Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-06-07
PENRosE AND QUAY,
Though the Antithesls Of Each
Other In Physical and Mental
Characteristics, They Had
Points In Common
BY GEORGE NOX MCCAIN


BY GEORGE NOX MCCAIN
NEXT to Matthew Stanley Quay.
~ Boies Penrose. up till the present
national convention, has been the most
imposing and picturesque PENNSYLVANIA
figure that ever attended a gathering to
a Republican chief magistrate
to preside over the galaxy Of states.
And each was the antithesis of the
other.
Quay was small, shriveled, sinuous
and secretivc.
Penrose was massive, towering. i'm
pressivc, dominant. outspoken and the
cynosure of all eyes as he propelled his
huge personality down the convention
aisle.
No matter when or under what cir
cumstances either one appeared on the
convention floor. he was sure to be
greeted with salvo Of applause and
cheers and craning of necks.
Never in a single instance do l recall
the slightest visible response of either
to these demonstrations. Once or twice
Penrose smiled and nodded in half
abashed way toward the members of his
own delegation when they grew particu-
larly effusivc and tumultuous on his
arrival.
Quay was as unresponsive to such
outbursts as a craven image or sun
baked brick.
THE one great ambition of Matthew
L Stanley Quay was to be considered
in connection with the presidency.
His ambition was gratifed, only par
tally, however. at the Chicago conven-
tion of 1896.
He had worked for months to create
a sentiment in favor Of his nomination
for President. He particularly aimed
ut controlling the Pennsylvania delega-
tion in his behalf.
He succeeded to the extent Of having
the Governor of the state, Daniel II.
Hastings, place his name before the
convention, but as for controlling the
delegation when it came to a vote his
hopes went glmmering.
1t was at this national convention
that the final break between Quay and
David Martin occurred.
MARTIN had worked along in fairly
Axl harmonious fashion with Quay.
The Old Man." as Quay was known
among state leaders. had named Martin
as national committeeman from Penn
sylvania in 1892.
When Quay caught the presidential
itch he found to his surprise that Mar
tin was not disposed to allay the irri-
tation. recall at the time that Martin
in a confidential talk told me that Quay
had not the ghost of n show for the
nomination. and that he MARTINI could
not sacrifice his self respect by boarding
leaky craft that was bound to founder
in the first gale.
Quay resented Martins s attitude. and
as he was all powerful with the ma =
tional committee. he had himself chosen
NJ national committeeman from Penn
sylvania in 1896 in place of the Phila
delphia leader.
THRIS. l.. MAGEE was Quay's only
~ rival in the western part of the
state. and Martin linked up with Magee
as against the gentleman from Beaver.
1t was with the utmost reluctance, as
personally know, that Governor Hast =
ings consented TO place Quay's name
before the convention.
Quay had made n number of demands
upon Hastings which the latter felt he
could not grant. When. however, Quay
through General Frank Reedcr, asked
Hastings to nominate him, Hastings
could not we'll decline.
1t was Immediately following the
convention of 1906 that the outbreak
occurred between Hastings and Quay
which recorded the high water mark OF
partisan bitterness in half century OF
political warfare in this state.
lust prior to the convention. and
81 after the delegation had assembled
in Chicago, Martin notified Quay that
he could not count upon the united sup
port Of the Pennsylvania delegation.
81 told Quay said Martin at the
time, that he would lose a good share
of the delegates, thought about TWEEN
ty seven in all. He wouldn't believ,
me and started to poll the delegation
He found that | was right" g."
The fact is that there were nineteer
votes in the delegation against Quay
and Martins was one of them. OuaN
kOl SiAtS anu a uull NOltS IOl
President.
MATTHEW STANLEY QUAY wa
AV1 not only pre- eminently shrewc
| politician. but he was almost abnor
mally crafty when craft became
needed asset at any particular moment
He was a deviser Of Stratagems.
Israel W. Durham used to say tha
L.. ll,,a, E.l,. i
wasn't for the sake OF the fish h
caught he went there because it af
forded him peace and quiet and oppor
tunity to evolve schemes for the defea
of his opponents.
Once detected in a bit of cunning o
piece of scheming. Quay never attempte
an excuse or offered an apology.
THE political warfare between Qua
l. and Governor Hastings had Il
origin as n matter Of temperament.
Quay was dictatorial and Hasting
was independent.
Hastings would have been Governo
four years before he reached that offic
if il had not been for Quay. Hasting
knew this, and after his great popula
ma iority in 1894 he felt still less unde
obligation to the senator.
/ shall never forget remark tn
Governor made shortly after it becam
apparent there was to be an outbrea
of hostlities,
He was aware that Quay mistruste
him. Months before the fracas starte
Quay let it be known that he antici
pated trouble with the Governor.
1T doesn't matter much what Sen