Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-12
GOV. PENNYPACKER
PUZZLED BY II. r.
Doesn't Know Whether Colonel Is
a Richard Coeur de Lion or
Mahomet," Former Exec
utive Wrote
rEN>NrAcKER AuronroGR,ruy->o. os

| IN the spring of SOC large delegation OF
state Senators and Representatives, Oh
| behalf OF the state. went with me to Wash.
ington to invite the President to deliver
the Grafton at the dedication Of the state
| Capitol the ensuing autumn. Senators Pen
rose and Knox accompanied US TO me
was left the burden of making tho per.
suading speech I had written a formal
letter Of invitation suggesting that we
would make every effort to accommodate
| ourselves to his wish and would let him
designate the day. lie accepted and sc.
| lccted the 4th day of October which hap.
pened to he the anniversary OF the re.
union in 1877 Of the Pennypackcr family
at Pcnnypackcr Mills. After he had re.
ceved us and heard me he dismissed the
delegation and asked Penrose and Knox
and myself TO come into his private room
In the annex 10 the White House, as there
was n matter OF Importance about which
he wanted to talk to US. Closing the doors
he turned to me and said in effect that
hc had information from reliable sources
that there was going TO be another great
coal strike in the course Of the coming
summer that he gave me warming in ad.
vance so that I might be prepared, and
that he would like me to enter into com
munication with him on the first appear
ance Of difficulty At that moment he and I
set our faces in different directions. II was
in effect an announcement to me that IN
the event Of differences between the coal
operators and the coal miners in Penn.
sylvania he intended TO take charge Of the
matter as he had done before. ! had al.
ways regarded the appointment OF the
Coal Commission not only as a stretch OF
the authority Of the national executive,
but also as an Interference with the tsov.
ercignty Of the state and an unjustifable
assumption Of duty which pertained
TO that sovereignty alone. | listened in
silence, with the inward determination that
in the event Of the emergency he had
forecast he should have nothing Whatever
20 do with its settlement, unless the 10.
sources of the state proved inadequate.
The Coal Strike Fight
In a preceding chapter I have given my
letters to President George +. Baer, OF the
Philadelphia and Reading Railway COM
pany. and to John Mitchell. head OF the
labor organization, my proclamation to the
people OF the state, and have narra'cd the
use OF tho state Constabulary, and the
steps taken which led to the settlement
of the coat strike 10y the authorities Of
PENNSYLVANIA. | had however, touched Nj.
Roosevelt in his most sensitive nerve and
] have always felt that he did not forgive
me. When later Mr.. kuoX asked him 10
appoint me to the Supreme Court or the
United States, he inquired what would
the newspapers say" and appointed
Eecord man from Il"sf"rhusc'is.
on the 4th Of October, 1906. ! rode
through the streets of Harrisburg with him
in a barouchS in which was also the Mayor
of that city. He was Oh his feet nearly
the whole time. almost throwing himself
out of tho carriage in energetic recogni'
tions Of the vociferous shouts and cheers
of the crowd. The Mayor found a chance,
with some difficulty. to express a most
earnest hope that Mr.. Roosevelt would
permit the people again to elect him 10
the Presidency. | was perhaps called upon
by the situation to concur in this maadroit
compliment, but refrained. The President
naturally made no response. As he threw
himself to right ana left, said, 81 do not
know what to make of YOU to which he
in like manner made no response. TO some
comment Of mine upon the responsibilities
and powers OF the President he took time
to say, 1T is "A great Office"
The newspapers in their efforts to md
some defect about tho Capitol had been
making much todo about some little heads
on tho main doors As he entered the
building. he said, with manifest effort
to be generally heard. "These are the finest
bronze doors | have ever seen" for which
I was duly grateful. lie ran over the
building, commenting tavorabIy upon all
he saw. 1t was raining heavily To the
suggestion that we have the ceremonies
inside, he said, NO, We will speak from
the platform" While / was making the
dedicatory address some one in the crowd
called aloud. Mr.. Roosevelt caught me by
the coat and said, Don't answer him; don't
answer him." His address was pronounced
in its views. He commended highly the
special session Of the Legislature and It's
work. lie attacked tho courts. lie advo.
Gated a concentration of power in the
National Government, citing James WI.
son. He picked out an old soldier in front
of him and made the veteran wild with
pleasure with personal references He
met Mrs. Pennypacker and asked for tho
number of her children. He signed the
proof notes OF his address while on the
platform and gave them to me
He lunched at the Mansion. He asked
for "My Pennypacker" and I had my
brother James come to the table beside
him.
He had promised TO speak I'm York and
was hurried away to the train shouting
and gesticulating. l have not seen him
since.
His Attitude Changes
began with much admiration for him