Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-06-13
REPORTED DYING,
PENR0SE THROWS
HELP TO HARDING
Sick Senator Regarded as
Powerful. Factor In
Nomination.
Special D,.pat ch to The star.

SpeSiA h1Sputcu " Au8 6toEs
/ PHILADELPHIA, Pa. Juno H.
While delegates were busily engaged
in tho battle Of ballots amid the tur-
MOL and confusion Of the national
republican convention at Chicago to-
day. United States Senator Boies Pen.
rose, who had been reported dying
earlier in the day. took the situation
in hand and guided the action Of the
delegates in that he gave the word
which eliminated in the selection Of
Warren q. Harding Of ohio 81 the re-
publican presidential nominee.
Although separated from tho actual
scene Of action by moro than 1000
miles, Senator Penrose calmly wrote a
telegram which gave the word to the
| Pennsylvania delegates to swing their
votes to Senator Harding.
Sends Greeting to Harding.
| Shortly after word was flashed to
the senator over his private wire that
Mr.. Harding had received the neces-
| sary number of votes to make him
the standard-bearer Of the republican
party Senator Penrose dispatched
the following telegram to the sue
cessful nominee:
| Honorable Warren G. Harding.
i Congress Hotel. Chicago, Ill.
Il extend my sincere congratulations
upon your nomination. You know ]
was one Of the earliest advocates OF
your fitness for the Office. and was
prepared at any opportunity to go in
and promote your candidacy. With
your sterling Americanism. and long
public and legislative experience, you
have pre-eminent qualifications which
appeal to the people. You belong tc
the type OF statesmen who are quail
fed to act as President and. being
| convinced that the American people
are determined to restore the repub-
lican party to power in November.
have a certainty Of your election and
confidence in q great administration
at your hands. I hope to be able to
| take my full part in the campaign and
shall do everything within my power
to help you win.
| "BoIEs PENRosE."
Later in the evening Senator Pen
| rose announced through his secretary
that he was mighty pleased" Fur
| Their to emphasize his pleasure the
| senator dictated the following state
| ment:
AS is well known, I have been
partially relegated to the rear on ac-
count of sickness. but even though
| the battle at Chicago the final result
of the contest for the presidential
nomination could not be more salts
factory to me.
Il believe L can state without ex-
aggeration, and it is generally known
among our friends in Washington
that was one of the first to discuss
with Senator Harding his candidacy
for the presidency and to urge it.
Il say advisedly that the country
Is fortunate and the situation Is fully
met. Senator Harding as President
will know how to control affairs at
home. as well as command the respect
of foreign nations"
Late this afternoon a report was
put on the street that the senior SEN
ator from Pennsylvania was in a
dying condition and would hardly sur
vive the day.
Serious Reports Exaggerated.
While these reports were being put
into circulation, spreading even as
far as Chicago in few minutes, Sem
ator Penrose was up walking about
in the confines Of his room. He called
to his secretary. Leighton c. Taylor,
and dictated the statement that will
go down in history as the biggest
factor in the 1920 republican conven-
ton.
The statement follows:
Il learn with pleasure Of Senator
Hardfng's prospects for the presiden-
ttal nomination at the Chicago con-
vention. Senator Harding was one OF
the earliest candidates for the nomi-
nation upon whom looked most ia
vorably. I had frequent conferences
with him. He is suited pre-eminently
for the Office, and IL in the evolution
Of events he should be nominated il
would be a splendid thing for the re-
publican party and satisfactory TO
all republicans"
Shortly after giving this statement
senator Penrose advised the Penn
sylvania delegation to support Hard
ing when in their opinion 1t appeared
the nomination Of Gov. Sproul was
possible no longer.