Quay, Matthew Stanley, 1833-1904

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-05-28

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Recipient

Penrose, Boies, 1860-1921

Maude E. Mosher writes to Theodore Roosevelt to help her family with their financial troubles. Mosher grew up in Beaver, Pennsylvania, where her father, John B. Young, was a famous lawyer. In 1888, she married Lemuel L. Mosher, also a lawyer. They purchased land in Wagoner, Oklahoma, where they are raising their five sons. Mosher hopes to keep her sons employed at home, to prevent them from getting involved with drinking and smoking. They are $700 behind on their mortgage, and Mosher is hoping Roosevelt can help them. She lists several prominent politicians and judges, who can vouch for her family’s good character, that Roosevelt can consult.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-27

William Allen White, editor of the Emporia Gazette, expresses his hurt at President Roosevelt criticizing him to Kansas Representatives Philip Pitt Campbell and Charles F. Scott for supporting Senator Robert M. La Follette. Roosevelt’s criticism was based on White’s having invited La Follette to Kansas to fight the railroad interests and the senatorial candidacy of Charles Curtis. White likens the situation to that of Roosevelt working with Tammany Hall operative Patrick Divver and with Pennsylvania Senator Matthew Stanley Quay. In each case, White notes, Roosevelt was working to achieve a good end, while differing greatly with the other person on politics. White asks Roosevelt to withhold judging him for working with La Follette and to not become directly involved with the political fight in Kansas.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-02

Several articles from the Commercial Advertiser are highlighted. They discuss the “terrible” precedent that President Roosevelt set by inviting the African American educator Booker T. Washington to dinner, and criticize Congress for its conduct during the most recent legislative session.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-03-04

Several newspaper articles from The Commercial Advertiser primarily pertaining to New York state politics.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-09-11

President Roosevelt writes to Joseph Bucklin Bishop about the Pennsylvania Coal Strike. He criticizes the mine operators as lawless, but is also wary of the disorder that can come about from a large number of idle workers. Roosevelt also comments on the press’s attacks on himself and on the role of government intervention.  

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1902-10-13

Samuel W. Pennypacker, governor of Pennsylvania, wearing a fools’ cap, tries to block the light of “Publicity” with a sheet of paper labeled “Pennsylvania Gag Law.” The light from a lantern held by a hand labeled “Press” is exposing Matthew S. Quay, a senator from Pennsylvania.

comments and context

Comments and Context

One of the great episodes in the history of political cartooning in America occurred in 1903, and is largely forgotten today… but might repeat itself if circumstances align. Governor Samuel Pennypacker of Pennsylvania had been annoyed by gibes from two former New York City cartoonists in Philadelphia, Charles Nelan and Walt McDougall, then of the Philadelphia North American newspaper. The paper was Republican — later, in 1912, one of the most prominent papers to support Theodore Roosevelt in Republican primaries and thereafter — but recognized the state’s Republican political boss, Senator Matthew Stanley Quay, and his cousin the governor, as corrupt. It was their cartoons of Pennypacker as a parrot, repeating the words of Quay, that were especially nettling.

Seven men dressed as Roman senators are labeled “T.C. Tillman, Lodge, Stewart, Morgan, Quay, [and] Hoar.” George F. Hoar is speaking to the others while pointing at a diminutive President Roosevelt standing in their midst. Caption: Senator Hoar’s Decree–Hereafter, when he wants to talk, let him ask us and say “please.”

comments and context

Comments and Context

At the time of this cartoon, Senator George Frisbie Hoar of Massachusetts was having one of his perennial dust-ups with President Roosevelt. Their intra-party clashes had begun in 1889, when Roosevelt was appointed to head the Civil Service Commission. Roosevelt always considered Hoar to be honest and acknowledged him as distinguished, but in private correspondence referred to him as a silly and self-absorbed Mugwump. Hoar, a Republican, was nevertheless an ardent anti-imperialist, and in this context he took up the cause of Apolinario Mabini, Filipino insurrectionist. Old and feeble, Mabini was nevertheless denied return to the Philippines from exile unless he declared allegiance to the American-backed administrations there. Hoar was a thorn in Roosevelt’s side on the issue, and the senator went public with his disdain for the young president. In Pughe’s cartoon, one of the senate’s leaders, observing the denigration of Roosevelt was Hoar’s fellow senator from Massachusetts — Henry Cabot Lodge, probably Roosevelt’s closest friend.

“Senator Clark,” of Montana, with a bag of money hanging at his side, and “Senator Quay,” of Pennsylvania, on the right, with an iron bar labeled “Political ‘Jimmy'” hanging at his side like a sword, point at each other and laugh. The U.S. Capitol is in the background.

comments and context

Comments and Context

Senators William A. Clark of Montana and Matthew S. Quay of Pennsylvania, Democrat and Republican, respectively, were two of the most odious politicians in a time of widespread political corruption. Quay was a long-time Republican “boss” in Pennsylvania and bragged about rigging elections. As Benjamin Harrison’s manager in 1888, he invented a system whereby Indiana voters in blocks of five cast multiple votes in different polling places. In New York State he outmaneuvered the Democrats’s schemes. Harrison lost the popular vote to Grover Cleveland but won the electoral-college vote, thanks to the tally in a few states like Indiana and New York. William A. Clark of Montana became one of the richest men in America thanks to lucky strikes in gold and copper mines, and resultant business activities. At the time of this cartoon, United States senators were still elected by state legislatures, not popular votes. Despite widespread bribery and “financial contributions” attendant on senatorial elections, at the time of Dalrymple’s cartoon Clark and Quay were hampered by investigations into their “purchases” of senatorial seats. Both overcame their challenges, hence the cynical celebration depicted here.

Puck points to a group portrait of Matthew Quay, standing on the left, Richard Croker, seated in center, and Senator Platt, standing on the right — political bosses of, respectively, Pennsylvania, New York City’s Tammany Hall, and New York State. Puck sarcastically asks Yale president Arthur Twining Hadley why these gentlemen do not measure up to his ideals for politicians.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1900-01-24

Secretary of State Hay can inform Senators Matthew Quay and Boies Penrose that Smith will be promoted as soon as possible.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-09-08

President Roosevelt reports to Secretary of State Hay on various concerns and wishes that Senator Matthew Stanley Quay has regarding personnel changes in the diplomatic service.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-11-09

George B. Cortelyou informs Attorney General Knox that, unless there are serious reasons to the contrary, President Roosevelt will accept Senator Matthew Stanley Quay’s recommendation of Judge Joseph Buffington.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-10-13

Theodore Roosevelt declines the request of Elizabeth Waters Quay’s friend to write a poem. He expresses concern for Quay’s husband, Richard, who is not well, but is glad to hear about Quay’s children. Roosevelt invites the family to his home if they are ever in New York. Roosevelt also tells Quay that he would be glad to autograph a photograph if she sends one.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-03-30

Senator Kean had spoken with President Roosevelt in the past about promoting Major Hugh Lenox Scott, but his promotion has been unfortunately delayed. Roosevelt has had trouble promoting men on merit rather than seniority, but believes that if Kean works with other senators on the Senate Committee on Armed Services, it may be possible to nominate Scott for a promotion.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-08-24

President Roosevelt explains the complex reasons he cannot appoint Senator Hale’s nominee, James Edmund Dunning, to the American Consulate in Milan, Italy, after all.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-03-06

President Roosevelt did not realize how interested Senator Platt was in the career of Aaron Homer Byington, United States Consul in Naples when he acted to assign Senator Matthew Stanley Quay’s brother to that post. Roosevelt offers to assign Byington to a choice of other Mediterranean posts. In a postscript, Roosevelt asks Platt to “let up on that delegate bill,” allowing Alaska a delegate.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-02-28

President Roosevelt thanks George Haven Putnam for his letter, but wants to correct him on one point. Roosevelt explains he has dealt with senators like Matthew Stanley Quay not because they made him president but because he wanted to succeed in his policies by working with prominent men in the Republican Party. The president says that the results of the presidential election will not make any real change in his attitude toward them. Roosevelt also explains confidentially he is trying to do all he can regarding the tariff revision and reciprocity.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-15

President Roosevelt writes to Senator Penrose about the appointment of Robert John Wynne as Postmaster General.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-10

President Roosevelt sends his condolences to Boies Penrose on the passing of Senator Quay.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-05-28