The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-06-09
PENNSYLVANIA IS
 AFTER PRESIDENCY
Is Boosting Her Favorite Son,
 Philander Knox
HAS MADE GOOD START
First Asprant to Secure Full Endorse ment of Ills Home state-sec- retary Is Still a Formid-
 able Candidate.
BY j. R. HoRNApY.

bfs J. n. fOhNADI.
 Harrisburg, Pa. June S.-(Special)- Pennsyl0ania has not had President since Buchanan. Yet during all these years 1t has been as consistently repuh- lican as 1t has been corrupt, and now the faithful are of the opinion that the time has come for the national republican organization to recognize their fidelity by accepting as 1t nominee her favorite son. Philander Chase Knox. The Knox boom has been launched with all the steam that an enthusiastic state convention could put behind it and it is force that must be reckoned with by all persons having designs upon the presidential chair He Is the first among the long list of as- pirants to receive the unqualified backing of his home state, and is, therefore, the first to qualify for entering other states in persuit of delegates
 The Knox campaign will at once be car ried into New York and other eastern states, and while Taft, Cannon, Fair banks and probably few others, are struggling with the home situation, he will be putting In heavy strokes in neigh boring commonwealths. The Knox booni- CTS look with considerable confidence to New York. They know that the trusts and other big interests are not going 10 shy at Knox, despite the brave reference, in the resolutions of endorsement, to his attitude toward these institutions. Knox is one of the safest of the safe and san est of the sane, and none of the big in- terests will lose sleep over the possibility of his being an occupant of the White House. They are rather expected to do lot of quiet wire-pulling, and doubt less this expectation will be gratifed
 Presidents Endorsement.
 Opposition to Knox is not expected from Roosevelt, and much is being made of the latter's enthusiastic endorsement of the formers administration, while attor- ney general of the United States When Pennsylvania s magnificent monument to graft, otherwise known as the state capt- tol, was dedicated, Mr. Roosevelt was one of the speakers, and he fairly stopped over in praising Knox. He credited him with being the leader in the movement to secure adequate control of the great corporations, and the Presidents lan- guase is now being used by the Knox boomers as evidence of the claim that he Is the man best qualified to carry out the Roosevelt programme
 Is 54 Years old.
 Knox is 54 years of age. He was born in Pennsylvania and won renown as a corporation lawyer. His first public office was that of district attorney for the west ern district of Pennsylvania, to which he was appointed in 1876, one year after his admission to the bar He first became national figure when he was appointed attorney general of the United States by President Mckinley in 1901. He was reappointed to this office by President Roosevelt and served until appointed to the United States senate by Governor Pennypacker in 1904. He succeeded that wonderful statesman and 1uggler B. Quay. In 1905 he was elected by the eeis- lature and his term as senator does not expire until 19l1 Incidentally 1t might be mentioned that he was educated Tn ohio' that not bed of the presidential sprouts.
 By reason of the fact that he has the support of President Roosevelt, Secretary Taft is still the most formidable candi- date for the presidential nomination, nut in view of the difficulty he is having in securing the endorsement of hls home state, and of the fact that Knox has succeeded Tn rounding up the Pennsylva- mia delegation and Is prepared to go gun ming abroad, the advantage held by the secretary may easily be overcome within a few months.
 Situation in Ohio.
 hN iuoi oL HoiulilB d Stut6 convention in Ohio thls summer for the purpose of endorsing Taft and electing delegates at large to the national convention has about fallen through. The irregularity Of such move soon became apparent and 1t now looks as if the Taft forces will have to content themselves with broad claims until the regular convention is held next year. And in the meantime Foraker and his friends are turning heaven and earth to defeat every Taft move as soon as 1t shows its head
 Negro opposition to Taft, inspired large ly by the fact that Foraker is against him and Roosevelt Is for him. begins to assume formidable propositions. In Ken lucky Ohio, Indiana and several other states where the negro vote is an im- portant factor, organized efforts are being made by the negroes to defeat Taft and, as they may hold the balance of power in several instances-notably In Kentucky 1t Is safe to say that they will cause Taft considerable trouble. The Browns Vile affair, resulting in the discharge Of negro soldiers by the President, is what excited the wrath of the negroes and the way In which Foraker is flaming tine flames day by day while the investi- gation proceeds, serves to keep their rage at white heat.
 Taft People Satisfied.
 iioWcNSi, tne ld1l people express sat isfaction with home conditions and there is strong probability of the state fall Ing in line at the proper time, but there is just enough uncertainty about 1t to handicap the work of delegate chasing in other states.
 To counteract the influence of Cam mons and Fairbanks recent visit to the south, 1t is said the appointive power of the administration Is being discreetly used. As an evidence of the effort to establish friendly relations with all fac tions in the south, the appointment of John c. Capers of South Carolina, as commissioner of internal revenue is pointed to, as Is also the fact that the office, after six months Is to go to Pearl Wright of Louisiana, another southern republican leader This office has more special agents in the field than any other branch of the government, and 1t might be made a powerful political machine if It's occupant should so desire. And Taft needs just the help that discreet south ern politician with such a leverage could give him.