Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1901-08-01
Hastings speech.

At Bellefonte, Tuesday, after two
hours of furious factional fighting in
the Centre County Republican Conven-
tion the anti-Quayites won the greatest
victory in local history. completely rout-
ing the Quay faction and thoroughly re-
pudiating Representative John K
Thompson. Secretary Of Agriculture
John Hamilton and every one connected
in any manner connected with the
State Administration. The Quayites
were led in the fight by Secretary Ham
ilton. L. r. Chambers, who also holds
an Office under the Administration, and
w. e. GRAY, while former Governor
Hastings was the sole spokesman for
the anti-Quayites.
From start to finish the convention
hall was a battlefield. Many bitter
aotas were passed. Time and again
the QUAY leaders were hissei and hooted
into silence. and the climax came when
Governor Hastings, Chairman or tne
Committee on Resolutions, read MS
reDort. While the National Admins
tration was endorsed not word was
said about the State. Secretary Ham
ilton presented a minority report en-
dorsing not only the State Adminlstra-
tion but also John K Thompsons ca
reer in the Legislature
Then Hastings made a speech calling
upon the convention to turn down Ham
lions resolutions because of 50 much
perricious legislation. He wound up
on Thompson. Whom he denounced
scathingly, referring in bitter terms
to the latter's record in the Leglsla-
ture.
The resolutions were most emphatlcal-
" turned down. Only Hamilton and
Chambers voted for then. Colonel
Wilbur F. Reeder was reelected County
Chairman William K Allison and
John N. Dale State delegates, and Ed
ward c. Mckinley protempore.
When Hamilton's resolutions were re
ported. former Governor Hastings took
| the floor, denouncing them in an I'm
petuous speech.
.sAs a private citizen" said he Il must
raise my voice in behalf of the great
Republican party of Pennsylvanla
against the unfortunate and suicidal
tendencies which have recently prevail
cd against its good name and It's honor-
able achievements. The record OF re
cent legislation, the work OF these sell
appointed leaders, have been fraught
with baleful results. Last fall, when
Pennsylvania gave her splendid majority
| to William Mckinley, the voters of The
State were innocently turning the
grindstone to sharpen the knives which
were to carve the fundamental law OF
the State to atoms and to rip into shreds
laws, elections and constitutional
rights: to despoil honest government
and to sell out for profit the great party
Of Lincoln like flock Of sheep
You have seen men, elected to repre-
sent the people and their best interests,
baseIy sell their birthright for the mess
of pottage secretelY paid them by those
who assume to be the sages and proph-
cts and the leaders Of the Republ1-
canism. You have seen courts and
Judges and judicial patronage. the rural
postmaster and other Federal office
holders hurried to the support of the
central power by promises or threats
I'm my Judgment there is but one
remedy for these wrongs: Let the great
BODY Of Republicans in Pennsylvania
rise in their might and turn the polltI-
cal traitors out of business.
Would this be revolution No; IL
would be the greatest exposition OF
patriotism ever witnessed in Pennsylva-
MIA since Lee was driven from Gettys-
burg. Let not the cry Of loyalty TO
President Mckinley and his admins
tration deter any. Has not one Of the
most distinguished members Of his
Cabinet voluntary Joined the ranks OF
the Rothermel hosts in Philadelphia! I!
What he has done we may safely do.