Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-02-05
GEN. MILLER OF
NATIONAL GUARD
Governor Pennypacker Describes
Character of Leader of
Keystone Troops
rESNyrACKER AUropIoGRAruY-No. es


INIE WENT to the Inauguration ball and
w there met Mrs. Roosevelt, who told
Mrs. Pcnnypackcr that I had been very
kind TO her daughter Ethel. Tho Vice
President and Mrs. Fairbanks invited us
to n reception and the Hon. Edward ID.
Morrcll, Congressman from Pennsylvania,
whose mother Is the wife OF John G. john
son, gave a reception TO Mrs rennypacker
and me which was largely attended.
In my message to tho Legislature there
had been pointed out the objections TO
the growing habit in that body Of appoint
ing commissions to do executive work as
an cncroachment upon the authority of
another branch OF the government. In
making provision for the Lewis and Clark
Exposition In Oregon the Legislature again
undertook to select tho commission. Tho
bill was vetoed upon that ground and the
state was unreprcscnted in the celebration.
Major General Miller
AS ] have written, at tho head Of the Ma.
tional Guard, when became Governor. was
Major General Charles Miller. born In Al.
sacc, a stout man, fluent IN speech, agree.
able in manner, with much bonhomic, and
n faculty for getting along. Starting
with nothing, ho rose to association with
Joseph Siblcy and became n magnato of
the Standard Oil Company and enormously
wealthy. lTo had great capacity, was al
ways helpful, knew how to get along with
men. At the hotel ho would say to tho
waiter:
There is no ten-ccnt tip this time"
and, putting down beside his plate a Sc bill,
our party would receive with promptness
the best that could be secured.
lie drank good wines and owned speedy
horses. / am grateful TO him for much as
sistancc many times rendered in the work
of tho Guard. But he had neither the training
of a soldier nor the special knowledge ncces.
sary to fit him for the command. General
j. T. S. Goblin, of Lebanon, had seen real
service in the navy, the Rebellion aud the
war with SPAIN had been Lieutenant Cow
crnor Of tho state and had been ranking
briEadicr general Of tho Guard. Something
of a martinez, with that rigidity and in.
adaptablity which led mon to coil him "a
Crank but able and in love with tho
work, whenever tho Guard was called
into the service it was always Goblin and
his brigade that received the cnComiums Of
the military experts. But he was no match
Nfor Miller in tho practical affairs OF life.
Miller had held no higher rank than that
of colonel on the staff of BriGadcr General
John A. Wiley. With abundant tact ana
abundant means, ho made very large con-
tributions to the political campaigns and
in Stones administration he had been ele-
toI bo NO Of
the head of Goblin, and was made the major
general in command 1t was n rank in
justice, but he had tho support of all of
the political forces and seemed secure lie
made me some presents of bronze statuary,
and in hearty way would have done
much more had it been permitted | sent
for him and explained to him, in as kindly
a way as | knew how, my feeling that it
was due to Goblin, his work and desert
that should put him in command. Miller
was sadly disappointed but showed the
traits which gave him his strength. lie
had had trouble with his wife, leading to
much gossip around his home, but had
finally secured divorce and n new spouse.
He had arranged to take tho present wife
over to Alsace to introduce her to his
should postpone the blow and let him wear
his uniform and have the dignity of his
position through the summer. To this
suggestion 1 was glad to assent. 1t was a
really painful duty, but it was performed.
Water Company Charters
One morning | went into my Office and
found lying on my table applications for
charters for twcnty-nino water companies
awaiting approval. 1t was a manifesto.
tion in the concrete Of one of tho very
great and growing evils OF our develop.
ment, the insidous graspng by CONNER
cialism, following the course OF the church
in the ancient time, of the necessities of
life as means of profit. I at once sent a
special message to the Assembly recon-
mending that it take away from water com.
panies the right of eminent domain. Such
an act was passed, and during the remain
der of my term not more than three or four
water companies were chartered.
Among the visitors who were entertained
at the Executive Mansion was General
Fitzhugh Lee, of Virginia, n nephew of
General Robert Z. Lee and himself a dis.
tinguished figure in the War of the Re-
belIion and the war with Spain. Among
my predictions is a sympathetic feeling
for Virginia and the NirGinans Lee, a
stout, robust and affablc man, stayed over.
night with me and we became quite
chummy. He had come to urge particIpa-
tion by the State in the forthcoming James
town Exposition, and he and 1 both made
addresses at a meeting held in the Capitol.
The result was that the Legislature made
an appropriation of 100000 and arranged
to take part in the exposition. Lee tele.
graphed to me, Il shall refuse ever to
ride again to Gettysburg with a drawn
saber." Two weeks later he was dead.
An official memorial service to the men,
ory of Senator Quay was held by the Sen.
ate and House on the evening of March
90, at which delivered the address, which
has been printed in various shapes since.
During these later days of the session I
was receiving much encomium, even from
the city daihes, for the reason that they