The Washington herald., 1909-03-21
OLIVER HAD LONG WAIT
Pittsburg Family Attains Senatorshp After Thirty
Years of Effort

After thirty long years Of waiting. the
Pittsburg house Of oliver has come into
its own-the United States Senatorship
from Pennsylvania. When George T.
Oliver was elected Senator II was a full
hllment OF family hopes. Waiting thirty
years 10 get there" is a long time; but
when an ambition is bequeathed by older
10 younger brother. and that brother is
in a position 10 satisfy ii, naturally he is
willing 10 wait indefinitely until Old Mr..
Opportunity comes around.
One must hark far back 10 get at the
inception of the elevation OF George T.
Oliver. says Thomas NJ. Jones. in the
New York Post.
When the CamerOns ruled the roost
politically in Pennsylvania. Donald.
the son, succeeding Simon. the father
they ruled with rod of iron. Don" was
in the United States Senate, having gone
there from the War Department where
he was Secretary, under Grant. Presi-
dent Hayes refused 10 reappoint him 70
the Cabinet. and Simon. having father
ly pride in his son, at once resigned his
seat in the United States Senate and an
nounced that Don would be a candidate
10 succeed him. A complaisant machine
legislature took orders. Don was elected
in ISL
Tried for a Third Term.
In 1850, to show his gratitude to Grant,
Senator Don. ruling the Pennsylvania
delegation at the Chicago convention.
tried TO nominate the veteran for third
term, but in this was thwarted Among
those who came out in the open against a
third term was Galusha A. Grow-noW
dead-whO once knocked down a bully
on the floor of Congress, and afterward
was Speaker or the House. Grow came
from the northern tier. where the Wilmot
prOviso regarding slaves was born. and
was one of the most independent Of men
He had considerable influence. and used
it 10 help break the unit rule AT Chi
cago by which Cameron meant TO bind
an entire delegation 10 vote as the ma
jority dictated
Naturally. Cameron was angry clean
through. II was not in the nature Of the
Clan Cameron 10 forgive-good haters are
the men folk-and the Senator registered
vow that there should be no more pOllt-
ical honOrs in Pennsylvania for Galusha
a. Grow. Therein he was wrong. for
Grow subsequently went 10 Congress from
the State al large with a marvellous ma
jcrity.
Henry oliver Beaten In 1851.
Now 10 the United States Senatorship
and the divers: In 1881. the year after
Camerons plans were frustrated al Chi
cago. a United States Senator was to be
elected TO succeed the late William A.
Wallace. a Democrat Exercising the
prerogative Of the boss. Senator Cameron
selected Henry W Oliver. Of Pittsburg. a
brother Of George T. The legislature
Republican by n good majority, nursed
the Idea that Oliver was as good as
elected. But Cameron had reckoned with
out Grow. who announced that he would
Ike 20 wear the Senatorial toga. and
would enter the lists against Oliver. He
not only said things. but got busy" do
Ing things. and soon had collected enough
independents 20 prevent divers election
The Democrats voted for Wallace. unlike
the modern Pennsylvania Democratic
legislator, sticking 10 him and not being
lured away, as some were the last time
the late NJ. s Quay was elected.
For weeks the battle ragged. until II
was seen that neither Grow nor Oliver
could be elected. and both suddenly
dropped out Of the fight. The the machine
took up James A. Beaver OF BeiIefonte
dANE4 " al EOAeluDI ana now on the
Superior Court bench, the independents
voting for Thomas ". Bayne. The fight
on both sides was stubborn, until AT
last a compromise was effected. and
Representative John J. Mitchell Of Tioga,
was made Senator good enough man.
but he never 'set the Susquehanna on
fire. as the Pennsylvania Dutch say.
Henry ". Oliver nursed his ambition
for years, but financial reverses, which
he later Overcame. retired him from Do
litical prominence His brother, George.
meanwhile. had plunged into politics for
Henry's sake. When Henry dropped out
George came 70 the front. He was soon
a factor in politics, casting his lot with
what IS known as the Republican organi-
zation. He was a warm friend Of Quay
but could hardly hope TO go TO the
United States Senate from the western
part of the State as long as Quay lived.
for the man from Beaver had pre-empted
the job. and nobody else had a Ioo6
in"
Once Refused Pennypacker's Offer.
Oliver bided his time. however. and kept
his eye on the Senatorial toga. His
chance came several years ago when
Quay died. knowing his ambition, Gov
Pennybacker graciOUsly pTOffeTed him
the appointment to succeed Quay. II may
seem strange that a man can nurse an
ambition for years and then coldly turn
It down Just as it IS about TO blossom.
but that was what oliver did, for reasons
never made public. but which can be
called purely personal and relating 70
family matters
When, however, il became known that
Senator Knox was 10 20 into President
Taft's Cabinet. George T. divers Oppor-
tunitv came again. The obstacles that
stood in the way when Gov. Pennypacker
offered him the appointment 10 succeed
Quay no longer existed, and he decided
that he would make his best endeavor TO
land the prize. A good politician. and.
Withal. a man OF ability, he soon had
following in the legislature that presaged
success. As a matter Of fact, oliver en-
tered early and practically had the field
TO himself. He had one opponent, Mayor
benjamin Dimmick. Of Scranton. a good
man. but not quick enough on the pOliti-
cal trigger. II became apparent that
Oliver would have no opposition. This
was rendered absolutely certain when the
Philadelphia leaders announced that the
legislative delegation from that city would |
vote for him. II is regarded as signifi-
cant and "A tribute TO the Pittsburger that
the independent Republicans, who re-
manned out Of the caucus that nominated
Senator Penrose in January. either went
into the caucus held here on Tuesday
morning or sent letters saying that they
wanted to support him In short. he was
the choice of every Republican in the |
legislature
Oliver was born in Ireland. He at
tanned his hearts desire on St. Patrick
Day. His parents can TO this country. |
but, having wish again 20 see old Coun- |