Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-03
PATTISON IS STRONG,
As is Demonstrated BY His Easy Vic
tories and Splendid Records
in the Past.
HIS FEARLESS WORK AND WORDS
On Public Questions, Corporate Abuses,
Ballot Reform and Equaliza-
tiOn of Taxation.
HIS FEARLESS WORK AND WORDS
he is AGGRESSIVE AND PROGRESSIVE
And as an EIiminator Of Official Evils Can be
Relied Upon.

There are a few men of his age who have
contributed os much to the public service oI
the State as Robert E. Pattison. He was
born on the Sth of December, 1850, in Tuan.
tico, Somerset county. Nd. His father, Rev.
Robert h. Pattison, d. D., was Methodist
preacher, and soon after the birth of his son
was transferred to the Philadelphia Confer.
ence, where, under the watchful care of q
devout and devoted mother, the boy received
careful and conscientious training. The
Quaker City has always been mis- home. In
1870 he graduated from the Central High
School with honor. Immediately on the
consummation of this event he began the
study of law in the Office of the late Hon.
Lewis C. Cassidy.
Ii may be justly said of Robert E. Pattison
that he never wasted an opportunity.
While be was student at law he was an
active member first of the Fire Zouaves and
subsequently of the State Fencibles, and in
each of these organizations he was constantly
improving those faculties which subse-
quenly won him distinction. He was the
spokesman on 2 i social occasions, and made
such a reputation as to have succeeded the
late Colonel James Page as President of the
Fencibles a distinction which, at the time
and considering his age, was not the least OF
the compliments which have been conferred
on him.
ALWAYS A REFORMER.
While Mr.. Pattison always took deep
interest in politics, his first active work in
that field of usefulness was in connection
with the Reform Association during 1912
In September OF 1872 he was admitted to the
bar, and began the practice of law. In 1876
he was prominently mentioned for Clerk of
the Quarter Sessions Court, and in 1877 was
presented as the unanimous choice of the
Democrats OF Philadelphia for the office OF
Auditor General of the State But the
nomination went to another, and in the
same year Mr.. Pattison was nominated for
Controller of the city of Philadelphia. 1t
was not usual for that city to elect Demo-
Gratis, but Mr.. Patt1son had made so favora-
BILE an impression on the public that party
lines were broken down, and the Republican
candidate, James W. Savers, was defeate d
by majority of ], 962.
This was the beginning of an eventual and
useful public career. He at once inaBgu-
rated a thorough reform in the conduct of
the Office. His legal education and training
taught him that the office was quasi
judicial instead of clerical. With this in
mind he laid out a course of action which
served TO protect the people from the public
pIunderers who had been for years desDoiI.
ing them, and when the time for selecting
his successor arrived he had made SO favor
nbIe an impression that his denomination
was made by common consent.
DE opposing candidate was E. Harper
,JAies, a gentleman Of the highest charac-
ter, and notwithstanding that it was a
Presidential year-1SS0-Mr. Pattison was
elected by majority of 13, 593, while Presi-
dent Garfield had a majority of 20, SS3 over
General Hancock.
ELECTED GOVERNOR.
In 1882 the Republican party was dis
tracted by internal dissensions, and the
Democratic leaders were inspired with hope.
In this aspect of affairs the Democratic con-
veution met in June of that year to nomi-
nate a candidate for Governor. Several
names were presented, among them being
James H. Hopkins, of Pittsburg; Eckley
B. Coke, OF Luzerne; S. P. Wolverton, of
Northumberland county; Robert E. Mona
CHAN, of Chester, and others. The delegates
OF Philadelphia, with a practically unani-
nous voice, presented the name of Robert
E. Pattison. The record which he had made
as Controller of Philadelphia, and the rep
utation he had achieved as fearless, able
and faithful administrator OF public func-
tions made favorable impression on the
convention, and after sharp struggle he
was nominated. The contest was memo
rable one. Governor Pattison was elected
bv plurality OF 40, 2O2 votes over his prin-
cipal opponent, General james A. Beaver,
the Republican candidate.
Governor Pattison'S Inauguration on the
third Tuesday Of January, 1882, was the
beginning of a new era in the State of
PENNSYLVANIA. He soon drove from the
Capitol the agencies of corruption and the
elements of evil. From ithe beginning of
his administration be was hampered at
every step. Though the popular branch of
the Legislature had a majority in accord
with his political views, the State Senate
stood as an intrenchmenr for the opposi-
tion. Agents of monopoly filled the seats
and controlled the proceedings of the body,
and they were vigilant and earnest in the
work of their masters. But Governor Patti
son set his face against every form OF official
venalitv and resisted every step in che d.
rection of corporation usurpation. 1t was
an irrepressible conflict, but tue archives of
the State serve as abundant evidence of his
success.
HONOR IN ALL PLACES.
Governor Pattison retired from Office on
the 18th of January, 1887, and carried with
him into private lie the confidence and re-
spect of all his fellow citizens. He at once
directed himself to the affairs OF life, and
glided into professional practice so silently
that the transformation was unnoticed But
a man who had shown such marked parts
could not remain obscure long, and in 1888
L tod hu
the head OF the commission to investigate
the Union Pacific Railroads.
His report on this question is among The
valuable contributions TO the statistical lit
erature of the country, and won for it's
author IN exalted plnce in the opinion of the
leading stat Iesmen, not only of his own party,
but all others.
Upon the completion of his work as the
head of the Pacific Railroad Commission
Governor Pattison returned to Philadelphia
and entered upon a new field of labor, In
which his success has been as marked as In
either Of the others. He was made President
OF the Chestnut Street National Bank and
the Chestnut Street Trust Company. Both
these concerns have net with phenomenal
success, and it is not invidious to say that a
considerable portion OF the success is attribu-
table to his administrative ability and in
tegrity.
HIS FIDELITY TO DUTY.
In all Of his official positions Mr.. Pattison
has shown that his distinguishing character
istic is fidelity to duty. His career is COM
plete exemplifcation of President CIeve-
lands famous aphoTism, that public Office
is public trust"
> He has always been aggressive a, m re.
former and has wrought great changes for
=.