Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-19
WILLING TO AID PARTY
But Is Not Anxious to Further In
terests of Magee.
PENROSE'S PLANS DISTURBED
Had Others in View as Likely Can
didates, Representative Tener
Being Among Number.

Secretary Knox is looking at that Penn
sylvania gubernatorial boom with sus-
picious eye. He wants to know why
they desire him to run. If it is to pull
the party through, to win some doubt
full congressional districts that's one
thing.
But Il it is to further the political
ambitions of Billy Magee-why, that's
something different And as the cards
fall now, it begins to look to some of
Secretary Knox's friends very much as
If this were Billy Magee's hand that is
being played and not the game of the
republican party of Pennsylvania alto
gether.
BILLY" Magee. the author of the Knox
boom. is nephew of the late Chris.
Magee. long time boss of western
Pennsylvania, and is a rising and ambi-
tious young politician who started with
his uncle's prestige as his first asset, to
which he has added personal worth and
ability and marked skill in politics.
Suspicious of Magee.
The question is asked by some of the
older Pennsylvania politicians whether
Mr.. Magee in this instance is not mere
ly trying to rally the delegates under
the Knox flag, and his own captaincy,
to be used subsequently as circumstances
might warrant.
1t is declared by Secretary Knox's
friends that this question must be an
swered satisfactorily before he will al
low his name to be used as a candidate
for the gubernatorial nomination.
1t is said further that Secretary Knox
will not allow his friends to go into the
state convention and make a fight for
publicans of the state that he should
run and on the grounds thus far claimed,
that desire must be manifested with
unanimity.
In other words, Secretary Knox is not
seeking the nomination, but would not
evade it If the rank and file of the party
think they need him in the coming cam
paign. 1t is easy to understand that
there is no political promotion in the
change from a cabinet position to the
governorship. especially to man who
has had the senatorship from the same
state. 1t is the other way around. But
there is, it is said, cause for gratifica tion
in the suggestion that a man may be
drafted to help his party even if the
Office is comparatively subordinate.
Upsets Penrose's Calculations.
The springing of the Knox boom by
Magee is thought to have disturbed the
plans OF senator fenrOSe, tne present
boss of Pennsylvania, il there be one.
Not that the senator would be averse
to Secretary Knox in any event.
1t is thought, however. that Senator
Penrose had other men in view as likely
candidates, with adequate political rea-
sons therefor. Representative Tener of
the Washington county district is one
of them. and Mr.. Tener announced his
candidacy Friday night and left hurriedly
for the western end of the state to fix
up his fences.
Senator Penrose also had under con-
sideration State Senator Crow of Fayette
county, and John Cox of Allegheny,
speaker of the lower house of the state
legislature.
Senator oliver has a stake in the game,
too. as the legislature to be elected this
fall will be asked to return him to the
United States Senate. Senator Oliver S
friends looked askance at the move of
Magee to get control of the delegations
from the western end of the state. 1t
is declared. however, that Magee caused
word to be conveyed to the Oliver folks
that the Knox boom was not inimical to
Senator divers interests.
The state convention will meet at Har-
risburg next Wednesday. Senator PEN
rose will go up Monday and talk over
the situation with the advance guard Of
the district leaders.