Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-02-04
SPEAKING SOFTLY
Gentle Voice Apparently Big Asset
In Political Llfe-Newspaper-
men and the Law
BY GEORGE NOX MCCAIN

| mlnuer, tnaC brought cOnSplcuOuSly to MIND
some characteristics of one of the biggest
and best liked leaders that Philadelphia Re
| publicans have known in generation.
| In your mention of successful politicians
who were the possessors of a quiet manner
| and subdued voice, you unintentionally, |
think, omitted one who stood pre- eminent in
that respect, Israel w. Durham" he said.
! might have also included the name of
Senator Edwin A. Ware. Even when ad e
! dressing political gatherings he rarely raises
his voice above a conversational tone. The
| late Senator McNichol had most unusual
voice. 1t is best described by the word
cheerful and it was his tone in greeting
or conversation, quite as much as his facial
expression, that earned for him the sobri-
| quet of Smiling jim"
Republican State Chairman William e.
| Crow should also be added to the list. His
| is what might be called the confdentiakv
| In ordinary conversation he conveys the i'm
preston of imparting privileged communi-
cation.
Senator CroV, like all of the Republican
state chairmen in four decades, comes from
the country. The fact is a tribute to the
resourcefulness, acumen and shrewdness of
country bred and trained politicians.
b. f. Gilkeson was a fine sample of the
type. Up until 1918, when Grow delivered
an overwhelming majority for Governor
Sproul, Gilkeson held the high water record
in state majority.
D F. GILKESON, like Senator Grow, was
10 county leader. He was at the head
of the Bucks county bar at the time Presi-
dent Harrison appointed him second comp
troller of the treasury.
He was a veteran of the Civil War,
member of Company l, Seventeenth Regi-
ment, Pennsylvania Militia. He was far
sighted, cool and calculating in political af-
fairs. 1t was his war experience, ] fancy,
that once led him to remark to me-
"A political campaign, in my judgment,
is like battle. You cant afford to let the
enemy get the slightest inkling of what is
going on in your lines. Say nothing and
saw wood, has always been my watchword.'
1t was this policy of retcence and studied
coolness that earned for him the nickname
of Frosty Gilkeson." 1t was undcscrved,
so far as his private personality was con
cerned. A more companionable and genial
man could not be found than the gentleman
from Bucks when he was in the company of
friends. The nickname was bestowed, l
think, because of his quick penetration and
his impatience with the class of hangers on
known as bores and winners.
One of the characteristic stories told of
Gilkeson in this connection concerned an up
state meddler and fault finder.
''Mr. Chairman, this fellow Jones, candi-
date for the Senate from our district, is a
fool. He talks too much and he has no,
friends. He's going to hurt the congress
sional ticket, and l wish you would send
somebody to tell him So" said the kicker,
Certainly, certainly; good idea replied
Gilkeson.
For moment he assumed an attitude, odd
md rnuSun1 that W oh n nptp of him
when in deep thought. He turned his eyes
toward the ceiling, with his arms pressed
against his Sides and with both index fingers
pointed straight ahead like q Geisha dancing
girl
Good idea" he unused. "You go and tell
him what you think of him and then come
and let me know the result
That was the last of the kicker.
TNHE late Attorney General Henry W.
L Palmer, of Pennsylvania, was one of the
few men in public life a quarter of CEN
tury ago who had the courage of his convic-
tions in the face of what amounted virtually
to political ostracsm. He was an ardent
advocate of local option.
After his retirement as attorney general
in 1888 under Governor Hoyt he made local
option part of his political creed.
The dire effects of its adoption held no ter
rors for him. His views of the future of
this country under the restricted sale of in
toxicants seems now like a far cry in the
wilderness. He was the prophet of the pres
ent dispensation. Here is what I once heard
him say at a mass meeting up in the coal
regions:
do not despair of the republic Our mil
lions are only fraction of the number that
can be supported in peace and comfort on
yVa hoya manly oil &C tbo
arabic land of the earth. We have fertile
soil, healthful climate and a free govern
ment, in which liberty, fraternity and
equality are household words. This great
republic will go on prospering and to pros
per because the people will send the false
prophets and false teachers into resurrection
less oblivion
DOBERT J. BRANNAN looms up occa-
Ae sionally among the throngs in the vicinity
of Broad and Chestnut, largely because his
law Office is nearby. 1t is more than twenty
years now since Mr.. Brannan gave up his
career in journalism to take UP the practice
of law. Newspaper work was for him but a
stepping stone to the law
City Solicitor Smyth is another legal lumi-
nary whose pencil years ago contributed to
the ephemcral pages of the news sheet In
deed, the roster of Philadelphia ATTORNEYS
who were once reporters or space writer's
contains many names both familiar and
prominent. In at least three instances |
recall the names of men widely known in
journalistic circles who entered the law,
built up lucrative practice and then, find
ing the lure of the editorial desk irresistible,
returned to the ranks of journalism.
] recall an instance in the case Of a
certain professional man who, on a visit to
| New York, was the witness of a peculiar
| accident. With its attendant yet ridiculous
| features it held the germ of a corking good
| half column newspaper story.
He rushed off to his hotel seized pencil
| and paper and had three pages of copy writ
| ten when suddenly it occurred to him. as he
| afterward expressed it, "What in thunder
am I going to do with this after I have it
| written?"
He might have sold it to a New York
newspaper, but he had deserted journalism