Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-08-05
mrs. NICHOLS GIVES
TOO BODY PRAISE
Reports of Distrust in Senator
Penrose Denied as Mrs.
Harmon Resigns
CHARTER WORK LAUDED

CHARTER WORK LAUDED
Coincident with the resignation of
Mrs. Archibald r. Harmon. prominent
suffrage worker. from the committee Of
one hundred, comes the statement of
Mrs. III. s. Prentiss Nichols. another
member of the committee. with praise
fer the organization.
TOO much Penrose' is ascribed as
the reason for Mrs. Harmon resignins
from the committee.
In the committee have not heard
word indicating dstrust or disbelief in
Senator Penrose," declared Mrs. Mich
OILS today.
II have heard nothing that indicates
Senator Pcnrose's control Of the com
mittee. 1t was chosen as an indepen-
dent committee aud I have faith in it,
Some of the men did splendid service
for Philadelphia in getting the charter
and deserve confidence in this matter of
selectlng mayor.
Distrust Rumor Denied
In the committee | have not heard
word indicating distrust or belief
that Senator Penrose or any other per
son was seeking to gain control or had
gained CONTROL
Mrs. Harmon is chairman of the Sixth
congressional district of the National
Woman's party, and also is franchise
leader of the Women's Christian Ten
perance Union.
Opposed to Policy
In her letter Of resignation to Chair.
man Walton, of the committee of one
hundred, Mrs. Harmon announced that
she was taking such action because the
committee was limiting itself in the
choice of mayoralty candidate to rec
ognized followers of Senator Pcnrose.,
She declared she had hoped ''thc
movement would be a real attempt
to help the city"
Without naming A. Lincoln Acker
who was looked upon as the probable
mayoralty candidate of the commit
tee of one hundred, she referred to him
as "a Penrose ward leader"
Mrs. Max Margolis, another com
mittee member, said:
"Rumor caused me to decide today
to make an inquiry as to how the mem
bers of the committee stand before
taking any further action. The com
mittee was to have met today. but
the meeting was postponed until next
Thursday.
Discord Rumors Denied
II have heard nothing in the com,
S<mittee that indicates distrust or dis
cord. The rumors and reports are all
from the outside. I do not know what
has made Mrs. Harmon think the COM
mittee is dominated by Senator Pen
rose. Some members of the committee.
of course, are Republicans, but | Co
not know how many, if any, are Pen
I rose men.
Mrs. Harmon's letter to Chairman
Walton follows:
''In response to an invitation to be-
come member of the committee of one
hundred, which has publicly declared
its purpose to obtain, through the elec-
tion of officers this fall. good govern :
ment for Philadelphia, I attended the
first meeting of the committee at which
an organization was perfected.
I'm common with other women who
believe that it is their duty to give their
time to the public service, l am heartily
in, 70 pf tho a1oattpn Of ;ob
competent city officials and for good
government for the city in every sense
of the word, but do not want to lend
my aid to movement which may be
disposed merely to promote the inter
ests of political faction seeking to es
tablish itself in power.
$50 far as my observation goes.
aided, as 1t has been by reading the
newspapers, it appears that the com :
mittee of one hundred is limiting itself
In the choice of a mayoralty candidate
to recognized followers of Senator Pen
rose, and that its first choice according
TO all accounts, is Penrose ward
leader.
Criticizes Penrose
II cannot give my support to any
movement which is so dominated BY
Senator Penrose. / would not be Just
to myself if did. Senator Penrose has
been the consistent opponent of the rea
reforms for which we women hav,
fought.
''He has been determinedly oppose,
TO equal suffrage.
''He has always been the friend an,
champion of the liquor interests.
"He has been the enemy of all legis
lation intended to protect children
women and industrial workers.
Il hope that the movement repre-
scented by the committee would be
real attempt to help the city. Instea
it appears to be an effort to put Sena
tor Penrose at the head of affairs here
II therefore, tender my resignatio
as a member of the committee to tax
effect at once.