Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-02-19


public man in recent years.
Outside the great cities he was known per-
sonally to more people than any member OF
tho Legislature perhaps in half century
He was twice a nominee for state offices and
for two years was the state chairman OIL the
Democratic party. For six years he was
master of the State Grange. In addition
he was identified in an official way with two
national farm organizations.
It was because of his official position and
his connection with agricultural bodies that
he came to have a statewide personal ac-
quaintance.
WILLIAM TRENTON GREASY was of
w Colonial ancestry His forebears fought
in the Revolution. He lived and died IN tne
township in which he was born.
In his younger days he was rather gaunt
and inclined to be raw boned, with dark
blue eyes, prominent nose and heavy brown
drooQins mustache.
He first came to Harrisburg in 1880 as
the representative from Columbia county.
He brought with him certain narrow preJu
dices, among them a dislike for and distrust
OF newspaper correspondents. They were in
dividuals TO be Stunned and never to be
trusted with political secrets.
The Democratic party was always right
and the Republican party always wrong.
At his first session he voted oftener against
measures proposed by the Republican side,
notwithstanding they were nonnartisan meas
ures, than he did for them.
He was o member of the House continu-
ously for fifteen years. but in that tine his
views both as to newspapermen and kepub-
ican members Of the House underwent a
complete transformation. He came to regard
the correspondents as his best friends and
Republicans, in their private capacity, as
good fellows and men like unto himself,
LNROM an unpublished but forceful advocate
l. of legislative measures he developed in the
course Of years into a clever If not accom-
plished debater. He was direct in his utter
ances and re-enforced his statements with
concrete facts and figures.
His voice was strident. with somewhat of
a nasal twang. His hold upon the farmers
of the state was phenomenal
They regarded him as the embodiment of
honesty. And he was. He was honest clear
through from start to finish of his political
career.
Tn 1906, when William r. Greasy was the
nominee for auditor general on the Dem
ocratic. Lincoln. Prohibition and Union
Labor tickets. and the late Jeremiah Fl.
Black was candidate for Lieutenant Gov
ernor on the same coalition ticket. Travelled
with them over good part Of the state on
their campaigning tour.
He was a rugged. outspoken. lovable,
whole souled man. He could not dissemble.
His public views were his private views.
He was anything but a political opportunist.
The great corporations of the state, which
he fought consistently, knew this. and l
think respected him for it. He could neither
he cajoled, compelled nor purchased.
Greasy was one of the most uncompromis-
ing Democrats l have ever known. And yet
he was as bitter in his opposition to the
traders and tricksters on the Democratic side
in the House as he was to corporation repre-
scntatives on the Republican side.
WITH thelexception of ex Governor Edwin
w S. Stuart and Lewis Emery. Jr., all of
the leading candidates. successful and unsuc-
cossful. in that campaign of 1906 have passed
away Robert S. Murphy and Jeremiah s.
Black. rival candidates for Lieutenant Gov
ernor. are both dead.
do not recall that two finer more genial
men ever contested for high Office than
Bob Murphy, of Cambria, aud "Jcrry''
Black of York Roth werc Young. able and
popular.
Murphy. the son of the world famous tenn
rerance apostle, Francis Murphy, had in
herited the splendid physique and winning
personality of his father.
jeremiah S. Black, son Of Chauncey For
ward Black, eX-Lieutenant Governor and
one of the most perfect gentlemen have ever
known, personifed the dignity. learning and
Suavity of three generations of Pennsylvania
statesmen.
Robert x. Young. of Toga, who defeated
l. -.
year, passed away a few years since, and
! now the gentleman from Columbia follows
| him into the unknown.
Henry Houck. who was chosen secretary
! Of internal affairs in 1906, has been dead for
a number of years.
| OF THE Philadelphia congressman elected
" in 1906. Henry II. Bingham, John f.
Reyburn, Reuben O. Moon, George D. Nc
| Creary and W. W. Foulkrod have Travelled
1 on to the undiscovered country, leaving Mayor
! J. Hampton Moore the last survivor of a
notable sextet
Many of these men died before their time.
Robert S. Murphy. brilliant and con-
Yivial was the first to 60 Jeremiah s.
Black, who for years had his residence in
the beautiful ancestral home at Willow
Bridges, the scene as I we'll recall of
some OF the most brilliant gatherings Of pub
lie men that York county has ever known
died largely as the result of worry due to
! financial reverses,
Henry Houck had reaped many honors as
one of the most popular public speakers in
the state whose auecdotal "reminiscences were
only surpassed by those of the eloquent and
witty General Thomas J. Stewart, possibly
the most accomplished orator Pennsylvania
has known in half a century.
E1 Governor Edwin s. Stuart still hear
ing high the honors of distinguished and
well spent life, presides over the destines OF
the Union League as its president.
Lewis Emery, Ir., now past eighty wear,
of age and many times a millionaire Stuart,
old rival for the chief magistracy. has duna
dull care and business responsibilities TO tho
winds and is spending the remaining year,
Of his life alternating between the tropica
beauties of the island of Jamaica and tn,
wind swept plateaus of Peru.
T OOKING back across the comparativel,