Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-01-09
PENNYPAcKER AUroBI0GRAPaY-No. -


Copy~tohf. fsis. by Public Ledger Componv
ON THE way home from Somerset. a town
" among the mountains. where the first
Bible was printed west Of the Alleghenies.
where George L. Baer. the wonderfully able
president of the Philadelphia and Reading
Railway Company. was born and which has
the most elevated courthouse In the State,
Mrs. Pennypacker and We're taken in
charge by Colonel Samuel Moody. a high
official Of the Pennsylvania Railroad at
Pittsburgh. He was very droll, agreeable
and entertaining. His influence with his
road was great and he was ready to show
it to us. Somerset was the terminus Of a
little single-track railroad which branched
of from the main line. He had a car ready
at Somerset but behold. Il had not been
busted for a month. He kept us outside on
some pretext while no swore at the man in
charge and had Il cleaned. Then we went
by rail to the station on the main line and
there waited. Presently we heard the
Chicago Express, which never stopped
there, laundering in the distance, but was
TO stop for us because OF the influence OF
Moody.
"Now," said Moody. come outside and
all be ready to get on"
Stopping the "Flyer"
In an instant tho train was there and in
an instant later beyond the station and
rushing to tho far-away East. Then
roared. and Moody, seldom crestfallen. was
in a state of confusion. Presently, how.
ever, came the second section. which
stopped, and all was well.
Just at this juncture Judge Henry j.
Mccarthy died and this made a vacancy in
the Philadelphia Court OF Common Pleas
No. 8. The leaders Of the Republican party
in that city asked for the appointment of
Robert Won Moschzisker, Il bright young
lawyer, formerly an assistant in the ONCE
Of the District Attorney. but lacking both
years and legal experience. who had made
himself useful and agreeable 10 Durham.
appointed George Tucker Bispham. the
author of our leading work upon equity
and a lawyer of long and varied practice.
lie was then in Europe. but he had at one
time made an earnest effort 10 reach the
bench. and after consultation with Mr..
Brinton in his Office and with Lyman u.
Gilbert, friend and associate in many
cases, who thought he would accept. I
made the venture. My hope was by dis.
tinguisked appointment to benefit he pro-
fession, and that he. with such an oppor.
tunty. would feel II to be his duty to his
profession to see that Il was utilized. lie
failed me, and much to my disgust and
with very poor taste, telegraphed his declln.
alton not to me, but to the Press.
One Of the experiences which come often
to those having responsibility and seeking
to do decent things Is the little assistance
given By men who are ever complaining
about existing conditions. On one occasion
at Harrisburg was called up by long dis.
tance telephone from Washington, ana
Penrose at the other end inquired
when are you going to make out the
appointment OF Doctor Shoemaker as sur
geon general?'
Shoemaker was a political doctor, con-
tinually mlngling the two professions, which
did not well fit, and had no confidence
in him whatever. So answered.: II do not
think Of appointing him at ALL"
Damn It to hell" overheard upon the
wire.
Charles C. Harrison to suggest to me q
suitable and competent physician for this
position They recommended DR.. Robert
G.. lie Conte, man Of professional attain |
ment and now one Of the trustees of the |
University Of Pennsylvania. and appointed |
him. lie remained long enough to secure |
his title as colonel, but with the first en-.