA leg
islature. he reported the bill, which
Is now a law, that transferred the bur-
den or taxation from farm lands. real
estate and horses and cattle to the
corporations
This was most equitable arrange
ment. for while the individual proper
ty owner has been relieved of former
oppression the corporations have been
able to meet their obligations and they
have not been unduly taxed. From this
splendid revenue came the eleven mill
lion dollar school appropriation. which,
besides building countless schoolhouses
In every section OF the commonwealth,
gives free books and free education to
the children of Pennsylvania
QUAY FOR REFORM.
1T was Col. Quay who. recognizing
the demand of the temperance element
| OF the state. gave the people the op-
portunity to vote upon the question OF
the prohibition amendment to the con-
stitution which was submitted to pop
nlar vote by direction OF Republican
legislature. in which Col. Quay's
friends had an overwhelming majori-
ty. The outcome Of this was the pass
age of the present high license law,
which eliminated seven-tenths OF the
saloons In Philadelphia and so per cent
Of the liquor shops Of Pittsburg. and
which assured an absolute observance
OF the Sunday laws In regard to the
sale OF liquor In all the large centers
OF population. This law likewise prac-
tically placed the granting Of liquor
licenses In the hands Of the people, as
no court dare refuse 10 recognize d
properly submitted remonstrance from
the people.
Then there Is the question Of ballot
reform. Col. Quay should be given full
credit for what he did In that direction.
lie was the pioneer In the movement
for ballot reform In Pennsylvania. He
and bis friends passed the present Law
uxh t.A a.ast a h..