Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-06-07
SPROUL LOOMS BIG
AS COP. dark HORSE
Atterbury Declares Sproul Can't
Control Pennsylvania Dele
CATION By Phone.

Chicago, June - General William
Wallace Atterbury. Nicc-PrcSidcnt of the
Pennsylvania Railroad. who. when Sen
ator Penrose was incapaciated. had the
Pennsylvania delegation drop Knox and
indorse Governor Sproul, has taken
charge of the Sproul boom here, and
Sproul dark horse" stock is rising per
ccptibly today. Ii has come about in this
I way
Senator Boics pcnrose is absent from
Chicago. The man who prevented the
nomination of Roosevelt in 1912 and he
came the chief power in Republican ma
chine affairs has passed away rs factor.
The convention of 1920 thus far IS without
= header. free and mthrottlcd 1t may he
that the party II once II Is able to select It's
nominee without the dictation of bosses
will have future conventions thoroughly
representative of the votes as they voice
their wishes IN primaries reformed %
make them more adaptable to the uses
uf the electorate.
But although Boies Penrose cannot he
here this week he still will attempt To
exert his influence through his repre-
sentatives Senator James T.. Watson
and John T. King of Connecticut, who
will be at the end of telephone wire
running directly from Mr.. Pcnrosc' 5 sick
room In Philadelphia to his headquarters
IN the Congress Hotel. The campaign
managers and the candidates whom Scna-
tor PenroSe opposed are happy, tor they
say that an Ill man cannot impress hls
personality or his power upon the con-
vention. most of the delegates OF which are
Of progressive tendencies and not re-
sponsive to boss dlctatiou.
The absence of the boss who IS recog-
-,s2aI fbo h,,Ia fan
tive thought and big interests III the
party. appears to- be ono of the note
worthy features Of this gathering Ills
associates, who expected 10 have his at
vice and reflect his courage Iii shaping
affairs, express the greatest concern.
Even progressive leaders who have con-
demned HIM are saying kindly things
about him. All Of them are asking what
y to be done and who Is to DO Il There
i 4 wave OF sympathy for the absent boss
As the acknowledged leader Of the
Republican chipftans Penrosc had spent
months in directing pre-prlmary moves
and in executing plots 70 the end that
he might see their consummatiou here
tins week lorcseclng that his impaired
hcalth might force HIM out ot active
participation. he recently declared for !
senator y. G. Knox and expressed the
hope that the convention would nom
mate the Senator for President This
declaration was aimed to 10 4 strategic
move 10 prevent Mood and johnson
from obtaining delegates in the State
but was directed most iorclbly against
Governor Sproui. who was assuming to
lie the potent force in PENNSYLVANIA
while the boss was III III Florida
For time the Penrose pronuncia-
mento seemed to have the effect of sup
pressing the latent Sproul boom, but
then came the turn for the worse in PEN
roses 8 health.
II was assumed by Penrose'S friends
in Pennsylvania that the delegates would
60 to Chicago uninstructed and, after
giving q complimentary vote to SprOui
would turn 10 Knox in the event OF dead
lock This did not suit he views OF Sproul
and these aspiring 10 be the neW factors
i'll PENNSYLVANIA politics and contrary
TO the orders Of Penrcsc fhroe-fcurthS oi
/ ne delegates mot in phladclnhla last
week and decided o support >prouI from
trst 20 last
This had the effect of ecllpsing knoN
and exciting me anger 81 Penn s.. Tie
latter had agreed ~ obey hIs doctors
and stay Al home but Immediately h>
plans were changed. He SAID he IVES gong
10 Chicago Then again he had IS gSr lp
he trip, which would have endangered
his lifc
10 Pcnrose IS not here and in h's PLACE
selected by Governor ~proul aud those
ia control Of the Pennsylvania delela-
tion. is General William Wallace After
iurv. Vice President Of the PcnnsvI-
vania Railroad, which always has been
ne silent and powerful force in big politics
in the keystone State j was Mr.. After
bury who offered the resolution whtch
hound the Pennsylvania delegation 10
~proul.