The New International Encyclopædia/Quay, Matthew Stanley

QUAY, kwā, Matthew Stanley (1833-1904). An American politician, born in Dillsburg, York County, Pa. He graduated at Jefferson College in 1850, studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1854. During the Civil War he was successively assistant commissary-general of the State, colonel of the 134th Pennsylvania Regiment, State military agent at Washington, and military secretary to the Governor. He was a member of the Legislature from 1865 to 1867; was Secretary of State for Pennsylvania from 1872 to 1878; was Recorder of Philadelphia from 1878 to 1879; was again Secretary of State from 1879 to 1882; was elected State Treasurer in 1885; and was chosen United States Senator in 1887. He was for years the most influential of the Republican politicians in Pennsylvania, and also took a very active part in national politics. In 1888 he was chairman of the Executive Committee of the Republican National Committee, and as such conducted the successful Presidential campaign of that year. He was reëlected to the Senate in 1893, but failed to succeed himself in 1899, because of a deadlock which lasted throughout the session of the Legislature. His failure was partly due to an accusation that he had been instrumental in the misapplying of public funds. After he had been acquitted he was appointed Senator ad interim by the Governor, but the Senate refused to recognize the appointment. He was, however, nominated to succeed himself by the Republican State Convention, and in 1901 was reëlected for the term to expire in 1905. In 1902-03 he attracted attention by his championship of the admission of New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Arizona to Statehood, and by his opposition to the Panama Canal Treaty.