Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-04-18
THE PASSING OF QUAY
The Power Of the Boss Slipping From
His Grasp to Younger Men.
GA J. PALM)

UC TO"GT VI tllC DOoS oIPP'hS FiSht
His Grasp to Younger Men.
"a. ]. PALM)
l. has been evident to the careful
observer for some time that Qnay is
no longer the absolute dictator in
Pennsylvania politics, Notwithstanding
the fact that those who look upon him
as political demi-god still insist that
the political situation rests entirely in
the hollow of his hand. When Dur
ham, Stone, Elkin & Company elected
Quay to the senate in 1901 they felt
that this ought, in all decency, to be
the Old Mans farewell appearance,
either as candidate or dictator He
has been in the political swill with
snout and both feet for over forty
years. and these men have reason to
feel that, in view of his many sins, he
ought now 70 begin his preparation for
death, and leave the political corrup-
tion counter to younger men. They
no doubt feel that they have done his
dirty bidding as long as he can rea-
sonably ask and that, in the language
of the venacular, he should now "go
way bu1N anu olA uO"l' iC 3
passion is, however, strong even in
death and the Old Man, tottering on
the verge of the tomb still imagines
that his advice and dictation are ne.
cessary to keep the politics of Penn
sylvania pure and unspotted from the
world
He was ignored in the Pittsburg
deal and it is safe to say that he will
be ignored from this time forward ex-
cept when he sees fit to go along with
those who have decided that they will
hereafter run the political machine in
Pennsylvania. Whether he pretends
to oppose Elkin simply that he may
have a little more influence later on
with those who are against the lndi-
ana man, or whether he really is op-
posed to his nomination makes but
little difference; for those in charge
of Elllins case propose to nominate
him whether Quay sanctions or OBJ
jects, and nominate him they will.
Why should Quay oppose Elkin?
lllkin has been an apt pupil in the
Quay school and stands near the head
of the class in the art of managing the
political mill so as to get the biggest
possible grist to be divided among the
faithful henchlnen. Elkin has never
done anything to equal Quays politi-
cal iniquitous transactions in politics
and it looks cowardly now in the Old
Man to begin to hedge and doubt Ell
kin's ability to carry the state. Elkin
is smirched with Quayism and that
is the reason why the people don't
want him for governor.
1t is simply ridiculous to hear men
talking of Quay as a candidate for gov
ernor in order to harmonize the party.
Those who think this would be a So
luton of the Republican problem must
place a very low estimate on the in
telligence OF those who are opposing
the machine and its methods. The
machine is what the honest voters OF
the state are opposing, and all ma
chine men look more or less alike to
the man who has become disgusted
with the high-handed outrages that
have recently disgraced the common
wealth, To say that any man would
prefer Quay to Elkin is to say that he
would prefer Beelzebub to one of his
underling angels.
] he surprising thing is not that
Quay has lost his grip, but that he
has held it so long. That able men
have been willing for so many years
to carry out his orders, no matter how
great the loss of self respect it i'm
piled is utterly incomprehensible
Quay has been charged with all sorts
of misdoings. from manipulating state
funds to causing several men to com
nit self murder. We do not know
that the new boss will have any more
conscience or that he will have any
more regard for the welfare of the
state; it is hard to believe that he
can be worse. AS there has been q
constant growth of sentiment against
Quayism, it is to be hoped that bosses
may hereafter be squelched as soor
as they show their heads. The time
for such a work is long past due.