Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-17
INTERVIEWING QUAY
A NEWSPAPER MAN FOUND IT NO
EASY TASK.
Lots to Say About Fishing, but Moth
ing on the Matter in
Point.

II was i'll Pittsburg the latter part of last
summer at the time the ripper bill went
into effect and there was big political up
heaval. which was charged to Senator
Quay said a newspaper man on the
row the other evening.
THE paper that 1 was working for dis
patched me over to Beaver to see Senator
Quay, who had just come back from a six
weeks hunting and fishing expedition up
in Maine.
Sound the senator on these questions,
the managing editor told me hurriedly. BE
sure and ask him and get what he has to
say
1.-THE next train for Beaver was sched-
found that l could reach the station in AL
legheny, and in a 'jiffy' a hack was carry
ing me across the bridge.
Beaver is without doubt, the most beau
tiful little town on earth. The home of
Senator Quay is veritable paradise. The
rain was pouring good and hard when l
pushed myself around to the senator
home. Within a minute 1 was ushered into
the library of the house. And l want to
say right here that there are few better
private libraries in the United States. While
waiting for the senator to come to me 1
made a tour of the shelves, and l found
many volumes that were rare and not a
few that would be hard to find in the public
Libraries of the country.
But to go with the story. Senator
Quay knew me well; l had met him in
Washington and in state and national con-
ventions. He was glad to see me. Wanted
to know If l had encountered any difficulty
in reaching Beaver. Brought out cigar
think it was the largest cigar l ever saw
and We began to smoke and talk.
l knew that Senator Quay was a man
who couldn't be jollied,' yet 1 found it
necessary to~be as suave as possible and
try to lead him to the point where 1 could
ask more or less direct question. Finally
l thought the point had been reached and ]
fired at him one of the important questions
that my managing editor had intrusted to
me.
THE senator took a long draw at his big
cigar and said
lightful time OF my life. The fishing up in
Maine is fine, and he went on with a
lengthy dissertation on the merits of out
door sport i'll the state he had just come
from.
THE conversation went on. Finally, ]
plugged another question at him.
Yes he said, 'one find almost any
kind of hunting in the woods of Maine;
and, do you know, near the cottage where
l was staying
And he went on to tell me a pleasing
story about the conditions up in Maine.
Finally l said to him:
Senator, am aware that you had a
good time You look it. Your physical
condition shows it. There is everything to
conviance me that the fishing and hunting
is excellent. But tell me, what connection
has all this with the information l came
over here for
Smiled and Said Nothing.
Senator Quay smiled.
"I haven't a word to say about the
Pittsburg ripper; not word
g I didn't expect you would have said.
But l continued, the only reason that l
am here is to have the assurance that no
other paper in Pittsburg shall get talk
with you for publication on the subject
You are perfectly safe said the sena-
tor
Just then a little grandchild, ready for
bed came rushing into the room to bid
good night to her grandfather.
Senator Quay was up in an instant. He
caught the child in his arms and pressed
the young face to his own. The little thing
ran away to her mother.
THE senator turned to me and said:
What do 1 care about municipal rippers
with the happiness that l get here?
But the story that l wanted to tell was
how the great Pennsylvania politician
avoided answering my questions. OF all
men whom 1 have interviewed Senator
Quay gave me the greatest study. An al
most complete change in municipal govern
menr in Pittsburg had taken place, without
question at his dictation, or, at least, with
his consent, yet it was nothing to him. The
unkind words of opposition papers did not
disturb him.
But it was a pleasant evening in Senator
Quay's home. And 1 learned more about
the man in the hour that I was with him
on that occasion than on all the other pre-
vious times put together