Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-07-20
ROLAND MORRIS, "OF THE EIGHTH
Rise of Literary Politician" OF the M.l''
School Who Managed to Keep out OF Oil'e
Till the Right Time Came

.,. noota,,on that 100 gang votes
,,,o,,,d bo stricken off at one blow. Inc
chairman would prepare a vigorous plo'
test. He found there would nave ~ W
better proof that the 100 men didht hVe
tbere The next time the agent went 10
Tenth and Locust for proof he was met
| nv n burly policeman in citizens clothes'
who would answer on his oath Ia pretty
| big one) tha. every floater named on the
list was bona-fide inmate OF that mouse.
All this was slow. educational work. put
IL was a good school for reformers.
In those days Of the bad old election
laws 1t was not only the Republican Or
ganizaton that had to be fought by
Democratic reformers, but the Democratic
Organization as well. With the Repub-
licans outnumberng the Democrats ten
to one, it was possible for the Democratic
gang to control the primaries by COM
Wandering enough Republican heelers to
vote for their men. So young Mr.. Morris,
as his second lesson in practical politics,
learned that there we're two gangs to
fight. It seemed hopeless. There were
two things to do: to become an Inde-
pendent Republican or to wait. The pupil
Of Woodrow Wilson waited.
A New Election Law
Strangely enough, it was the primary
election law passed by the Republican
Organization that was the sun of hope
breaking through the clouds to help the
Democrats. The new election law spread
the fight throughout the State and when
men like Guthrie, Palmer and Mccormick
sprang up In various sections to recon-
struct the party Morris was on the
ground waiting for them. BY waiting he
had saved his "regularity"-an excellent
example for those who put their faith in
following a creed to the bitter end. BY
giving the minority party a respectable
leadership these men put the Independent
Republicans on their mettle and have
been able to throw their influence at
Washington on the side of Independents,
as witness the recent case of r. Henry
Walnut's appointment.
Here is the finest irony of all, that a
reconstructed minority party should
actually get anti.Organization Republi.
cans appointed by Democratic Admins
tration, to the disgust of Old Guard ele.
ments in both Republican and Democratic
parties. Surely all good PENNSYLVANIA
Republicans must want the Democratic
party IN this State to remain at its best.
If only to save the State for Republican.
ism.
Mr.. Morris is forty-three having been
porn March II, 1874, at Olympia, in what
was then Washington Territory. His
parents were then living for a time in the
northwest. He is the head Of the Oldest
branch of the Morris family, which has
oeen identified with the history of city
and Commonwealth since the davs Of
'ehn. lie was graduated from Lawrence. |
me IN lS92 and from Princeton in 1896 |
lie took high honors in the University of
Dennsylvania Law School, and started in
N" practice Of law in this city in 1899
lie has made speciality of corporation
aw and served for years on the Board of |
law Examiners. He has been secretary
ina president of the Contemporary Club
ma Is director Of the Public Education
ASSOCIATION and member Of the Philo. |
'ioioh society. Mr.. Morris for fourteen |
ears has been vestryman of st |
'tephens. He Is a trustee of the Rurd |
'rphan Asylum, of the Widows Cornor.
ION Oh pennsylvania and of the General |
.iersy Relief Fund of the Episcopal |
'hurch. II