Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-11-27

NBRUMBAUGH JOB
is UP TO SPROUL
Depends on Governor-Elect
Who Writes State
War History
MAY BACK COMMISSION
Scholars Collecting Material
Likely to Quit if Work Is
Taken From Them
MAY BACK COMMISSION

II Is up to Governor-elect Sproul
whether the history of Pennsylvania's
part in the war will be written by Gov
ernor Brumbaugh or by the trained his
torians of the Pennsylvania War His
tory Commission.
Mr.. Sproul, interviewed in New York
this afternoon, refused to make any COM
ment on former Brumbaugh's appoint
ment.
Until the commission formally meets
and discusses the situation created by
the advent of Governor Brumbaugh as
war historian" at $4,000 a year, the
scholars who are thus swept into the
discard prefer to remain silent.
IT can be said with certainty, however,
( that unless Governor-elect Sproul backs
the war history commission, of which
he Is the chairman the historians sery-
Ing In that body with withdraw and
leave the honors and the work to Gov
ernor Brumbaugh.
Meanwhile the commission will go
ahead collecting materials for the war
history. A great deal of work already
has been done.
Plans Partly Worked Out
The preliminary plans have been
worked out wit ha comprehensiveness
that gives a foretaste of what the com.
missions history would have been had
: 1t not ben necessary to find a soft
and dignif1ed job for the retiring Gov
ernor.
DR.. Albert Il. Mckinley, secretary of
the commission and professor of history
ha n nf np1,lt. ar,ia eaid
this afternoon that the commission had
made definite plans to secure the rec
ord of every man from Pennsylvania
who has been In the service.
The military phase of Pennsylvania
war~history was only the smaller part
Of the great work that had been planned
out by the members of the commission
IF anything" said Doctor Mckinley
"the industrial work done in Pennsyl'
vania during the war period was OF
more far-reaching Importance than tho
military service of Pennsylvanians.
'As preliminary step to covering
the military side of the work, we had
ordered the printing of blanks which
were to be sent to every draft board
in Pennsylvania. These blanks were to
be filled in with complete information
about the service of every individual
in the Pennsylvania regiments. at the
forwarded by the draft boards to the
commission.
Work Well Advanced
"Our plans for covering the industrial
I side of Pennsylvania's war work like
wise were well advanced.
4. I'VE were preparing to send letters
to every association that had to do with
war welfare work. Letters were to have
gone to every religious organizat ton that
took part.
I'VE were asking $4,000 industrial
plants in Pennsylvania to cooperate
Similar requests were to go to every
bank and trust company, every city
and county superintendent of schools
every woman's club and to a score oi
other agencies that had a part in the
war.
1--WE wish these organizations ant
Industrial and business firms to do two
things: first, to send US all printed
matter they had pertaining to theil
work during the war; and second, tt
have some member of their organization
write US running history of its ac
tivities to be Incorporated in our ar
chives."
Job to be Attacked
Governor Brumbaugh will hold hi
job as state historian only snor
time. If at all, IL present plans o
those opposed to his appointment ar
carried to maturity.
II all other methods fail, a fight viii
be made in the Legislature to rip hin
out of his lucrative berth"
The first step to be taken. it is said
will be a petition to the courts to inter
vene. Should this appeal prove ineffec
tive, 1t Is declared, a motion will b
presented in the General Assembly to re
peal the law under which the new posi-
ton was created.
The Legislature will convene Januar
z. The Governor whose term expire
January 21. is to assume his duties a
historian Februa y 1.