Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1900-12-13
The Ruthless War on Quay.


The Philadelphia North American
makes the appointment of Director of
the Bureau of Engraving and Printing
an occasion for congratulating and also
for lecturing President Mckinley, says
the Pittsburg Commercial. 1t congrat-
ulates him on rejecting the Pennsyl-
vania candidate for that position, ex-
Congressman Brumm, who it is under
stood, was recommended by Governor
Stone and ex-senator Quay, the indom-
nitable leader of the Republican party
in the State that has, in two successive
elections, rolled up the prodigious
plurality of about 100000 for Mr.. Nc
Kinley. 1t lectures him because, in
the past, he has not seen fit to ignore
all of the recommendations of that
leader.
The North American notes the fact
that within an hour after Mr.. Quay had
left the White House, where he went,
presumably, to put in kin0 word for
his and the presidents friend, Mr..
Brumm. the President appointed Mr..
Meredith, of Illinois, to the place. The
North American calls that ''snub" for
Quay and wants to know if it means
that the President has made up his
mind "to cut himself loose altogether
from the Pennsylvania machine hence
forward" Our Philadelphia contem-
porary, chief organ of the insurgents,
asserts that in the past ''the President
has subjected himself to nationwide
criticism, as severe as it has been just,
for his course in turning over the Fed
eral patronage of this State to the men
who are the worst enemies of the Re-
publican party"
That is merely matter of opinion.
The election returns do not indicate
that the Presidents disposal of patron
age in Pennsylvania or elsewhere did
any damage to his candidacy or to his
party's solidity. In spite of the bitter,
relentless war waged on Mr.. Quay by
Mr.. Wanamaker and all the members
and organs Of the anti-Quay faction,
they have been uniformly defeated, and
Quay has been victorious in every ap-
peal to the people. He defeated his
enemies overwhelmingly in 1893, and
they prevented his election only by
tactics which Republican President
could not indorse without destroying
his party. He defeatedthem still more
decisively in 1900, winning out hand
somely against an alliance between in
surgents and Democrats. And if there
is not more perfidy in Pennsylvania
than her worst enemies suspect, he will
be returned to his seat in the Senate.
AS to the refusal of the President to
appoint Mr.. Brumm, what reason is
there to regard it as indicating un-
friendliness to the Pennsylvania leader?
Something like that is inevitable in
every appointment where there is more
than one applicant. If that was a "snub
for Quay" there is no Republican Sem
| ator, no Republican Representative, no
prominent Republican who has not
been repeatedly snubbed by President
Mckinley and all of his Republican
predecessors.
The truth is that the President, plac-
ed in very delicate position, has tried
in quiet way to heal the irreparable
breach in Pennsylvania without taking
either side. But he treated Mr.. Quay
just as he did other Republican Sena-
tors SO long as he held his seat in that
body. That he will treat him other
wise when he completes his series of
triumphs by being sent back to that
seat is scarcely supposable case.