Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-07-02
COL. JIM GUFFEY WAITS
News Of Palmer's Waterloo VIII
Be Sweet Music to His Ears.
Last Of a Sturdy Old
Breed Of Democrats
BY GEORGE NOX MCCAIN

BY GEORGE NOX Mccain
TAMES McCLURG GUFFEY, the
- most picturesque and absolute ruler
that the Democracy OF PENNSYLVANIA
ever knew, sits in his Office In Pitts
burgh awaiting the announcement from
the convention hall In San Francisco
that A. Mitchell Palmer, attorney gen
eral Of the United States, has met his
Waterloo.
II will be the sweetest music that
Colonel Jim" has heard for many a
long day.
For it was Mitchell Palmer. Vance
Mccormick and the others Of the up
start brood Of younger Democrats who
dragged Colonel Guffcy from the seat
of power. threw him out into the dust
of the political highway and then pro T.
ccedcd to tear down the throne and hurl
it after him.
In the years in which he was the
Democratic c2ar of Pennsylvania Colo
mel Guffey never sought political prefer
ment for himself. With vast wealth
playing politics was his recreation.
For several years from 1897 he was
Democratic national committeeman
from Pennsylvania, and he sought that
only as n means to establish himself
more firmly in the scat of power.
His modesty is unique in the history
of his party.
COLONEL GUFFEY is today ap-
~ preaching eighty two years of age.
His ancestors lived In WCstmorcland
county since 1858.
There were three Of tho Guffey
brothers, of whom Colonel jim is the
sole survivor.
James NJ. Guffcy was the eldest. and
after him came Wesley s. and John.
They were three of the most unusual
personalities that ever came out of
Wcstmoreland county.
Wesley. or Yves" ms he was uni
versally known. looked like the Silver
King hero in the play Of that name.
He was a remarkably handsome man.
with flowing gray mustachc. iron gray
hair worn long and brushed carefully
back. slender and graceful in carriage.
He affected low collars. voluminous
bow ties and an cxpanse Of snowy shirt
front of finest linen. Colonel Jim him
self. in this respect, in former years at
least, followed the sartorial example OF
his younger brother.
THE Guffcys have been Democrats
L from far back. They were. as n
family. leaders in Wcstmorclaud county
when It was known far and wide Ms
''Thc Democratic Star Of the West. .
But the star set when the coke ovens
of Westmorcland began to multiply
and the tariff became the predominant
issue.
John Guffoy was the opposite oI
Wesley. He was big. loud voiced
careless of his personal appearance and
the acquired poSsessor of the choicest
line of descriptive profanity that ono
could find in n days travel from
Greonsburg to Donegal.
The Gutfcys were Democrats Of thu
militant sort, particularly John. II,
was fearless. dominant. stanct
friend and relentless foe, personally
and politically.
John was sheriff of Westmorelant
county during its most troublous time
for when the lower end of the county
central part was having its full share
with an occasional riot thrown in.
A STORY that was long current abou
"A Sheriff Guffcy occurred during on'
of these recurrcnt labor uphcavals.
One particularly turbulent center wa
! known as "Mucklcrat. It harboret
some of the most belligerent of thu
strikers. and particularly the leader o.
the strong arm faction. an Irishmar
named Mulready. for whom a number
Of warrants had been issued.
Repeated failures Of deputies to ap.
nrehpnd Mulrcady led Sheriff Guffey tC
take the trail himself. Near "Muckle'
rat" hc came up with man who HI
instantly surmiscd was the man h,
wanted.
The sheriff was unarmed and carried
not even a pair of handouts.
At times. and when it suited his pur
pose. John Gulfey could be deferen.
TALLY polite.
"Is your name Mulready, sir?" In.
Quired the sheriff.
"It is" was the reply, with a glar,
OF distrust and inquiry.
The two men were standing on /,
! road beside n small rocky stream, alone
with no one in sight.
"Well, sir continued the sheriff
squaring his massive shoulders, "my
name is Guffey, sir. I'm one Of tn,
fighting Guffeys, sir, and have a war
rant for your arrest. I'm the sheriff
of this county, and IL you don't com,
along with me peaceably I'll throw yol
into the run and break your damn
DocL cir -