The Washington herald., 1913-12-26
POLITICAL PROCESSION.
BY r. b. G


When Col. Thomas Edward Murphy, of
PHILADELPHIA, comes to Washington as the
guest OF Gen. John A. Johnston. late
District Commissioner, and brother-in-
law, there is the serious suggestion by
other Pennsylvania Republicans that
Murphy ought to try the Congressional
game before much older. Hitherto the
political activity Of Col. Murphy has been
for his big, fine brother, Robert Murphy,
now dead, more's the pity, and who was
lieutenant governor with promise OF the
chief executive honor later.
Now that Governor Bob has gone, 1t
remains for Col. Ned to come into the
open and kindly indicate a disposition
to do something for the Republican party
in an official way, not even overlooking
the $500 a year salary and the S4 10
mileage accorded a Congressman from
Philadelphia. As an orator Col. Murphy
has no superior in Pennsylvania, and as
lawyer and business man his income per-
mits ample time for looking after COM
pact city district.
Best of all he has kept firm In the faith.
with no progressive friIls, and loyal ever
to the old guard, led by Penrose and the
Stalwart Republican organization Of the
state, which is now lining up for a cam
paign in 1914 that will not only indicate
the wonderful ability and leadership of
Penrose, but set an example to every
other normally Republican State on the
map, and encourage States not normal in
Republican tendencies, but occasionally
inclined to the faith.
The Penrose organization needs men
like Murphy, even IL he happens to be
modest and, once a candidate, he would
be all the more useful He has been
a delegate to national conventions and is
Il, in rnaIiHpaf finng for rnlitiral
Ieadership-his name alone tells that
and the wonder is that he has not taken
hold for himself since changing his resi-
dence from Johnstown to overlook a
suburb of Philadelphia.
Thomas Woodrow Wilson knew his
business when he kindly continued the
Taft dlctum putting United States con-
suls under civil service even If it kept
something less than a thousand Republi-
cans in office. The Chief Executive may
not be much of a politician, but he has
been in the game long enough to realize
that a consul long in the service and far
from home is not a dangerous or even
useful proposition in politics.
There was striking illustration of 1t
last night in the Willard way, when
Chairman Woods, of the Republican Con-
gressional committee, was introduced to
Frank w. Mahin, United States consul at
Amsterdam, and also claiming voting
residence in Iowa. the home of Woods.
Although coming from the same Con-
monwealth, they had never met. and Con-
sui Mahin was not quite sure which dis
trict of his beloved Iowa has given Woods
three terms in Congress. Mahin continues
a legal residence in Clinton, and his Con-
gressman Pepper) died this week. After
Siy in ha rnnGIllar service all
in Europe, Nahin has simply lost track of
things political in his home State, and is
careful under the new dispensation not
to manifest much interest even in a spe-
Cial election which may send a Republ-
can to succeed Pepper. The Mahin in
stance is only one of many. and hardly
ten consuls now doing business in foreign
lands could do enough good or harm in
a campaign to warrant the expense OF a
trip home. They, are out of the political
running. and since the Wilson proclama-
ton are mighty careful not to indicate
interest even in the politicians or states
men who gave them the original appoint
ments. For that matter, most of the vet
cran consuls were appointed through men
now dead or out Of Congress and have
no one to he loyal to or aid in campaigns.
Mahin came in through Allison and Gear.
Skinner, who has recently won promotion
10 Berlin, WAS personal appointment OF
McKinley's, and one of his first. He has
won many advancements wholly by merit,
and began at Marseilles in 1897. Sam Tay-
Ior. now at Nottingham, where Mahin
spent some years. was another personal
Mckinley appointment, and began at
Glasgow the first year of McKinley's first
term. He had been chosen secretary of
state in Ohio with a tremendous ma
jority. After sixteen years absence he
would achieve little.in politics if let out by
a Democratic administration.
The entire consular list tells the same
story, and the administration averts the
turning down of a dozen applicants for
every place. not to mention the trouble
of finding Democrats who could pass the
stiff examination required in recent years.
The old examination prior to civil serv-
ice was easy enough and perfunCtory,
anyhow. One of Senator Dicks appointees
was much worried over the test and re-
lated his fears. Dick seethed him with
the remark that only one appointee ever