Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1911-08-26
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
The Sight That SiCkened an
Upright Senator
By Holland.

In the summer of 1894 a committee
Of the United States Senate. of which
Senator George Gray of Delaware was
chairman, spent several weeks in in
vestigating accusations publicly made
that members Of the Senate during
the consideration of the so-called VIII
son tariff bill. had speculated in the
securities OF the American Sugar Re
aiming Company, commonly called the
sugar trust.
The sugar schedule in the Wilson
tariff bill occasioned prolonged and
excited discussion In the Senate. Some
Senators were in favor of reducing the
tariff on raw sugar to nominal point,
while many other Senators favored in
creasing the rate; and while the dis
cussion was in progress the accusation
was publicly made that various Sena-
tors had been specializing in sugar,
and so specializing that their votes
upon the sugar schedule would favor
ably affect their venture into the stock
market.
In the course Of the investigation by
the Senate into the truth Of these ac-
cusations it was suggested that every
Senator be called before the commit
tee and made to testify under oath
whether or not he had been specu-
lating in sugar at any time during
the tendency Of the tariff bill. This
was done, and every Senator testified,
and every one, with a single excep-
ton. denied having directly or indi-
rectly speculated in the securities of
the sugar company. The one excep-
ton was the late Senator Matthew
Stanley Quay of Pennsylvania, who
frankly and courageously testified that
he had speculated, adding that he
had closed his speculative accounts
before the Senate had voted upon the
sugar schedule.
Some weeks after the close of the
investigation 1 met the late William
p Frye. Senator from Maine, and he,
knowing that had been among others
summoned before the investigating
committee to give testimony and had
been indicted for refusing TO tell the
committee from whom I obtained the
information on which I based my
newspaper letters accusing Senators
OF specializing in sugar, began Of his
own accord a conversation with me
upon that subject.
Il have always like Matt Quay per-
sonally," said Senator Frye. although
when / first knew of him must con-
fess that I knew that he would go a
1eetle' farther in political management
than I was willing to go when / was
chairman of the Republican State COM
mittee in Maine; you may remember
that / succeeded Mr.. Blaine as chair
man Of that committee. However, that
is neither here nor there; what / wani
to say to you now is that Quay gained
my unbounded respect and admiration
when he appeared before the sugar
committee and in reply to the question
whether or not he had been speculat
ing in sugar securities frankly ant
bluntly told the committee that he had
1t is my opinion that there is toda,
! not a member of the Senate who doe
not entertain for Quay a higher feel
ing of respect because had the cour
age to give that truthful testimon.
than he ever felt for him before.
And / want to add" went on tn
man who was for so many years presi
dent pro TEN. of the Senate, an
throughout his long public career wa
/, greatly esteemed by the public for hi
integrity of purpose and character, "
| want TO add that it made me sick a
heart to see several Senators go befor
, that committee and deliberately per
I lure themselves, though they knew ful
r well that members of the committe
{ and other Senators were fully awar
e that they had been specializing
4 sugar. I haven't yet been able TO &c
h rid of the feeling that this is one {
the most pitiable exhibitions eve
T made of the sort of depravity whic
! men who are in politics and who al
o seeking to make money at the sam
time are so likely to sink into"
; Copyright, 1911, by p. j. Edward
= All rights resrvd)
O On Monday Mr.. Edwards will te
ala 4. H.,..n..a Dat En..s.I