The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-05-05
Washington Bureau The Age Herald
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 ard of republican politics. Boies Penrose has waved his wand, spoken a languorous nonosyllabic half sentence, and To! there is another candidate, and very formidable candi- date.
 He is Philander c. Knox, former Secre- tary of State, and constitutional lawyer, and now the junior senator from the great state of Pennsylvania. Prior to the apparently innocuous speech of the senior senator from Pennsylvania, MT. Knox was not a candidate. Now, however, his hat is in the ring and his colors in the breeze.
 For the several months in which va- rious republican candidates have exer- cised themselves before the people, MT. Penrose, known as the "big boss" of re- publican politics, has constituted a most irritating mystery. For he said nothing. And everybody knew-not including the aforesaid candidates-that no man need pin his hope on an entrance into the White House unless the boss" gave him his o. K.
 There is little doubt but that the can didates exercised themselves at the bid ding of Penrose. For Penrose wanted to see not only the candidates while on the stump, but he wanted to note their effect. It was known that he would have none of Herbert Hoover. little of Hiram Johnson, and considerably less of Leonard Wood. It was known, also, that he regarded Miles Poindexter as one whose dabbling in the creek would cause no permapent ripple It was known. fur ther, that of those in the field, he was inclined to Governor Lowden and Sena- tor Harding.
 It cannot be said that Penrose did not give all of them a fair chance. He did not speak until after each had pranced before the grandstand and got his little applause. He did not move until the sev- eral states with favorite sons had ex- pressed opinion of those sons. Then 1t was that he moved from a sick bed in Florida back to Philadelphia, his own particular citadel where he controls as unchallenged as the Caesars of ancient Rome.
 Having reached Philadelphia, he was in position to state his programme. He had already conclulel as ssid, that neither Johnson, nor Wood, nor Hoover would do. He had seen Lowden carry Illinois but lose the great Chicago. He had seen Harding carry Ohio, but not so completely that he could use the Ohio delegation as he saw fit. There fore, he discarded Lowden and Hardns. It was then that, stretching himself m lackadaisical manner, he said in a kind of off-hand manner:
 q think Senator Knox would make an admirable candidate"
 Instantly, Knox experienced boom. And today it is understood that he has a total of 200 delegates, for none of whom he made request, and after none of whom he made pursuit In the beginning there was the powerful Pennsylvania delega- tion. And secondly, New Y York leaned to Knox to such an extent that more than half the delegation broke with pr. Nich- oias Murray Butler Other eastern dele gates committed themselves to Knox-and ir such manner the Pennsylvania senator found himself possessed of cool 200. And yet there are those who contend that Penrose does not carry the G. o. P. in his hip pocket. There has not been such another master since the helcyon days of Mark Hanna.
 But the falling of the delegates from pedestals of indifference into the camp os Knox with unparalleled enthusiasm was not the most significant feature fol- lowing the waving of the Penrose wand There was time, as is recalled. when each of the republican candidates de- clared himself too big a man to accept second place on any ticket which might be devised But now, there is indication that either the one or the other. with the possible exception of Herbert Hoov- CT, who would be glad to take position second to knox-or second to anyone Pen rose should name. The most remarkable indication of all is that even Hiram Johnson, the great bull calf of the de- funct moose organization, is willing to- step down. and use his power of popular appeal. his ability to get votes, in other words. in an effort to put Penrose's man in the White House.
 Of course. 1t may not be Knox. If