Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-29

jority, If they can see the light In time
Mr.. Quay's conservative friends in Harris
burg, while contendng that he will win
admit that there is enough in the situation
to make 1t interesting.
VIII Fight to the End.
Mr.. Quay has leased a house In Harris
burg for the entire legislative session.
which may last until the 1st of May, and
with Mrs. Quay, will remain here until the
battle Is won or lost He will fight it out
If it takes all the spring.
This is the third great struggle for his
political supremacy which Mr. Quay has
had within the past five years In the sum-
mer of 1895 his political opponents in his
own party endeavored to wrest control of
the state organiza ion from him He
fought 1t out in the state convention and
won.
In 1897 the same faction opposed the cleo
ton OF his friend, Mr. Penrose. to the
United States Senate The fight was main
~ against Mr., Quay, however, and again
h. won, in the election of Senator Pen
rose.
In 1890 the faction turned up again and
opposed Mr.. Quay's reelection to the SEN
ate. They succeeded to that extent, al
though they could not elect a man of their
own choice. The legislature adjourned
without action, Governor Stone appointed
Mr.. Quay, and the Senate by a majority
OF one vote, refused to seat him.
Hope of Anti-Quay Faction.
The best that the anti-Quay faction can
hope to do this time is to prevent the cleo
ton Of Mr.. Quay, and cause deadlock.
They can not name his successor except
with the aid of the solid democratic vote,
which is not likely to be obtained. The
democrats are divided upon the question OF
combining with the anti-Quay republicans.
John NJ Garman, one of their leaders. is
opposed to combination, and Colonel Guffey,
another leader,
Quay.
The legislature on joint ballot is COM
posed of BOB men, and of this number 62
are democrats. 1t IS estimated that there
are 81 anti-Quay republicans, making
total of 129 supposedly in opposition. AS -
takes 127 to elect, the opposition claim they
can prevent his election.
The whole issue turns upon the correct
ness of that estimate OF g. and you can
hear more conflicting statements on that
score in the course OF an hour in Harris
burg than you can reconcile In week of
inquiry.
The republicans Of prominence who are
leading the fight against Mr.. Quay are
State Senator Chris. Magee Of t'ttsburg
Philadelphia. The metropolitan and coun-
try press of the state pretty Iairy l.
vided in advocacy of and opposition to his
election.
The Single purpose of Mr.. Quay's oppo-
nents now is to break up the masterful
Quay organization in the state. If they ac-
compish that during his lifetime there will
then be general scramble among the poll
ticians Of the state for control. There is no
man in the anti-Quay ranks who can rally
sufficient strength to elect himself senator
II Mr.. Quay's grasp of the state should be
loosened. 1t would probably be a long time
before any Of the ambitious politicians now
in the field :ould build up an organzat ton
as powerful and compact as the one Mr.
Quay has welded in this state for SO many
years.
Some of the Opposition.
There are some men in the anti-Quay
forces who are there because they are hon
estly opposed to continuing him in power in
this state. Others are there because they
think Mr.. Quay is losing his grip, and they
would leave the sinking ship. There are
others hanging on the outskirts of the
crowd. ready to enlist if they think 1.-THE
old man is downed at last.
To the latter class the Quay lieutenants
are making the only argument which ap-
peals to them. They say that Quay VIC
tory Is certain. and that this will be the
last chance to get into the good graces of
the leader That argument has been used
successfully In the past, and there are in
dications that 1t has not yet outlived its
usefulness.
1t has been a source of frequent COM
ment that there should be any uncertainty
at all as to the complexion of the legisla-
ture. when the campaign was made almost
solely on the Quay Issue. In many coun-
ties candidates for the legislature were
edged to vote against Mr.. Quay for SEN
ator. For weeks before election day moth