Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-03-28

Especial Washington Correspondence.)
| Washington, March 2S.-The line of
| the Camerons and Of Quay and Of Pen
rose would die out if Boies Penrose
should at this time be taken from the
leadership, or the boss-ship, Of the
state of Pennsylvania. For some rea-
son Pennsylvania seems always to
have needed a supreme boss. Simon
Cameron was the apotheosis of the boss
| in his time; his son did not do so we'll,
but was none the less the boss. Scott
was different sort of boss; he did 1t
| without holding office. Back in his an
! effective manager Of politics.
| But with Penrose gone, it is hard to
see who would succeed him. Politics
, has changed even in Pennsylvania.
The state looks up to Knox. who rep
resents it's best intellect and it's best
governmental ideals, but who could
never be boss. He would be too anx-
ious at critical time, just before a
ballot in state convention, to look
up the decision of some court or other
as to what ought to be done in a like
situation.
1t was said when Quay passed from
the scene that there was nobody to fill
his shoes; but the event proved that
la he Il a nd Of when
he made Penrose the heir apparent by
choosing him to be the successor, by
making him the junior senator. rem
rose had learned his lesson in the Quay
school, and learned it better than was
realized There were misgivings when
he took charge and set about to han
die the fine old machine; but he soon
dissipated them, for he showed that
he knew how. He understands mag
nificently the art of bowling before the
wind. He is a silent man, as Quay
was. He seems to possess that secret
of power which goes with saying lit
tie and always making 1t count.
Penrose is not beauty. and has
none of the graces Of the orator. He
is handicapped by bad delivery. Peo-
pie who hear him speak in public never
fail to use the ancient smile and say
he talks like a man with his mouth
full of hot mush" He does; but he
has the faculty of making men fol-
low him.
Penrose is more than a mere boss.
He would have been great lawyer II
he had not been a great politician. He
could never have been great states
gIy1.. hi ptIf o.
Yale he ranked as one Of the notable
men Of his time; he was conceded to
be the possessor of "a magnificent le-
sal mind The last destiny that would
have been picked for him, by those
who knew him in his university days,
was that of a political boss. He was
cuet, retiring, modest, studious. Prob
ably l. was an accident, in the begin
ming, that made him the lieutenant of
Quay and opened to him the oppor-
tunity to be politician. But when he
turned his mind to it he made himself
a success at it.
There is nobody to succeed him in
the keystone state. Knox is going to
stay in the senate; perhaps Oliver will
come to the senate, but that is hardly
possible, because he, like Knox, comes
from the west end. In that event, if
there should be a vacancy in the seat of
Penrose, Judge Elkin, of the state SUI
preme court, might be the successor.
In fact, there are score of men
whose names are entitled to be placed in
the list of serious possibilities. There
are plenty of men who would make
good senator's; but nobody can place
his hand on the man in Pennsylvania
who would make tine successful boss as
we'll as the creditable senator
William Jennings Bryan came to
town, and conferred with w. Bourke
Cochran. What about?
The Nebraskan was in Virginia the
day before he came to Washington. He
made some talks that seemed peculiar
ly calculated to put an end to the Vir-
ginia opposition. Indeed, his Wash
ington followers were immensely
pleased with his appearance in the old
Dominion, and declared confidently
that it came at the right time and
would not fail to assure Bryan dele |
cation, despite the strong effort made |
there lately to secure control in the
name Of John W. Daniel and in the
cause of defeating Bryan for the nom
nation.
But when Mr.. Bryan got to Wash |
ington he had other business, and that
business is understood to relate to the
control Of the state of New York. !
Leader Murphy of Tammany has been
lining out against Bryan of late. There |
has been serious suspicion that the |
between Mayor Nc |
Clellan and Murphy was based on a
common desire to defeat the effort for
a Eryan delegation. Then came the an
of the deposition of Cock
ran as a leader of Tammany. The |
reason was much of mystery, but |
the New York politicians seem agreed
thai 1t was based on the fact that
was against Bryan, while
Cochran believed the states delega-
ton ought to be given to the Nebras- |
kan.
At any rate it is highly significant |
that during the afternoon Of his day |
In Washington Mr.. Bryan went to the
capitol by appointment and had a long
talk with Mr.. Cochran. There Is no
loubt, among those public men who
knew of the incident and their num- |
Der was not large-that the talk re-
lated to means for handling New York
despite the opposition Of Murphy. Mr..
Cochran is for Bryan: this much is
an leadership and get him the dele