The sun., 1916-09-03
PENNYPACKER OF
PENNSYLVANIA DIES
Ex-Governor, Eccentric Poll
tician, Educator, Judge
Was 73 Years Old.
4. LONG. R CAREER
Threatened Martial Law in
Coal Strike-Braved Upris-
ings-Baptized at GO

PHILADELPHIA Sept. 2.-Samuel w.
P~ennypacker, Ex-Governor OF Pennsyl-
vania. died to-day at his home In
Schwenckville. Pa. He vas 70 years old
and for any years had been a leading
figure in. the Colitics of the State. Death
was due to urRmic poisoning.
Samuel P~ennypacker vas elected Gov
ernor in 1908. when Pennsylvania went
Republican by 10000. He was the
protegc Of Senator Quay. Rnl before his
nomination had already won n name as
an educator and a'Judge. He was born
in Ph1nixville, Pa. April 2, 1s43, the
son Of Or. Isaac Anderson Pcnnypaci,cr
and Anna Whitaker P~ennypackcr lie
belonged to the T~wenty-sixth Elmer
eency'' Regiment in the civil war and
fought as q private at Gettysburg. In
1870 he married Miss Virginia Earl
Broomall OF Phnnixville.
He was made president OF the Law
Academy Of Philadelphia In 1867 and ~
the Board Of Public Education Of that
city in 1886. Three years later he be-
came Judge of the Court OF Common
Pleas in Philadelphia and became pre-
siding Judge In 1895, holding ONCE until
he resigned when nominated for Gov
ernor.
Went Through Great Coal Strike.
His term ended in 1907. but during his
administration he had many ~troublous
times. Perhaps the worst OF these was
the coal strike OF 1903. led by John
Mitchell. Gov. Pennypacker at the time
issued a proclamation IN which he made
IL clear that he would put the entire
state under military control II neces-
sary. calling out the National Guard.
After his term ended he was made a
member OF the state Railroad Commits
| sion in 1912. For the past four years
he had been a member of the State Pub
lie Service Commission II was made
It's chairman last year.
Mr.. ~pennypacker was regarded as one
OF the most remarkable characters OF his
time. He was eccentric. and made many
enemies because OF his headstrong ten
denotes. His selection OF his assistants
in office and other acts won him a wide
] spread enmity before he had been IN
office a year. An attempt was made "a
Gust him. In October. 1909. IT was re.
ported that he was to resign in favor
Of his Governor and accept
"a place on the State Supreme Court
bench.
In 1905 another uprising started
against him. and his cousin. burgess
charles V~c11ypackeT Of Philadelphia. Il
Quaker. proposed to lead an army agains,
the Capitol and depose the entire ma
chine as IAN octopus which is sapping
the life blood Of the people In 1906 a
plot to kJl him was unear;hed and two
Italians were arrested.
signed "Press Musslins' Bill.
Stung by press criticisms 90 his ad.
m.n!stra;.un. he signed the Grady-Salus
press muzzling'' bill in 1905 and in a
'tvR s,lspmepf which 1p apppp1f1 IN hi
act he manifested his resentment by
.ali!Yg one Of the cartooHis,s who had
y!ceadcd him an 'outcast," for which the
artist IN question threatened a lawsuit
The law was openly defied as unconsti'
tu:!onal and violated daily by ever,
Pennsylvania newspaper. one paid II.
compliments to it by printing a cartoon
OF the Governor as a poll parrot with II,
feathers piucked out.
Although he was criticised for man,
things. he had a native shire wdness 'ha
vfion outwitied hi. opponents. An in
stance Of this was when. in 1904, he de
olincd the Offer to resign and take
supreme Court judgeship, His letter o
refusal, when Il came 10 the Pennsyl
,ania delegation, was found to be in hi
wife's handwriting. Later the Governo
explained that he had written II befor,
the Offer was definitely mad and feare,
: u dictate II To his secretary lest II be
come known. His wife. he said. he coul,
trust not 10 talk.
Only "a year ago AT The age OF -, h
learned to write with his left hand be
l cause he broke his right arm. He ha
- sign many papers az Public Seryic
Commissioner. so he became ambidex
/ trJus.
In 1911. although he had never been
member q. any church. he became n cor
vert to The E~.piscopalian faith and wa
baptized INTO II at g.. He was proud c
= the fact thar he spoke French when |
D., wears old. and at the same age was III
, local checker champion.
2 lie won the friendship of the Duic
: Reformed Church by settling the conire
= >ersy az to when Memo Simons. the r.
I former. was born. and he also establishe
the fact that the University of Pennsy
Z vania was founded IN l14o. nine year
before the date then accepted. He Wa
the author OF more han nifty books an
I pamphlets and had a library Of earl
Pennsylvania publications OF more tina
i $4,000 volumes, which he sold In 1905.