Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-13

tdlICu ~ IcN bI us ul lnt IldGIlSDuTS 'lOn
with his recollections Of senator Quay. lie
said
Most Wonderful Man"
quay was the most wonderful man
have ever known. lie understood men
thoroughly. lie never gave orders. lie
had no regard for money save as q means
to an end. There were times in his life
when lie was ponnilcss. lie was entirely
without vanity. He had certain veins Of
superstition. once in Florida "A rattlesnake
crcpt out from hole threw stone at
it. lie checked me and told me never to
strike a snake. Then he explained to me
that once II long while ago the Scmnolcs
and the rattlesnakcs. after long hostilitics
made treaty Of peace No Seminolc will
ever strike rattlcsnake, and no snake
since has bitten "A Seminole. L never strike
n snake said he. and don't you do it,
an the summer of 1895 tried to prevail
on him not to begin his struggle with Gov
ernor Hastings, ! pointed out to him that
lie was firm in his scat in the Senate for
several years, that IIastingss strength
would wane as his term nearcd its end
that the Mayors of Philadelphia and Pitts.
burSh and the corporations at that time
were hostile. lie said to me: There is
no fault in your reasoning, but ! must
make the fight. I often discard my reason
and follow my intuitions.'
'He took me down to ST. Lucie. in Flor
ida. with him several times. There he en-.
tertained the Earl OF Newcastle and his
brother. Lord Hope. lie was an admirable
host While there was never any ostcnta.
Sh nf at 1,n .I,,
saw to it that his guest had the best boat
and the best fishing tackle and the pleas.
ant seat on one occasion, while we were
fishing together at Atlantic City. a man Of
some distinction asked to go along. Are
you good sailor? II is apt to be rough
out there, and when we are once anchored
we have to stay the Senator quietly sug.
gested. The man came in a white shirt
and after the boat had been fixed about
seven miles out, Ben Sooy went back 10
the shore. ErelonG the man with the
white shirt lay on the broad of his back
in the bottom OF the boat. stretching and
Sasping while the fish were being thrown
all over him. Damn him. said the Sena-
tor, he ought to have had sense enough
not to come out here
"On another occasion, at Atlantic CITY.
he said to Sooy: Ben. l will give YOU ten
dollars If you will jump into the sea- In
an instant Sooy was overheard We threw
him rope. The Senator drew knife
ana SAID: Ben, give up those ten dollars
and | will not cut this rope 4 will swim
to China for ten dollars said Sooy. All
laughed and drew him in.
An Incident in Florida
Another time we were fishing in Florida.
The large, powerful fish darpon) had to be
exhausted before being taken into the
boat. We had lost several from the lines
while playing with them. The Senator
said: i intend to draw the next fish
straight to the boat and he did. 1t was n
dangerous proceeding. When it came near
the Senator called Ben, gaff that fish
Sooy struck it, and in an instant tho hor-
poon and fish were up in the air. and soov
was battling with the waves Ouov he,,od
INN into the boat, whereupon, disgusted
he shouted. II any damn fool wants am
other fish harpooned, he may do il him
| self
Turning to mel "IIe was very fond q,
you ana proud OF what you accomplished
was at MOTEL in Washington one eve.
''i'S WIN SuaS' ieIrose, Durham Larry
| Eyre and John p. Elkin, and we had baen
discussing for several hours PENNSYLVANIA
anairs. All Of them except Eyre and my.
| SELF retired to an inner ROOM Il had beer
assumed everywhere that Elkin was to he
the nominee for the sovernorship, and everv
thing lo2ted favorable. When they cam.
| out Quay had been drinking some, and
| ordered a carriage and went home with
him, On the way he was silent, but finally
said TO me: The old man is not dead
yet. Fleitz: you stick to me and Won will
come out all right He repeated the words
| | knew that something had occurred In
the room, and feared for Elkin. 4 few
weeks later he sent word to Elkin To coma
to ST. Lucie, and there told him he could
not be the nominee for Governor.
II have often seen him drink. I never
saw him so under the influence OF liauor
that 1t affected either his head or his
walk. He had "A peculiar way of drinking
| During 2 campaign-perhaps for a wear
he would not touch a drop. lie had ab.
solute self-contlol He would pour out tbs
liquor for his guests, and sit among them.
his own glass empty After the campaign
was over he would go away and drink
always thought TO get rid OF the nervous
anxiety"
Tomorrow Governor Pennypseker sketches Wu
brsse. Former British x%bas.adso.rs ds.s9m 3, s snd yswss
| states. N'T'