Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-12-28

To the Editor of the Euo,ing PubHc Ledger:
CNIR-Nomination of Hon. Samuel w. Penny
- packer, President Judge of Common Pleas
Court No. 9, of Philadelphia, for Governor
was primarily due to his writing a peppery
Pennypacker letter to the New York Sun
early in January. 1901, naying England with
judicial satire for her brutality In the Boer
War, and warmly sympathizing with the
Beers. Secondly. to my sending a copy OF
that letter to Senator Quay, telling him why
that letter was written, and thirdly, to the
persistency with which for fifteen months
thereafter held to my scheme of promoting
Pennypacker from Judge to Governor, hnaliy
securing the cooperation of Senator quay.
That winter Senator Quay was suffering
from a severe attack of bronchitis and when
l visited him at Washington before CHRIST
mas of 1900, and we talked politics, ana
asked him who would be our next Governor,
he replied. holding up bottle of medicine
a coored messenger had that moment
brought to him. III this prescription and
the climate of Florida do not quickly cure
me Pennsylvania politics VIII nave no III
terest for me-"
He was in that frame of mind. with ample
time to read my letters and Enclosures care
fully, when l wrote him:
"It Is so unusual for a Common Pleas
Judge of Philadelphia TO write a letter OF
this character that l have made appraisal
of the Pelnypacker motive, and have
reached the conclusion that the shy ola
Dutchman as he likes to be termed would
rather be Governor than aSJustice of the
Supreme Court, and that he has taken this
method of approaching the executive office.
believing that 1t would align the 'Pennsyi-
vania Dutch for him. that especially in
Berks, Chester. Dauphin, Huntington. Lam
caster Lebanon. Lehigh and York Counties
there would be an earnest movement for him.
ana IL Pennypackers aim is the governor
ship, as appraise 1t, am FOR him ana mere
and now invite your cooperation.
And this is the reply that l received
have your letter with the Judges
letter. don't exactly sympathize with ms
Boer ideas, but would be glad to see him
in the Governors chair, II 1t could be ar
ranged. 1t is entirely out OF his line.
however, and Il don't think his ambition
runs that way. $500
A short time before Christmas, 1901. Judge
| Penpypacker sent for me to call on him In
| his "priyate chamber" No. Court. Expec-
| tation of a receivership caused me to step
| faster and more lightly: The Judge was
| eating a frugal inexpensive lunch--it was
| the noon hour of court be seated, anu
| took a chair. Had I seen or heard from
| Senator Quay lately" was the question he
| plumped at me instead of a receiVership.
| II had not have you?" was my response
| The Judge then said. "There can De no.ning
| 10 the goyernorship, as Mr.. Quay has never
| exnressed himself directly or BY implication
| excepting in his letter to you year ago.
| and l think it best to drop the matter
| Have you directly or py implication ever
| broached the subject to Mr.. QuayT asked
| lie said mo" / left the Judge and went
| back to my office, as Register of the Bureau
| Of Surveys, with slower and heavier foot
steps, all hopes of recevershp in the fog
| 7 wrote to Senator Quay telling him what
| had occurred, adding that Pennypacker
seemed disappointed at not hearing from the
| senator in regard to the governorship, and
this is the reply--an autograph letters
The action Of the next Republican State
| Convention is as yet all in the fog The
| different candidates are at work setting
up their delegates. and don't know how
far their personal facilities will prevail
| on their ideas of party policy The Judge
| ought not to be talked about unless he is
to 20 through, and whether he could can
not now be predicted. Ekin will be
| nominated II he Is a canddate-at least
such is the present outlook
About the 18th Of March. 1902, the Public
Ledger printed a dispatch from Pittsburgh
stating that the vexed problem of the gov
ernorsirp could be settled by Senator Qua,
taking the nomination. just as he ended {
bitter factionaI fight over the State treasury
ship several years ago by himself entering
the contest for the nomination. i sent tn
Public Ledger article to Quay facetousl!
stating that after Pennypacker first, mysel
second knew of no one would rather se
Governor than Senator Quay His reply
dated Saint Lucie. March Is. 1909. was: