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


Philadelphia, defeating wanamaker
aud his local supporters overwhelm-
ingly in the legislative primaries. and
gaining a substantial following else
where in the state. This made Pen
rose the logical opponent of Wana-
maker and with Quay's help he was
elected United states senator; but
Penrose's election made Governor
Hastings for the second time an In
surgent, and the opposition to Quay
now consisted of the following ele-
ments:
a governor. disappointed. sore and
ready to use the whole influence Of the
state administration In the war for
Quay's determination.
John Wanamaker. Thomas Dolan
and the coterie of financial and mer-
camille giants in sympathy with them
or subject to their wide-reaching in
huence.
The city administrations of Philadel-
phia and Pittsburg with their enor-
nous financial and political resources
and power.
The massed potency of skilfully
subsidized chain of newspapers ingen-
iously used to manufacture anti-Quay
sentiment.
The natural susceptibility of a con-
siderable class of citizens to imposition
in the talismanic name of reform.
And, last but not least, the combined
force of a generation's accumulated
political disappointments and antag-
onisms now focused upon Colonel
quay in rejuvenated hope of ven-
geance.
1t was against this formidable coali-
tion, perhaps without parallel in
American politics, that Colonel Quay
had to struggle in his unsuccessful
campaign for reelection before the
Legislature two years ago. But the
foregoing enumeration of hostile ele-
ments does not indicate the whole of
his difficulties. The then district at
torney of Philadelphia, George $. Gra-
ham, after long tenure with incredible
power, was suddenly compelled to with
draw as a candidate for reelection,
The reasons for the public demand for
his withdrawal reflected upon his pri-
vate life in manner not unlike the
earlier attacks upon Senator Penrose
Graham, without cause, so far as has
ever been disclosed charged his humil-
| iation against Quay. Another promin-
| ent influence in the Philadelphia
| courts, Judge Gordon. subsequently
| John Wanamaker's attorney, and a
man of notoriously strong prejudices
and resentments, had aspired for the
| Democratic nomination for governor
| against William a. Stone and had beer
defeated by Judge jerks; this defeat
Gordon bitterly charged against Quay
In the course of official duty these
two men came into possession of the
books and papers of the suspended
Peoples bank. in which large deposits
had been made of state funds ant
with which Senator Quay had main
aimed an active account. This hap
pened in the spring of 1899 and it wa!
|
suing November election that infor
nation was filed through their agen
cies upon which Senator Quay, will
three others, was arrested on tn,
charge of conspiracy to misuse stat
funds. For months the documentar.
evidence of Quay's alleged guilt wa
exclusively in the custody of men o
known vindictiveness smartng unde
recent disappointments for which the!
held him accountable; and the ques
tion has often been present in tn
minds of Quay's friends whether th
long delay in letting fall the bolt o
arrest and indictment was for the pur
pose of forging Il coil of testimon'
only partly germane to the origina
facts.
| The nature of the testimony in thi
celebrated case and the character o
some of the rulings are fresh in tn
memory of attentive students of pub
lie affairs. Quay wanted an immed
late trial ere District Attorney Ora
ham had retired from office, and wa
| "llllIlS tltl IL Dc tdlltU DtloE
Judge Finletter, whose son was on
of Graham's principal assistants; bu
his attorneys, fearful of the politica
odds against them, forced a continu
ance. Meantime the legislature con
vened and fell into deadlock. The
1t was that the prosecution, formerl
so furious for trial, itself besough
postponement and succeeded in holdin
back verdict until after the legis
lature had adjourned. The verdic
was of acquittal but the political pur
pose Of the prosecution had bee
served-Quay's reelection had bee
defeated. The governors appoint
ment of Colonel Quay and the sen
ate's rejection by the narrow margi
of one vote followed in due cours
and are interesting chiefly for the in
sight which they afford into the won
derful loyalty of Quay's friends,
loyalty well shown by the action @
the state convention, taken the da
after the senate's vote. in summonin
Colonel Quay to take his case directl
before the people.
The sequel to that appeal is now re
l