The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1902-05-29
THE WILL OF THE BOSS
ouay's Domineerlne Tactics Shown Up
In True Colors.
philadelphia Times.)

philadelphia Times)
In all the history OF Republican in.
stitutions il may be doubted If sit
nation ever was presented exactly
parallel with that existing in Penn.
sylvania today. 1t is the most won
derful exhibition of the power of the
boss" that even this state has seen
under the long developing system of
which Senator Quay is the consum-
mate exponent.
The people of Pennsylvania are
about to elect a governor and the Re-
publican party, of which Senator
Quay is the head, is to nominate a
candidate. This Is to be done, as
usual, by means Of the organization, F"
which acts under the direction of the
central authority, and the machinery
was early put in motion to nominate
the designated candidate in due form.
While this is going on Senator Quay
r. persuaded that another candidate
would be more agreeable to some of
his friends and he abruptly counter
mands the orders. He does not say
what other candidate he prefers. He
simply directs the Republicans of the
state that they are not to elect any
more delegates for Elldn, but are to
elect delegates who will hold them
selves subject to his further instruc-
tons. He will tell them for whom to
vote when he is ready. They are by
no means to exercise any choice of
their own.
This may not differ in result from
the old plan of electing delegates in
structed for local favorites, with a
view to the transfer of their votes at
the convention, but that plan, at least
maintained the appearance of some
freedom of choice. All this pretense
is now cast aside. Mr.. Quay's present
orders are, in effect that the delegates
to the convention shall be chosen
with the understanding that they will
do whatever he shall tell them. They
are not to be instructed for Elkin, MOI
for another; they are to be instructed
for X, an unknown quantity. BY this
means the entry of any individual
candidates into the contest is to be
prevented. There is to be no oppor
tunity for any man to make himself
Or his qualifications known. The
choice is to be left entirely to Quay.
This demand is put forward with
out disguise. Mr.. Quay does not pre-
tend that the convention is to choose
the candidate; he merely says thai
he has not yet determined upon who
the candidate shall be. He is exam
ming the various applicants, but will
not announce his decision until the
near approach of the convention
which will then officially ratify hi
choice. Strange as it may appear, thu
only earnest objection to this auto
cratic assumption comes from thu
friends of the candidate whose who'll
claim is based upon the fidelity witt
which he has represented Quay and hi
system. Elkin has been one of tn,
chief instruments of the machine il
applying discipline to insurgents
ripping" out one man to put in an
sther, and he has no logical ground ol
which to protest when the ripping il
applied to him. The wonderful fea
.ure OF Jne SITUATION is JnaJ hepuDl
,ans who profess to be opposed to tn
machine methods acquiese in this in
solent despotism and are preparing t
take their orders from Quay, as thoug
ne alone was the Republican party II
Pennsylvania-as apparently he is.
If ever there is to be any politica
independence in this community,
must be won by the absolute separs
ton of all self-respecting people fror
this whole infamous system and tn
defeat of whatever candidates ma
represent it, whether they be person
ally good or bad. Stone and Elkin bt
came obnoxious because they obeye
Quay's orders in contempt of publ
morality. Now he coolly throws thei
aside and demands that he be allowe
to select other tools at his own col
venience. And, what is most a
founding, he is praised and upheld
this by Republicans who have her,
tofore posed as reformers and no
scamper to get under the Quay un
orella.