The Atlanta constitution., 1900-04-30
VESTS PLAIN DUTY
AND HOW he DID IT


tense stiffness in the senate chamber as
were developed by it, Senator Hanna's
pair with Mr.. Depew against Quay was
the first untoward incident which the
Pennsylvanian's followers had to face.
Culberson, of Texas. was another whom
they had before relied upon to save the
day, but Culberson stood by the constitu-
ton. Martin. of Virginia. was still an
other of whom they had hopes. but Mar
tin disappointed them. AS the friends of
Quay nervousy Tailed the yeas and nays
during the roll call they saw single vote
was needed to save their chief.
The alphabet was nearly exhausted
The clerk was down toward the bottom
of the list. Would Vest see his friend
defeated? Would the senator from Mis-
souri, put the knife into his chum-into the
political vitals of the man with whom lie
had fished. drunk, played poker. slept
brothered through these many years?
Would he strike at the man he loved for
the sake of a musty old constitution and
his convictions as to how 1t should be
interpreted?
"Mr Vest" sang out the clerk.
All eyes turned toward a little, shrunk-
en- man, all brains and body and no neck
who sat crouched in a front chair, almost
out OF sight. apparently asleep.
MOI came sharp and clear from the
little old mans throat. and 1t was all over.
Matthew Stanley Quay was defeated,
probably ruined. And it was his best
friend that had cast the fatal vote.
There was glisten in the little old
mans eye, a huskness In his voice, as he
turned to answer a question put TO MN
by a neighboring senator. Never was a
vote cast in the United States senate that
required greater devotion to duty ana
principle never one that cost such a pang
in the heart OF n true and manly man.
Mr.. Vest Explains Why.
81 have known Senator Quay ever since
he came to the senate" said Senator Vest
tonight in a musing sort of manner. That
was sixteen years ago--yes, fully sixteen
years ago. | came to be much attached
to him. to admire him greatly. | have
fished with him and slept with him; we
have been and are yet great friends. And
still could not bring myself to sacrifice
my convictions on the question 10 my
friendship for the man. | might have
lodged, it is true, but don't like to dodge
the constitution. | do not think II right
vote for or against as one feels is right.
but vote
anyway-you are either 90 sustain il or
not I am pledged 20 sustain the constitu-
tion. and so / voted against Quay. | was
i'm a most peculiar position, but to vote
otherwise TO me would not have been man.
ly. That is a great deal; | wanted to be
consistent with my past opinions on the
question. and still disliHed very much to
vote 10 keep my friend out.
Il had many talks with him during the
last few months. lie came to me quito
often about it. ana | had TO tell him that
my views on the constitutional question
had not been changed. 1t is too bad that
one vote means his undoing at this time.
though suppose | had lodged and not
voted, then it would have been a tie. and
that would not have been any better.
was compelled to look Mt the whole matter
impersonally though il was difficult under
the circumstance.
Senator Vest was asked about his for
mer stand on the constitutional question.
He appeared TO be extremely sad over the
result of the vote of the afternoon. but
talked quietly and freely, saying in reply
to this question:
"For nearly twenty years | have stood
by the theory that a governor of state
has not the power To appoint senator.
The first time | spoke on this subject was
in the Bell case. That was nineteen years
ago-in lSSl-and was "A New Hampshire
case | spoke against seating Bell, but
the senate voted otherwise. | spoke in
other cases. too. maintaining the same po-
sition-in the Blair case. the Corbett case,
the Mantle case and now in the quay
case | tried to see my way clear to vote
favorably to my old friend and sat In my
place and listened to all the arguments n
the hope that might see | was mistaken.
But to the end of the chapter | could de-
tcct no flaw I'm my opinion"
Senator Vest believes that Matthew
Stanley Quay will yet be in the United
States senate II sincerely hope to see
him in the senate again he said. Il
have great regard for his abilities. l
prefer him to any other republican-Penn-
sylvania republican, or other republican,
| know they call him q boss; he Is
forceful man and has his enemies. but
consider him vastly preferable TO those
who are bounding him, and would rather
see him in the senate than any of his
adversares."