Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1902-02-20

Building at the Charleston Exposition.
from the hands of the contractors to
the state commissioners, will be MADE
this week. There was some delay in
the completion Of the building, but as
the exposition was not in shape In
some respects at the official opening OF
the show, the tardiness of the con-
tractor on the Pennsylvania building
was not matter Of serious moment.
The facts were that the contractor
has lost money on the operation. He
knew he would after he got the work
under way, and therefore did not have
his heart in the matter to the extent OF
pushing the building to early compile
ton. There were three bids received
for the work and the contract went to
the lowest bidder He evidently made
d niscalculation and put his figures
much too low. The commissioners
have held him to the strict letter OF
the contract, however, and the build
ing is perhaps the finest state struc-
trre on the grounds, and the most
economically constructed. 1t is we'll
located and is certainly credit to the
commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Senator Grady, who is at the head
OF the state commission, with Auditor
General Hardenburgh and State Treas
urcr Barnett, will supervise the trans
fer of the custody of the building.
Senator Grady states that the attend
ance at the exposition has been con-
stantly increasing and that in talk
Wy rdv wi Uonorol n, NJ
the Southern Railway, a few days ago.
he was informed that much OF the
regular travel which goes to Florida
during this season of the year Is di-
vertcd to the Charleston Exposition
enroute, either going to or coming
from the south. George w. Boyd, gen.
eral passenger agent of the Pennsylva-
MIA railroad, says that the sale of
tickets to Charleston along the line of
the Pennsylvania railroad in this state
is exceeding their expectations and
that there has been large increase in
the travel since it has become known
that the exposition is now in splendid
shape.
Elaborate arrangements are being
made for Pennsylvania Day." which
will be observed at Charleston on April
10th Governor Stone and staff, mem
bers Of the state commission and many
Pennsylvanians interested in exhibits
and other displays at Charleston are
expected to be on hand on that occa-
sion. Pennsylvania manufacturers
and jobbers do large trade with the
south and the interest taken in this
exposition by Pennsylvanians has been
the subject Of many favorable COM
ments from newspapers published
throughout the south.
QUAY AT WORK ON HIS BOOK.
Since Senator Quay left for Florida
it has developed that he has already
started in to work upon his book Of
political "reminiscences and it prom
ises 10 be quite as notable an effort as
either of the works Of James G. Blaine
or General Grant. Senator Quay has
been intimately identified with Ameri-
can politics for many years and he
has attended every Republican nation
al convention during the last thirty
years and more, and in many OF them
he has been a very important factor.
His writings will cover events in over
forty years. AS military secretary to
War Governor Curtin and afterward as
an officer in the field and participating
in several engagements he can give
valuable information about that per-
iod. The reconstruction period and
the stirring political events which fol-
lowed, his own leadership of the Re-
publican national campaign, which re-
suited in the election of General Har-
rison to the presidency, will all be
referred to. In fact, it will be story
of inside political moves from the days
of Lincoln to those OF Roosevelt. The
history of the defeat of the Hanna
forces at the last Republican national
convention and the nomination of
Roosevelt for vice president by the
combinations made by Senators Quay
and Platt, would make an interesting
story were all the facts told. Senator
Quay is graphic and forcible writer
and anything from his pen would at
tract general attention.
There has been a great demand for
his speeches delivered during his can
vass for reelection to the United
States senate, which have been COM
piled in book form. 1t is believed that
Senator Quay will devote much Of his
time while in Florida mapping out his
work on the book.
Senator Penrose came over from
Washington to vote. He reports that
the opposition to the passage of the
Chinese exclusion act has been con-
stantly at work and aggressively 80,
but that he has reason to believe that
bill which will be satisfactory to the
workingmen OF the country will be
passed by this congress and signed by
President Roosevelt. The junior SEN
ator has been busy on committee work