The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-01-16


4 " made in American politics
as that which was yester-
day closed at Harrisburg and rarely
has Il victory been won comparable
with that now to be credited to
Matthew Stanley Quay.
In considering the struggle and its
consequences it is necessary to keep
Inv mind a clear distinction between
those clements of the commonwealth
population which have manifested a
conscientious opposition to the dynas-
tic type of political dictatorship built
mp under the sway of the elder Gamer
on aud bequeat thed to his Successors.
Donald Cameron and Colonel Quay;
and those politicians and beneticiaries
who merely hoped to unhorse their
former commander-in-ch from mo-
tives of vengeance or envy. In the
case Of the former the contest has for
the greater part been waged without
personal bitterness and on broad lines
of principle well calculated to recon-
mend themselves to men of indepen-
dent temperament, not always fami-
liar with the practical conditions and
necessities of political leadership and
sometimes impatient for the realiza-
ton of their ideals. But in the case OF
the latter there has been a prolonged
exhibition of hypocrisy, false pretence,
malice and desperation equally well
calculated to disgust the fair-minded.
The fight started in 1895 over the
nomination of a candidate for mayor
of Philadelphia. 1t has been alleged
that corporate and pecuniary infu-
cnces for sordid reasons organized
campaign of calumny against Boies
Perrose which. being caught up by
the unsophisticated. resulted in his
defeat as a candidate for the mayor
atty nomination and led to the public
denunciation by Senator Quay of his
former chief lieutenant. David Mar
tin. which was the opening gun in
factional battle that soon convulsed
the state. Truth and rumor so confus-
ingly interblend that no man yet can
he sure as to all the causes; it is
sufficient to note that after the oppo.
nents of Colonel Quay had taken to
the state convention in that year a
majority of delegates ample to defeat
him for the state chairmanship, his
superior generalship and the weaken
ing at the critical moment of one or
more of the prominent anti-Quay lead
ers gave to the Beaver strategist the
victory.
In the hour of ii personal triumph
a
Quay's magnanimity disarmed many
opponents, whom subsequent discov-
cries converted into allies and friends
The central figure in the anti-Quay
camp had been Daniel II. Hastings.
He next appeared at the st. Louis
national convention as the spokesman
of Quay's complimentary candidacy
for the presidential nomination and
offered a eulogy which, i'm contrast
with previous and subsequent express
sions, illustrates how often in politics
Self-interest dictates the point of
view. At that time General Hastings
had in mind the senatorship about to
b. voluntarily relinquished by Donald
Cameron. The other candidates, both
openly announced, were BOfes Penrose
ana John Wanamaker of Philadelphia
the latter presented by men of i'm
mcuse wealth cooperating through
the machinery of the Business Mems
league
Mr. Wanamaker's candidacy was
avowedly for the purpose of eliminat-
Ing Quay from politics and it was pro-
NOTED with all the vigor that unlimit-
cd resources could command. Pro-
Tossing opposition to corrupt and cor
rupting political influences, 1t was
converted by the professionals in inn
mediate charge into one of the most
daring networks of subsidy and fore
closure known to mercenary politics
Money was used so boldly that in sell
defense halt had to be called and
the Van Valkenberg disclosures fol-
lowed. on the eve of the general as
sembly. 1t is unnecessary to review
those disclosures i'm detail. They form
familiar chapter in recent local his.
tory and were finally, through mis-
taken leniency, compromised by Var
Valkenberg paying the costs to escape
the penitentiary,
Up to this time the fight on Quay
had largely been one of competitive
ambition to gain his command ovei
party organization and to- capture hi.
political power. But with the un
masking of the false pretences of tn,
Wanamaker movement 1t entered upor
new and a more desperate stage
that of a violent desire for revenge
Before the legislature OF 1897 convened
Governor Hastings had hoped to b.
the Quay choice for senator but hat
taken no active steps as a candidate
ON the other hand, state Senator Pen
vrse had made tremendous fight /,