The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-02-06
OUAY-FORAKER
CONSPIRACY"
REASON FOR THEIR FIGHT FOR
STATEHOOD BILL.
Will the Reins of Power Slip from the
Hands Of the Present
Leaders.

Chicago, Feb. 3.-Walter Wellman,
in a Washington special to the Rec
ord-Herald, says: 'Behind the state
hood bill is a conspiracy to overthrow
the republican majority in the senate
and to set Matt Quay and Joe For
aker up as the real leaders of that
body"
So said one of the leading republi-
can senators. The senator was bit
ter. He is one of the coterie of a half
dozen men who in the past have come
very near to having things all their
own way in the upper branch, and
who are now in great distress because
of the danger that the reins of power
the hands of the men of their own
party who have dared question their
supremacy.
mot only is the omnibus statehood
scheme a bad one," continued this
senator, "but it is pressed upon Us
in a way which makes it impossible.
for us to assent to it. The question
whether or not the republican major
ity in the senate is to retain its con-
troll of that body or whether we are
to bow down to a coalition between a
| squad of republicans and the demo
| cratic minority is now a vastly more
important question than that of the
admission or rejection of the four
territories who are seeking statehood.
If the republican majority cannot rule
the senate, then we have come to a
pretty pass. If a handful of repub-
licans can form an alliance with our
political opponents and hold up all
! other business till the measure they
are interested in is passed, then our
whole system Of party government is
a failure. That is the real question
pending in the senate today, and it is
n which we must fight out to the
pltCCI Suu. 1 CAlIlh liz +IOpuOllSdAl
party is the responsible and dominant
power in the senate, and that no com-
bination of kicking republicans and
democrats will be allowed to over
throw it.
"Of course we all know what is be-
hind this scheme" continued the sen
ofop eft ic u nnnCnip0Hy horn in
hatred and c%upidity. Quay has a
grudge against Hanna because the
Ohio senator voted against his admis-
sion to the senate on the appointment
of the governor of Pennsylvania, and
as circumstances turned his vote de-
cided the issue against Quay. Quay
has never forgiven Hanna for that
and uses every opportunity to work
his eveng He found Hanna one Of
the leaders of the senate, in working
harmony with the republican side of
the chamber and opposed to the omni-
bus statehood bill. No n denies
that Hanna is opposed to it, because,
as the official head of the national
organization, he believes it his duty
to guard against the bringing in of
too many democratic senators and
presidential electors. Quay thinks
Hanna. He also wants to help some
of his friends out of their railroad
and other schemes, and to aid n OF
them in carrying out a bargain which
he has made with a view of getting in
to the senate"
'How does Foraker get into it,"
''That is Hanna again. Foraker,
really hates Hanna. He pretends he
doesn't, but we all know he does, His
feelings are reciprocated. There is
no love lost between the senators
from Ohio. Hanna has the upper
hand in the politics of the Buckeye
state, and Foraker is consumed with
jealousy. Quay knew all this, and
used it to get Foraker in with him on
the statehood scheme. Anything to
have a crack at Hanna. Another
trouble with Foraker is that he has
not been given as influential a place
iE the senate as he thinks he is en-
titled to, and now he has joined the
coalition which aims to show the old
wheel-horses of the party that. they
are no longer absolute masters. Ii
Quay and Foraker win this fight they
must become the real leaders of the
senate, and at any time that amy mem
bers of. the majority party want to
kick out and go over to the opposi-