Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-12-31
PENNYPACKER AUTOBIOGRAPHY
The New-Elected Governor Found in the Executive
Mansion Guest Chamber With Twenty-three
Mirrors and a Grand Piano
lcupyrisnt. 1877. BY Public Ledger c,hmpany)

make no money save what came from my
salary. Many Governors had had their
eyes fixed SO intently upon the United
states Senate and the presidency that they
overlooked their opportunities as Cover
nors. I determined to give my personal at'
tenton to the work as far as 1t was posst
bic, and to have my future and repute rise
or fall in accord with what was accom-
...;shed or left urslone. I entertained the
common and erroneous belief that the In
cumbents OF public office were in the main
idle and untrustworthy and | determined
that / would improve conditions as far as
it was within my power to do II. The
man who endeavors to convince the popu'
lace of bra own virtues by procaiming the
wrongs which other people commit Is an
admitted charlatan. Improvement is ac'
asmplished only by taking the steps which
are necessary to make conditions better,
and these steps generally begin pretty
near to home. 1t would have been
very easy for me TO have gained
temporary repute by raising q clamor
over the shortcomings of my pred.
ecessor. Such opportunities always exist.
posed he had some personal friends in sta.
ton who were near to him and whom he
would like to have retained, and that so
far as I could would protect them. He
named to me a brother of his wife and a
few others holding minor positions. No
body ever heard me say word TO his dis
credit. Nobody ever heard me utter a
word Of abuse of the members of the Leg
islature. There was no occasion for 1t.
As a general thing they were the repre-
sentative men Of their respective locations,
ranging from men of high culture-liks
Roberts. Fox and Sproul-to the ordinary
artisan engaged in doing a public work as
well az he knew how to do it. Those who,
like my old friend Blankenburg, Mayor of
Philadelphia, think that they can get a
legislative body to adopt measures by call
ing them thieves. make a great mistake
and generally accomplish little.
To Consult Politicians
I determined also to consult as much as
possible with the politicians. There was
no probability OF my knowing too much
and their experience was OF kind which
enabled them to give useful information.
Besides. no man is strong enough to so It
quite alone aStd his ability to do depends
largely upon the forces behind him. While,
then, my first duty was toward the State,
| recognized subsidiary duty to the party
which elected me and an obligation to those
who had trusted me and given me sup.
port If had turned upon Quay, as vii.
Jersey should have given an exhibition
of what l regard as doubtful ethics. Again,
unlike Wilson. did not regard the duties
OF the executive Office and the success of
the party as being upon the same plane.
To me the latter was subsidiary and sub
ordinate, and, doing what could to help
the party and its leaders, the determination
of the questions arising within the State
depended upon me, and my obligation was
to look to the welfare of the State.
Nor is the test OF what ought to be done
.iie outcry of the people. He who has the
true spirit Of a statesman will seek to
ascertain not what the people want but
what it is that for their permanent good
they should have. Often an imp of a dema.
and there they are drowned. The real
truth Of the matter Is that the masses of
the people are i'll trained and uniformed.
Their judgment upon any specific subject.
and especially upon the involved questions
Of laws and statecraft. is an imperfect judg.
ment. There are few men who know how
to run railroad train and the rest of us
only travel There is one man who can
perform an operation for appendicitis, and
we let him cut us to pieces Since the per.
manence Of the institutions Of this country
depends ultimately upon the good sense
and conscience Of the people, the outcome
is still problematical and uncertain. II
may be conceded that. given sufficient time,
the popular judgment is apt to settle upon
the correct principles. yet In the mean.
time Joan Of Arc has been burned to death.
Poland has been parted in fragments, the
Beers have been robbed of their mines and
the Capitol at Washington has lain in
ashes.
CONTINUED TOMORROW