Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1902-01-16


Philadelphia, Jan. 14--The news OF
'he return of Senator Quay to Wash
ington from Florida, in the best or
spirits and in excellent health, with
the fact that Immediately after his ar
rival in the capital he was in consul
iation with President Roosevelt In
the discussion of matters affecting
pennsylvania interests and the policy
Of the national administration on sub
iects shortly to be acted upon by con-
sress. has delighted the leaders of
the Republican organization in this
city and state.
Senators Quay and Penrose are now
regarded as among the most inf1uen-
tial men in the United States senate
with the Roosevelt administration.
Their views and advice are solicited
by the president, and they have his
absolute confidence in matters relat-
ing to the national, as well as the
state organization of the Republican
party.
STANDING BY PARTY.
Every week seems to bring forth
additional evidence of the fact that
the president, while adhering strictly
10 the provisions of the civil service
reform laws and Loyalty cooperating
with those who are advocating an eX-
tension of the civil service reform
legislation in certain federal depart
Gnents, proposes to miss no oppor-
tunity to give encouragement and
support to the men who have been
chosen by the Republicans of their
respective states and counties to di.
rect the affairs of the party organiza-
ton.
Before Senator Quay left President
Roosevelt on his last visit to the
White House, the president promised
to refuse the requests of friends OF
the internal revenue collector for the
eastern district of Pennsylvania for
his reappointment and agreed to
sead in as his successor the name
of William McCoach, of Philadelphia,
whose appointment was recommended
by Senators Quay and Penrose and a
large majority of the members of the
national house of representatives from
the keystone state.
Like Postmaster General Charles
Emory Smith, whose retirement from
the cabinet gave the stalwart Repub-
licans of Pennsylvania SO much keen
satisfaction, and like Thomas l..
Hicks, whose removal from the post
mastership of the Quaker city was
hailed with delight by the regular Re-
publicans all over the state, the re-
riring collector of internal revenue of
ha 1ictrinf of panncvIvania
Penrose A. McClain, espoused the
cause of the Union party in the last
campaign. McClain publicly pro-
claimed his intention to vote for the
candidates of the Union party, and
he worked in his home district
against the regular Republican nomi-
nees Not satisfied with that, after
the ignominious defeat of the Union
party ticket, McClain proceeded to
discharge from office several Of the
employees of the internal revenue de-
partment who had been conspicuous
champions of the Republican nomi-
nees, and who could not be Influenced
by him or any one else to vote against
their party candidates.
STALWARTS WON OUT.
Notwithstanding this record, friends
of McClain went to work to influence
the officials in Washington in his be-
half They got some close friends of
Secretary of the Treasury Gage in
terested in the matter. and through
this influence they hoped to continue
McClain in office.
Senators Quay and Penrose lost no
fir1n in infnrn,inO tho nrasidnpt Of
the facts of the case, and the outcome
of their interviews is the retirement
of McClain and the selection of
stalwart Republican as his successor.
Apropos of this matter, there has
come to light a letter written by
President Roosevelt when he was vice
president, and which has bearing
upon the subject under discussion.
The letter was written to a cousin
who was an applicant for an office, and
shows how important it is to have the
influence of the men at the head of
the party organization to applications
for official positions.
A LOGICAL POSITION.
Among other things, Roosevelt said
in his letter:
"If you wish to get place I shall,
of course, try to help you, but in such
case it is absolutely imperative that
you should get your local backing
first. l now speak with entire knowl-
edge, for the men of my regiment
have applied to me by the score for
just such positions as you seek and
even when l was writing or speaking
in behalf of man who had served
under me, found that it was mere
waste of time for me to attempt to do
anything unless he had his own sena-
tors or representatives behind him.
The Wyoming senators, for instance,
would not tolerate, and would be per.
fectly right in refusing to tolerate, the
Interference of the vice president In