The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1904-06-02
SENATOR NJ. S. QUAY
DIED LAST SATURDAY
At His Home In Beaver. Pa. After
Months Of Suffering.
HAD A STORMY POLITICAL CAREER
He Was a Close Personal Friend of
President Roosevelt-In Politics
Since 1854, When He Was Elected
to State Legislature.

Col. Matthew w. Stanley Quay Sc
nior senator from Pennsylvania, whose
death occurred at Beaver, Pa on Sat
urdav afternoon, had one of the stor.
niest political careers of any man in
public life. In recent years he was
/ fighting for what he desired and
fighting to keep what was his. And
in every battle he was victor. Time
and again he was seemingly defeated
/ but only to rise more powerful than
I ever.
He was an intensely practical poll
tlclan and the course he pursued af-
ter he came into national politics was
the same as that which had made him
power in the political field in his
own state.
His political career began with his
election to the state legislature in
October, 1864 From the very first
he occupied a prominent position in
the Legislature and was reelected in
the fall of 1865.
During these years he was advanc-
ing steadily in political prestige. In
1866 he was secretary of the Republic
can State Committee and was there
after recognized as the guiding spirit
in politics in Beaver County. In, Jan
uary, 1878, he was chosen by Cover
nor Hartranft to be secretary of the
commonwealth, and held that office
for five years.
AT the beginning of 1878 Quay re-
signed the position of secretary of
the commonwealth to accept the ap-
pointment asrecorded of PHILADELPHIA
a lucrative position created for him
| by special legislation. He held this
office less than 10 months. Colonel
Quay was then chosen chairman of
the Republican State Committee. and
conducted a successful campaign. He
then retired from the Craftsmanship,
and was appointed by Governor Hoyt
in January, 1879. to has former posi-
/ ton as secretary of the common
wealth.
Matthew s. Quay came into nation
al prominence in the third term
movement of 1880, engineered by Sen
ators Conkling, Cameron and Logan.
The Pennsylvania Republicans start
ed the Grant boom by a convention
held in Harrisburg, February 4. At
this convention Colonel Quay was the
controlling spirit, as the agent of
Senator Cameron, yet his name does
not appear as taking any part in the
proceedings. His work was done as
in all the years since he attained
political power, in the secret coun-
ellis of the leaders before and during
the sessions of the public assemblage.
The Pennsylvania delegation was
instructed for Grant by vote of 1873
to 113, and the unit rule was adopted
by reclamation. The delegates-at-
large were Matthew S. Quay. James
McManus, Lynn Bartholomew and c..
l.. Magee.
In 1884 Colonel Quay yielde d to the
pronounced popular sentiment in
Pennsylvania and headed Blaine
delegation to the national convention.
Pennsylvania gave Blaine plural
| ity of $1,000, which under the existing
conditions, was considered splendid
record.
In 1885 there was still some grumb-
ling against Quay's leadership, and
to vindicate his position he decided to
become candidate before the people
for the Office of state treasurer.
AT the state convention Quay was
nominated on the first ballot, receiv-
ing 1895 votes, for "a for all other can
didates and he was elected by a plu-
rality of 1876, the largest given, up
to that time, any candidate for state
treasurer.
Quay becomes state treasurer in
January, 1856, and continued his pre-
decessor, Livsey, as chief deputy. At
that time Livsey enjoyed the conf
dence of all who knew him. In this
year General Beaver was again nomi-
mated for governor. Colonel Quay
gave his especial attention to the ell
ection of members of the legislature.
He decided that the time had come
to realize his ambition to become a
member of the United States Senate.
In this he received the assistance of
Senator Cameron.
Beaver was elected.governor by 49,
900 votes over Chauncey F. Black and
the legislature was Republican by