Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-09-06
A POLITICAL MYSTERY
THE Russell Bureau That Fought
Quay Twenty-Five Years AGO.
Something About the Man
Whose Name II
Adopted
BY GEORGE NON Mccain

years L feel constrained to reveal.
Its principal figure was quiet, efficient
modest young man who bore the brunt of
State wide attack and vituperation.
Today he Is prosperous business, man
who still retains the qualities that distin-
guished him In the bitterest political strug-
gle of fifty years.
His personality was never fully revealed.
lie was pilloried for months in every Quay
newspaper in the State
kis name was held up to rdicule. He was
denounced, derided, cartooned, and in way
feared.
a plain. unassuming man of honesty and
integrity. he bore the shafts and arrows of
that memorable fight with complacency and
quiet amusement
To this day he has never lifted a voice in
explanation.
Permit me to do SO.
TNIIE Russell Bureau" was n storm
l. center in the Quay Hastings campaign
of 1895.
State and ward leaders yet living recall
the name and the mystery.
The Russell Bureau. was in charge of the
publicity work for Governor Hastings, At
torney General Mccormick. David Martin.
State Chairman b. r. Gilkeson, Senator
Chris MagCe and the other leaders fighting
Quay and his organization.
1t was in that supreme struggle for the
State craftsmanship when Quay threw him
self so dramatically into the forefront of the
battle.
TNHE origin of the Russell Bureau was
L after this fashion:
When it was finally decided that Hast
ings, Martin ct al. would contest the con-
troll of the State with Quay, who had made
many enemies. dozen State leaders and
members of the Hastings encourage were
summoned to n secret meeting at the
Executive Mansion.
o Al.
number. Colonel Henry Hall. of Pittsburgh,
and myself.
We were members of Governor Hastings
staff and fully conversant with events lead
ing up to the break with Quay.
At the conference in Harrisburg that
night complete plan of campaign was
mapped out. Colonel Hall and myself were
assigned to the charge of the publicity work.
We represented both ends of the state.
1t was decided that newspaper headQuar-
ters should be established at Philadelphia.
Before midnight list of writer's and
political workers had been prepared and
kilograms forwarded requesting them TO re-
port in Philadelphia
SUBSEQUENT years have demonstrated
~ that it was one of the most brilliant
array of virilc writer's ever gathered together
in the State.
Heading the list was George II. Weshons,
Of Chris Magcc's Pittsburgh Times
He was one of the most versatile and
charming journalists this State has ever
known
Alexander p. Moore. now editor and pro-
prietor of the Pittsburgh Leader. was an
other. Mr.. Moore was just then coming
to the fore as fearless and trcnchant polti-
cal writer.
Robert G. Bncr. of York. later statistician
of the Department of Labor and member of
the bar, was another of the cotcrie.
Charles hp
siasm of political battles up in Clearfield,
hurried down TO headquarters. Today Mr..
Ames, president of one of the big coal ex-
porting companies, is resident of Philadel-
phia.
J. jeremiah Snyder. member of the Le-
high bar, writer. orator and a jovial and
brilliant personality, added his pen rs n
contribution to the fray. There were others
equally noted.
Headquarters were secured on the second
floor of building on North Eighth street.
StcnOgraphers were required. One of the
first applicants was a young man with a
Scotch burr in his speech. lie was rafting
good stenographer and typist.
He answered to the name of W. II. Rus
SELL
His capacity. his strict attention to de-
tail and n genius for systematizing office
work put W. II. Russell in complete charge
of the office within few days.
TT WAS the decision of Colonel Hall and
myself to place the operation of the
publicity department under the title of
"Burenu.'
Personal letters outside the strictly writ
ing corps were to be addressed to a post
Office lock box.
1t was at this juncture that the inspira-
ton came to make the organization known
as THE Russell Bureau, Lock Box 307.'
The anonymity of the bureau was pre-
served for just about n week.
Frank Willing Leach. that most remark
able Of political managers, who was Quay's
fdus Achates. had the Postoflice watched
and traced the Office boy carrying the mail
to our headquarters on North Eighth street.
There was no particular reason for pre-
serving secrecy about the location of the
bureau. A desire to avoid publicity on the
part of Colonel Hall and myself was domi-
nant, for we were still continuing our reglI-
lar newspaper work.
Leach knocked the props completely from
under the plan. From that moment the
Russell Bureau" was n fair and shining
object of attack by the Quay organs from
every conceivable angle.
NOR time ample funds were available
l. for the work. They came through At
torncy General H. G. McCormck who aided
largely in financing the fight.
One night it was discovered that all the
available money had been spent 4 lot of
DlllS had accumulated Tor advertising.
Requests for rcmittances were insistcnt,
for it should be known that in n political
campaign prompt payment and not promises
to pay il an invariable rule.
1t was within half nm hour of train time.
1t was absolutely necessary that the cash be
available the following day. Enough money,
and no more than enough, to pay Russell $
fare to Williamsport was on hand.
He was short of even Pullman fare
General Mccormick subsequently, told me
that nothing but the personality of W. H.
Russell and the manifest honesty in his face
induced him to intrust the young man with
the money. lie had never seen him before
though he carried letter of introduction
to the general.
Russell, with several thousand tucked in
his inside vest pocket, came through safely
and on time with the cash next day.
AT THE close of the campaign the young
~ Office manager obtained a position in
the Architects Department Of the Treasury
in Washington.
He advanced steadily until at the end Of