Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-08-31
Was DOubLe-CrOss
Put on PenrOse?
Continued from PaEe One


independent movement would 60 to
pieces.
But Senator Penrose did not, as an
ticipated. disappear from the field Of
action. He recovered and resumed his
place in Washington.
With diminished vitality, but unim-
paired mentality, he undertook to man.
age the greatest financial budget in the
history of the world. In itself this was
sufficient to demand the undivided at
tention of any man.
AS result, in private conversation
and public utterance, Penrose reiterated
that he did not propose to become en-
tangled in the Philadelphia fight.
He had, he said, his work cut out at
Washington for months to come.
1t is worth noting, though, that he was
kept in touch with Philadelphia condi-
tions. His trusted inforlnants were his
lieutenants in the mayoralty reform
campaign.
The Inference was that his friends,
or presumed friends and lieutenants
could handle the situation. They had
| triumphed in the mayoralty election.
| They had helped to relegate the Ware
brothers to the position of mere WARD
| leaders.
Mayor Moore, to be sure, had flouted
some of those friends. 1t was a sore
spot with him. Had the Mayor not
been so unyieldlng, a tri6e more tact
full, perhaps It might have been differ
ent. II was argued.
Then began the pilgrimages of pre-
sumcd Penrose friends TO the Penrose
altar in Washington. They presented
| figures of wards and districts TO prove
that with their manipulated ticket
! ,,,l
and a little for the Nares-there would
be no serious contest this fall.
Senator Penrose listened to the voices.
| He was warned to beware, though, by
diSinterested persons.
! He suggested two things as his per-
sonal desires, the re-election of Sam.
| uel T. Rotan as District Attorney, and
the substitution of candidate TO sue
ceed W. Freeland Kendrick as Receiver
Of Taxes.
Particularly was he insistent that
KendriCk be eliminated.
His requests were tabulated, o. *. d
and his presumed friends bowed theil
way out of the presence.
| The Voters League meantime had
come into existence. Its leaders were
also friends of Senator PenrOse. They
had fought under his banner in thu
mayoralty election. They accepted his
dictum that he was still opposed Wig
orously to contractor rule and in favor
of civic decenCy and municipal prog
ress.
But even here, in the stronghold o.
independent action, the combination
| had its representatives. Those wht
we're kindly disposed toward the new
order, the anti Moore element and the
/ W II uoI1ay suppOrtprG
Meantime the cabal, with Senator
Edwin II. Ware at its head. was sub
marining every agency that opposed 1t
Senator Ware was and has been no
only the titular but actual head of thu
cabal. This was by virtue of his highe,
ability, cunning and astuteness. 1t wa:
natural that he assume the leadership
of his associates of the mixed breed OF
Varieties and Penroseites.
The name Of A. Lincoln Acker wa
suggested by Mayor Moore's friends a
candidate for City Treasurer. Mr.
Acker is Purchasing Agent in th'
Moore cabinet. He declined to run foi
one reason or another.
Mr.. Acker's man, Councilman cans
broke away from the Administration
and helped the Wares in critical time
Then he thought better of 1t and CAM
back. Mr.. Acker Is a Penrose man.
One after another candidates of th
Irdenendent Voters League were ap-
proached by the combine to withdraw
Then the name of Senator Dalx to
CITY Treasurer was put forth.
President of Council Weglein. an
other Penrose man, was warmly IN nj
This led to the gossip that if Fresi'
dent Weglen could nominate Daix fol
Citv Treasurer there would be har.
mony arrangement with the Mayor anC
the return Of Councilmen Limeburner
Montgomery and Wcglein to the anti
Ware fold. That they would support
Mayor MoOre's efforts for better gov
ernment and the complete elimination
of the Wares from contracts and city
! loo .sh'O
The ''maligu influence" of the com
hinc which senator PenroSe speaks o.
got busy. The fact is they had beer
busy all along.
The trap had been baited with
candidate, a Penrose follower. 1t wal
sprung at the psychological instant
The candidate withdrew at the last mo-
ment.
President Wegein declared fev
hours later that it was "a closed IN
cident" to him. Thus the last formid
able opponent to the Ware candidate 70
City Treasurer was withdrawn.
FIod Pcnrosc been double crossed il
the house Of his friends:
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