The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1904-06-30
QUkY'S LAST FIGHT
In Interesting Incident Of the Historic
Statehood Struggle In tie
Sena.e.
WHIPPED TO A STkEDSTILL"

Congressman Charles @. Landrs Gives
the True Inwardness CT Notable Bout
Between the Late Senator Quay ana
Senator Ls~sridqe.
Senator Days death has brought
out many stories d the great Pena
sylvania politician but oone Is more
interesting than one told BY Repre-
sentative Charles B Lands OF Delphi
about the now historic statehood strug-
gle between Quay and Senator Bevsr.
tdge OF Indiana Mr. Lands story has
some additional interest from The fact
that II appeared in the last issue OF the
Indianapolis Journal
Speaking of Senator Quay" said
Representative Lands at the Column.
bia Club reminds me that the only
real defeat Quay ever suffered during
tie eight years have been In congress
was at the hands OF Senator Beveridge-
Our junior senator tackled Quay and
whipped him to a standstill. He not
only did that but he made Quay admit
that he was whipped.
1T was when the bill for the admis-
sion Of Oklahoma. New Mexico and
Arizona to statehood was up for con-
sideration. Quay had all sorts of in
terests In New Mexico and Arizona.
including railroads, mines and ranches
and after planting some senatorial
seed which he thought would grow and
ripen about the time statehood came
along. he arranged for a unanimous
report from the house committee on
territories of bill admitting the three
territories. 1t was called the omnibus
bill. and II did not take long for the
leaders to discover that the bill se'
going through the house on a ga
The way had been prepared for >.
Quay having planned it all. He knew
his power in the senate, and did not
think for q moment there would be any
opposition there.
Beverage was chairman of the
committee on territories. He held the
bill back. and when Quay requested a
report Beverage replied that the COM
mittee was not ready to report. that
the committee had not had time to
give the matter the consideration IL
demanded. Quay was fairly consumed
with indignation. He was accustomed
to having his own way. and the mere
thought of young senator like Bev-
eridge standing In his path and shak-
ing his flst In his face almost crazed
him. Quay went to Florida for two
months. returned in the midst Of
warm weather. as congress was about
to adjourn. and coolly announced that
his statehood bill would pass OF there
would be no adjournment Beveridge
replied: All right we will stay here
all summer And for several days
there was as interesting a parliament
tary contest as has ever been seen I'm
congress. Quay was mad. downright
mad. He could not conceal his anger.
Beverage never lost his head He was
Difference personified and the senate
never before realized into what grace
full sentences senatorial courtesy could
be weaved until Beveridge got to as
surfing Quay of his esteem, his frie -
ship. his affection, his love, his ev
thing-except his consent that
statehood bill should pass.
when the fight started not one per-
son in fifty in Washington but thought
Beverage was walking through a
slaughter house to an open grave
Quay could not stand a summer cam
paign. and so truce was agreed on
and the bill went over to the next 5
sion, with the understanding that it
should have the right of way Con-
gress adjourned and Beveridge put i'm
the summer loading up. He visited
the territories and amassed a fund of
information that was astonishing. In
addition he studied the history of the
admission of all the states to the IN
Ion. packed his mind with facts and
when the next session opened was
ready. So was Quay. Day after day
the contest went on. The Democrats
favored statehood. knowing the three
territories promised to be Democratic,
and that meant six additional sena-
tors. They few to the assistance Of
Quay. Beverage did not Seem to need
help. Indeed. the older Republican
senators. who had seen Quay do 20
many things in a roughshod way md
with an irCn hand. appeared to re -
silently at the plight of the boss. *
had boasted of never having lost .
battle.
II have seen Beverage engaged In
that contest with a half-dozen oppon-
ents at one time and clean them out
beautifully. put then out of business
like trained athlete boxing with ANA
tours His conduct was simply a de-
light to Colonel Pete Hepburn. the
most masterful debater in public life.
His undying admiration Beverage won
by that fight The contest held the
boards during the entire session. Quay
demanding an immediate vote. or that
day be set for vote. and Beyeridge
insisting on further time for delibsa-
ton. consideration and discussion.
Beverage had but one goal toward
which he fought and that was to night
on a vote. for he knew he was IN
hopeless minority. have never
seen greater victory won In the SEN
ate None who was not a consummate
parliamentarian and tactician could
have won 1t 1t was q victory for en-
durance. courage and industry. II was
Quay's last fight. He never mustered
courage to mike another. In that fight
Beverage made history. But for him
New Mezico and Arizona would Zach