Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-11-14

Continued from Page Ono
with his friend, United States Senator Boies
Penrose, in indorsing the Town Meeting
party.
william J. McNichol was asked TINS
morning II, during the Senator's illness. ne
had heard any expression fall from his
fathers lips as to the election or general
political conditions. For moment he
paused before replying. then said:
"I may answer that later"
WIFE LOSES RACE WITH DEATH
As Senator McNichol was dying. his wife
was racing to his bedside in a big touring
car from the new McNlchol home in Over
brook After his condition became critical
this morning, Senator McNichoPs son Will
liam telephoned to his stepmother. who was
spending the night in the Overlook resi-
dence built by Senator McNichol some
months ago.
Mrs, McNichol hastily called a powerful
automobile and told the chauffeur to drive
to the Race street house with all possible
peed. The car tore into town, but 1t
was a loser in It's race against death. Sen
ator McNichol had been dead for five min
utes when Mrs. McNichol reached his bed
side.
Mrs McNichol was overwhelmed by her
loss This afternoon. while stll bearing her
bereavement bravely, 1t was found neces-
sary to send out for some aspirin to quiet
her nerves Her infant son Robert two
months old, was brought into town by his
nurse at noon and bis mother watched over
the child as he lay in big wicker basket
filed with pillows, at her feet In the upper
room where Mrs. McNichol remained.
A steady stream of friends called at the
house during the day to offer their condo-
lences. Among them was Charles r. Dom
nelly, the Democratic leader Fifty or more
kilograms Of coincidence were receiVd, many
Of them from prominent men In all parts
Of the United States.
Among the callers at the McNichol home
Immediately after the death became known
were Monsignor Kieran rector of st. Pat
rick's Church, at Twentieth and Locust
streets: Father Clark, OF the Cathedral
Register Of Wills James B. Sheehan, a life
long friend of the Senator, and Magistrate
BILLY" Campbell.
McNICHoL'S REMARKABLE CAREER
The story Of James p. McNichol is the
story of one of the most remarkable and
picturesque characters known In the life
| of Philadelphia during the present genera
tion. II IL the story of one man battling
| against other men, his antagonists narrow
ing down to more and more powerful IN
| dividuals as he himself grew stronger and
| stronger.
So told, It Is at once a drama Of Ameri.
| can life and running commentary on
| American municipal political history. II
| has its first act, its climax and its con-
| clusion. It's underground and therefore un-
| needed victories of wits pitted against
weaker wits, it's palpable victories and de-
| feats which all the world may read, and
| its bright reflection upon the dull and dark
| colored waters Of civic consciousness.
Most of all, It is typicaly American In
It's appeal to :he pragmatism OF the man
II in the street" Jim McNichol was not
| boss OF a debatable ward In the one OF the
| nations greatest cities throughout twenty
five years without furnishing some peril
nent comment on the political attitude OF
the mass of citizens He was not a State
| Senator for fifteen years without supplying
| some picture Of the link between municipal
State and national politics. He was not a
builder Of municipal improvements on a
huge scale without awakening some vision
of the immemorial alliance between "the
people" and "the friend Of the people"
| Fittingly enough. he was a son of nc
family which had had luster shed upon II
by the exploits of its earlier members
What he was he made. Nor can he be re-
membered beyond his own generation OF
| politicians any more than the politicians o!
a similar type who preceded him. for his
tory is IL not modelled upon the lives o!
municipal contractors. He Ia to be remem
bered as contribution to realism.
IN TENTH WARD ALL HIS LIFE
He was born on July 8. 1864, and brough
vr in the Tenth Ward. His father was
contractor, In a small way. as was hi
uncle. The family was In moderate cir
rumstsnces. Irish-Americans. The Tent
Ward. at its eastern end. was no sweet
smelling place. The McNichols however
lived In It's western half. = section of homei
which had dscency without frilis
Jim. . tall. sangiins boy with . psrpstua