The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-12-14
The Gauntlet Thrown Down.

After enduring in silence for many
months the attempts of his political
opponents to poison the public mind
by false representations of his private
character Senator Roies Penrose has
at last concluded that patience has
ceased to be a virtue. The arrest last
week, at Senator Penrosc's instigaton,
of one JaCoby, an evangelist upon a
charge of criminal libel, is simply the
skirmish shot of a general engagement
which this grossly abused man and his
friends in all parts of the state propose
acy of character assassination of which
he has been the central victim.
1t has been known for some time that
n branch of the Wanamaker senatorial
organization has been flooding the
clergymen and leading church men,
bers of the state with letters and circu-
lars charging Senator Penrose with be-
ing an atheist. a drunkard and a de-
bauchee. In some instances men like
this itinerant evangelist, Jacoby. have
been employed to conduct personal can
vases of Christian pastors, Sunday
school superintendents and other
church officials. with view to secur-
ing a concert of church forces hostile
to Penrose and favorable to Wana-
maker. Under oath before Justice Will
lis Wall at Doylestown on Friday
morning. Dec. II, Senator Penrose, in
referring to the Jacoby charges as out
lined in a certain circular, said: Il
emphatically deny the allegations OF
this man. / received a letter from
Rev. F.. A. Rook with a copy Of the
circular. 1t charged me with being
an atheist, immoral and unfit for hold
ing public office: it is absolutely false,
a lying publication without a founda-
ton to support it. ! am always glad
to meet this issue and always will be. "
Mr.. PenrOse may or may not be elect
ed United States senator. Charges of
tls character. shrewdly spread broad
cast by factional opponents on the eve
IF the last mayoralty convention in
Philadelphia caused his defeat for
that office, although soon afterward
when the facts became known. there
was reaction in public sentiment
typified by the election of Grove for
sheriff over Ashbridge. the candidate
of PenrOse's enemies, and by the writ
ten Endorsement of Penrose's senatorial
candidacy by majority of the repre-
sentatives of Philadelphia county in
the state Legislature. 1t may be that
the poison which Wanamaker's lieu
tenants are now injecting into the pres
ent canvass against Penrose will sec
ond time cause his sacrifice. Bu,
should this prove true, how will it leave
the Hon. John Wanamaker?
Mr.. Wanamaker poses as a Christian
gentleman. He is conspicuously the
exponent of moral forces. He not only
lets others praise him, but he also
through State Senator Kaufman
stands convicted of buying up country
newspapers so that his pre-eminent
goodness may receive due publicity
through the instrumentalty of his Owr
literary bureau. More than this. He
is known to have furnished the means
wherewith certain of his lieutenants
have borne the campaign expenses OF
candidates for the legislature. upon the
written condition that if elected they
would vote for Wanamaker for senator
AS many as eight specific instances OF
this are known: in one case the mem.
ber approached has made public hi.
affidavit as to the entire process of the
negotiation.
If Penrose is the bad man Wana.
maker says he is--a supposition which
Penrose himself vigorously denies
how does Wanamaker's course leave
Wanamaker? Is the next senator from
Pennsylvania TO be an arrant hypo
critic?
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