Danville intelligencer. [volume] (Danville, Pa.) 1859-1907, 1905-12-22
A COR
RECTION.

~
n a statement in Colonel A. X.
McClure's "reminiscences in last
Sundays Press in which he thus
speaks of the Senatorial contest of
1899 in the Pennsylvania Legislature
and of the failure of fusion between
the Democrats and Independent Re-
publicans:
Quay had sufficient control OF the
Democratic leaders t. prevent the Demo-
Gratis from uniting with the Wanamaker
forces.
Again:
But for Quays control of the Democra-
tic leaders Wanamaker would Lave b en-
elected, as the Democrats could have fur
nished him the full number of votes re-
quired with the aid of his independent
followers; but although Wanamaker's s
battle had given many of the Democratic
members their election, Quay was able
to hold their leaders and thus prevent
the success of his opponents
This imputation upon the political
integrity as well as political good
sense of the Democratic leaders" of
Pennsylvania is made with so much
assurance that it ought to be support
ed by some proofs. But there is not
a leading Democrat who took part in
that contest whom the writer can
name as having been under the "con-
troll of Quay. This control of
the leading Democrats is myth
which was industriously propagated
with the connivance of the late Sena-
tor in order to increase his prestige
among his followers. 1t gave him a
fictitious credit for Il mysterious pow
er which he was far from possessing.
Like other myths of the sort, it
should be eXtirpated before it comes
to be accepted for history. There was
not a leading Democrat from the
Ohio to the Delaware with political
influence enough to revolutionize an
oyster cellar who can be named as
having been under the evil control of
Senator Quay in the contest of 1899.
The truth is that the leading Demo-
Gratis were anxious to effect fusion
with the Independent Republicans,
and would have accepted John Wana-
maker first, and after him Judge
Stewart, Judge Rice, Representative
Dalzell or any other prominent and
able Republican having no connection
with the Quay Machine. But, on
carefully canvassing the Democratic
membership of the Legislature they
found just enough crooked sticks to
prevent Il fusion. Some of these fol-
lowers, not leaders, who had been
plowing with the Machines heifer, re-
fused to vote for Republican, and
some of them declared that in case of
break they preferred Quay to any
Republican who could be named for
Senator. This was what defeated
fusion, while an attempt to accomp-
lish it then threatened the election Of
Quay.
This explanation would hardly be
worth the while but that the subject
has more or less relation to current
political events in Pennsylvania. The
Democrats who desired to effect Il
fusion with the Independent Republi-
cans in the Legislature of 1899 are
the same that formed the alliance with
them last November. They are the
same who are ready now to renew this
alliance in clse the Machine should
nominate decoy ticket for Governor
and other State officers in the next
Republican convention. 1t would,
therefore, greatly serve the ends of
the broken Machine if its Republican
enemies could be persuaded of the
perfidy of the Democrats in spite of
the pledges they have given of their
fidelity to the public cause. Colonel
Mcclure may be cheerfully acquitted
Of any such insidious design; butthis
Is the unmistakable tendency of his
sweeping though utterly groundless
imputation upon the political honor
and integrity of the Democratic lead
ers. As his interesting "reminiscences
are Intended for the instruction of
future generations, he will thank us
for this correction. -Phil'a. Record.
This is all very well Illuminated in
the picture presented by the Record
now, but in that year as well as sew
eral years later Gin like contests, } our
Democratic state leaders suffered false
reproach at the hands of majority of
the journalists and Others politically
inclined. Experience don't seem to
benefit all, and in these days we will
find an occasioned Judas; they we're
with the party in 1899, several years
later, today, and the future will still
find them in our ranks, but we must
not pick them out for examples. Col.
Mcclure had reference, no doubt, to
district leaders who were serving the
people in State politics, but beside
this while the INTELLIGENCER and a
fragmental portion of our party news
papers were upholding our State lead
ers, the majority were baking their
good works with uncomplimentary
and degrading stories of false doc
trines and selfish motives. Let us
hope to see a purer, more free, less
selfish support to good leadership in
the future.
General Passenger Agent Timmins.