The sun., 1913-11-02
AM NOT A POLITICAL BOSS. SAYS SENATOR PENROSE
His Career in Politics, an Exciting Bear
Hunt and His Parting From
Theodore Roosevelt

fession." Senator Penrose replied. but
my grandfather. Charles I,. Penrose,
was simon Camerons manager in 1857.
and really brought about his election To
| tn" United states Senate that year.
Charles u. pcnrosc was q consplcu-
Gus man in state and national politics
III. served in the Senate of pennsyl-
vania with Thaddeus Stevens, OF which
body he was Speaker during the buck
shot war. President william Henry
Harrison in 1871 appointed him solicitor
of the United States Treasury. lie was
| Il lawyer and practised both at Carlisle
| and In Philadelphia.
ut was my grandfather's association
| with Simon Cameron that caused my
| entrance into politics. Cameron Joined
the Republican party in 1856. His
| name was brought into the discussion
at Harrisburg late in the year over the
Senatorship. but it was not believed at
| first that he could be elected. 1t was
| then that my grandfather took active
| control of his candidacy.
THE Legislature. he knew. would be
practically deadlocked. He told the Re-
publicans the night before the election
| that he could get three Democratic
lrot's for Cameron. The Republicans
i
test and vote for Cameron ON the first
ballot the next morning. My grand
| father got the votes over night. those of
Lebo. Maneer and Wagonseler and
| Cameron was elected.
| Almost Immediately after being ad-
mitted to the bar | was asked to be Il
| candidate for the LEGISLATURE. j. DON
| aid Cameron. the son uf Simon. was in
| the United States Senate and was soon
to come up for reelection. 1t was be-
| li.ved that ! would vote for him were
| | in the Legislature because. of the in =
| innate political relations which had eX-
| listed between his father and my grand
father.
THE offer was accepted and I was
! elected. | was % years of age. \ term
in Harrisburg. | thought, would widen
my knowledge ana make mo "A better
lawyer. But once in politics events
took such turn that I couldn't with
draw without causing other people
trouble. and have been busy in that
| direction ever since"
At the age of % Roies Pcnrose was
president pro tempure of the pennsyl-
vania Senate. He went to the United
States Senate when he was SO. Next
May he will go before the primaries
, of his State as "a candidate for n fourth
term. That Is the reason he is now
speaking at agricultural fairs. family
reunions. fraternity picnics ana labor
conventions.
No other Republican as yet has be-
| come candidate against him. The
| Democratic candidate Will be 4. Mitchell
Palmer. the rich young Quaker who is
President Wilson's personal spokesman
in the House Of Representatives.
The Republican dynasty Of Pcnnsyl.
vania is to go into the hottest battle OF
its history in 1914. The Republicans
have had but four leaders since the or.
ganization Of their party-Simon Cam
eron. ]. Donald Cameron. Matthew $
Quay and Boies Penrose.
| 1T happened that | was chairman OF
our State committee at the time of Mr.
Quays death" senator r"nrose said
THE political duties which Mr.. quay
had borne fell on me. We gave Mr.
Roosevelt in 1904 n plurality of 500, 00C
votes. breaking all the records in Penn
sylvania and Of all other States as well
| president Roosevelt wrote m. n very
complimentary and appreciative letter
which ! have preserved My relations
with him before and after that We're OF
the most friendly character. But I was
not favorably disposed toward Mr.. Taft
in 1908, although Mr.. Roosevelt wanted
him nominated as his successor. W''h
other delegates from Pennsylvania.
went to the national convention deter
mined to do everything possible to bring
about the nomination of l'hiandcr &
Knox. and to beat Mr.. Taft. After Mr.
Taft was nominated. however, CAV,
him cheerful support.
although | was opposed to Mr.. Taft
in 1908. thought he should b- renumi-
mated in 1872. He had been good Presi-
dent. I made my position known after
Mr.. Roosevelt had announced that un-