The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-11-30

Some. anti-machine leaders yesterday dis
cussed the figures Of relative strength in
the coming Legislature 10 show the cor
Teetnsss Of Chairman Billings opinion, and
70 Explain Why Quay was so anxious for
an understanding with Ashbridge. Those
anti-Quay men say that Quay's agents, in
soliciting signatures of legislators to
pledge 10 enter the Senatorial caucus and
be bccnd by it. have encountered among
their own friends. in Philadelphia and
throughout the State. a great deal OF IN
yielding opposition to a caucus committed
TO Quay n lack of evidence that ne could
DO anything for himself beyond making 4
deadlock
This sentiment among Legislators per
sonally favorable 20 Quay, who want a
Senator elected within reasonable time, is
regarded as explaining why Durham and
McNiGhol kept secret the result Of their
efforts to round up the city legislators
and Why State Chairman Reeder guards
against disclosure of the returns from the
messengers and letters despatched through
the State by him 10 secure caucus pledges
The general willingness which Quay found
| two yearS ago among his legislators 10
stand by him Indefinitely has changed in
the case Gffuany members to q determi-
nation TO elect Senator-if not Quay,
somebody else Rather than see his men
break away from him Quay would stop
scheming for the advantages which he
might hold for TWO years more as the re-
suit Of another deadlock, and would reach
for whatever benefit he could derive from
advising mis- legislative friends to support
the new Senatorial candidate.
AS judged by the leaders of the ants
/ Quay privately confesses to his friends
that the total number OF pledges and
promises TO sign the pledge to go into the
Senatorial caucus is still among the nine
ties, and not likely to reach 112, even if
the 10 who have refused to sign without
proof of enough to elect shall change
their minds. Not only the Quay legisla-
tors who demand TO see 12S pledges before
they viii be bound by Quay caucus, but
many OF those who have signed, are OPP
posed to g protracted deadlock. If bound
for g while by q minority caucus they
would abandon Quay at an early stage in
! the baIioting. They would not show the
patience exhibited in the last Legislature
by the caucus supporters, including
Hersn, Yates, Mackey, and, later, the Ma
gee men who broke away.
Quay, Stone, and Elkin are said to have
figured out that probably Sc Quay Iegisia-
tors united with the anti-Quay Repub-~
Iicans, could elect the Senator despite I'M
broken support of Democratic candidate
by the 13 senators and 49 representa- ives,
81 legislators IN all, OF his party This
calculation is on the assumption that 100
;
Quay caucus There are 1872 Republicans
in both houses, and the foregoing esti-
mate would leaTe 90 as the Republican
strength il an enti-Quay coalition of 154.
Even il the Quay figures reached 112. the
anti-Quay Republicans. if united for
Senatorial candidate, would need a re-en-
forcement of only IS Quayites to attain
the rs necessary to elect.
That such breaking away from Quay IS
z possibility to be Teekoled upon, the ex-
Senator is said 10 have been persuaded by
several important facts, including the
knowledge that many Quay legislators in
this city would gladly vote for Widener
as soon as they could be released from
Quay. The anti-machine leaders give no
Indication of their choice although some
OF the men voted for as Senatorial candi-
dates in the last session, including Rep
resentative DaIzeIl and Representative
HUI, are again proposed by individual
! legislators As far as developed, the fight
| promises for some time after the with
drawal of Quay to present Oliver and
widener as the principal rival standard
bearers