Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-11-03
FATHER OF THE HOUSE
How James ciarenoy Missed the
Honor by a Hands Bresdth---Ralph
b. Strassburser and His Career.
Thomas c. Donaldson, the
Collector
By GEORGE NOx MCCAIN

- today, came within hands breadth, IN
point of time, of achieving the distinction
Of being the Father Of the House, Mt
Harrisburg.
There are very few men in political life
who have attained that honor.
] recall only two in legislative expert
cnce covering more than thirty y-five years.
Both of them came from Philadelphia.
William +. Stewart at the time OF his
death in 1000 had served in the House Of
Representatives for twenty consecutive years.
John II. Rebel. who died in February,
1913, had, l believe, the record for con-
tinuous service. IL covered twenty six years.
Mr.. Clarency began his career in the
House at tho session Of 1891, four years
later than Representative Rebel. Next TO
the Inter, he was tho oldest member then on
the floor.
He did no. return to Harrisburg after tho
session Of 1911.
TAMES CLARENCY, bibliophilc and pub
c licist, was one OF the most modest and
unassumlng men I ever knew.
The unassiming qualities of n Senator or
member Of the House Of Representatives
can be judged by the length Of bis auto
biography in Smull's Handbook.
State Senators are invariably more promo
TO self-laudatton in Smull's than members
Of the House.
The longer the photographer sketch
the less important the Senator.
james :. MCN1CnOl t0l0 tDe stOrV OF Mo
political career in four lines.
Edwin II. Ware has been content with fvs
lines.
I could select dozen Senator's who re-
quired from twelve to seventeen lines OK
small print TO recite their glories. They
never amounted to a row Of pins as political
leaders.
James Usrency In 1891 utilized Eve lines
for his autobiography.
TT WAS tho first session Of bis twenty
l. years. continuous service as q Repre-
sentative from the Twelfth District.
When he left the House at the close Of
the session IN 1911 his autobiography meas
ured just one line more. II was needed to
recite the dates OF the legislative SESSION.,
he had attended.
The remainder Of his sketch was word
for word as be had written II twenty years
before.
DALPH BEAVER STRhSSBURGER
~ bought the Norristown Daily Herald the
other day.
He is comparatively young man, rs
years go. but with rather comprehensive
experience Of the world on two hemispbercs.
Montgomery County.
Young StrassburScr was cadet at
Annapolis, and 1t was during this period
of his life that he first met the young lady
who became his future wife. Her father
was an official of the Singer Manufacturing
Company OF sewing machine fame.
MR. STRASSBURGER'S varied expert
t'l cnces Of life have led him into the
telds OF local and presidential politics,
diplomacy, postwar European investiga-
tlon, agriculture. StoCkraisng, authorship
and now newspaper work.
For some years past he has been gathering
material for what r,rn,nicoa q, ~
history Of the Perkiomen
region in Montgomery County ever written.
a year or more ago he told me that his
coliScti4n OF documents, original sketches
ana old maps Of that section had acrumu-
iated until it might bc dIficnlt TO select from
ms stor" OF documentary riches.
fancy that his purchase of the uer,1d
PrcSages an interesting future for Renub-
Iican politics in Montgomery County.
IOSEPll X. COSTELLO. tho secrctori,1
mead OF the Delaware Rivcr BrId,s Cnr,.
.',tSr". VIII hre mis- first big gun In the
preliminary campaign for that monunantoi
within the next seventy two bomrs
u VIII hH' really, the signal for com.
menCnG actual work on the structure
..AdvcrtiSements have been preparod IN
eeLting 6'ds for the two great piers and Tho
nr95 nuoicatI9n will begin in a few davs.
Bridge builders all over the count 80. 70
been looking forward to this event "'sy nave th
no one will be overlooked tha adro,.,nS tna'
ments will be scheduled to run for abor. &C..
weeks. u" 'or aoout hVe
The pier work includes the very ;rtor
eSting submarine or caisson work, in wtIcb
d nuse tuDe VIII be sunk In the bed Of tho
river; the water pumped out and the 'isanJ
hogs' as the workmen are called IoronnS
TO the bottom for excavation work
Mr.. Costello informs mo that ~. 49,.
great operation will be that OF constructive
river. sue OF the
Notices have been served IN ,.o
owners whose holdings are "a he - otar thOperty .
by the Bridge Commission. and tbIs 49, Toea
hand. "S oe well IN
The piers will be about 100 feet in height
TVHOMAS BLAINE DONA1Dsox a.,
states efficient Insurance Commissio,ou
should have been an antiouarian rothnn .h,
an insurance expert. according 10 tbo Jnn
trine Of hereditary instincts ~ '"o uoc-
Ills father' in quiet. unassumin1 uax
was one o. the most enthusiastic and neT,
sistent collectors OF documents, relies and
historical souvenirs ever met. anu
For years prior to his death o,d h,
ming as far back as 1890, it was The cm.tor vs,m
OF Thomas G. Donaldson TO visit one of thn
dallv newspaper offices every Sundoy oro
ming ana spend from two to three bo,,ra
soiHs tnrough the exchanges OF the previous
week in search of historical matter '''''ous
Mr.; Donaldson, Jr:, speaking Of this, told
me that after bis fathers death he uaa rU1a
collection. his iaIhers
whoEd hmnfCFsTInately TtI. thousands of newspapers,
were disposed Of to junk dealers, '"'Aer'
Rooms in three warehouses wsr. eu.,
with historical relics. Many Of them .Ta VIZ
retained In the family were
Historical buildings In Phiadclpbia vor,
hobby with Thomas Corwin DonaIdseeIre Tere
1t was through his efforts that n btuson; nmnabS n,
from oblivion. 'S rescued
The Thomas Jefferson house. which ..o.,
on the southwest corner of ssvnnth $1,000
Market streets, is indebted for the bronro anu
tablet which which adorns Its Successor today to
the persistent agitation Of Mr.. DonaIsa ~
Even though the contention Of Isbo,
dGbate) and Judge Anderson has yioiStcI tor
Clayton act and nullifed existing indnstrtinnTi tnT
agreements Conferred into through tho jmd,, ,1l
ance of the IInifpd Stninu Wv iluu"