Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-10-22
CONGRESSMAN MooRE'S
LETTER
Dr. Keen and Early Political Cam
psians-Gossip About Edwin s.
Stuart, Or. L. C. Vessels, Nor.
rls L. Cooke and Others
DOLIT1CAL campaigns ARE SO dlfrerent


rls l.. Cooke and Others -
DOLlT1CAL campaigns are so different
now from what they formerly were! DIR.
W. w. Keen, the eminent Philadelphia sur
geon, who was not too old, though he had
served in the Civil War to become major
in the great war just closed recalls when
the voters lined up in front of the old State
House and voted the vest pocket ticket.
sometimes the line was so long as to take
hours for the voters to reach the ballot
box And at other times the old fire com
panies, like the "Moya Hose" would break
loose and start a row and thus delay the re-
turns or open the way for fraud. Then
also they had parades and plenty Of rum
and occasional free for all fights to cnliven
the proceedings. How many Philndelphans
remember those stirring times? John WaDa-
maker certainly, and Isaac II. Clothicr. Mr..
Clothicr, who now lives in peaceful and
well earned retirement. watching with pride
the business and social activities of the
younger generation of Clothcrs. was really
fairly active politician in his younger days.
lie was one of the founders about fifty nine
years ago Of the Republican Invincibles, the
first wide awake club in the eastern
states. That was before the foundation
of the Union League, which was also the
first of its kind in the eastern states-in
fact, it was the first Union League founded
anywhere.
WHEN the fftieth anniversary of the Re
w publican party was celebrated, in Musi-
cal Fund Hall in 1906, Colonel Alexander
X. Mcclure, who had been friend of
Abraham Lincoln was one of the speakers.
There were present also number OF the
men who had not only voted for Lincoln
but for his predecessor, Fremont. The Ere
mont voters were lined up on the platform
and shown special honor Some OF them
talked Of their membership in the Repub
licau 1nvincibles. They gloricd in the day
of the torchligbt parade and boasted Of
their visits to ncighboring cities. 1t was
no unusual thing for them to start out on
these trips prepared for trouble. The In
vincbes continued their activities up to the
close of the convention system. their com
manders in later years including men like
Alexander l.. Colesberry, who became United
States marshal; James L. Miles who be-
came sheriff, and the late Mayor William
Il. Smith.
WTHEN Edwin s. Stuart formerly Mayor
w of Philadelphia and Governor of Penn
sylvania, who recently added the presidency
of the Poor Richard Club to his string Of
uoLuldlS lTopultS, Is Culleu upon lot Il
speech it's dollars to doughnuts the audience
will receive brief but eloquent reminder of
liberty and justice regulated by law" The
president of the Union League is a stickler
for the observance of the law. Hence his
cordial support of Governor Sproul in many
of the latters utterances recently about
Pennsylvania, the law abiding state
Governor Sproul has been keeping his ear to
the ground and so has the attorney general,
Mr.. Schaffer. The Governor realizes that
certain restlessness prevails and that it is
well to give heed to it. To a certain ex-
tent he is investigating it at first hand He
has discovered one irritating factor-the
housing problem-which, he thinks, should
be corrected. Complaints in this regard ap-
parently are not confined to the city of
Philadelphia.
TNlIE cityis ophthalmologist. Dr. L. C. Wes-
l. sells. who treats about 1000 children an
nually for defective vision. tells us that
about 20 per cent of those afflicted youngsters
are what are known as backward" This
is an unhappy showing and demonstrates
the wisdom of increased attention to santa
tion and housing, since many of the defects
in child life are traceabe TO unwhoesome
surroundings. The problem presented by
Doctor Vessels figures is serious enough
as it relates to the city, but it has broader
aspect The war easily demonstrated that,
it being reported that over 1000, 900 men
were rejected for military service because Of
some physical defect. And 60 per cent
of these defects, we are told, might with
proper care and living conditions. have been
overcome. Evidently the new Department
of Public Welfare has fine opportunity
to do good.
T0RPJS l. COOK
A'A director of public works. who made
crcditable record in the service at Wash
ington during the war. is back in Pbiadel-
phia in pursuit of his professionalism of an
engineer. The former director, who was once
newspaper man, has also blossomed out as
an author, having incorporated his studies
of municipal government in an attractive
volume entitled "Our Cities Awake" II
will be in order for Clinton Rogers
Woodruff to collate his writings on this sub
ject. The interest in civics is growing by
leaps and bounds.
FOOTBALL is born in the bone and VIII
liam w. Roper of Germantown. recently
nominated for the new Council of twenty
one, is no exception to the rule Along with
the Princeton University Athletic Associa-
ton, Mr. Roper has been giving attention
to the Princeton games, which began Dc
tober and will not conclude until the
| tryout with Yale at New Haven. November
| 10. Roper for Council and Lambertou for
sheriff will give an athletic touch to the new
administration, it being said of the shrieyalty
nominee that a fifteen mile walk for him
is as easy as it is for Prothonotary Henry
| +. Walton TO sit down to reedbird dinner
A LBERT SMITH TAUGHT is one OF the
"A active spirits in civic movements in
Philadelphia, his speciality being the civil
| service. Mr.. Taught. along with n JJenrr