Evening star., 1921-10-13
GOV. SPROUL LIKELY
TO SUCCEED KNOX
ny DAVID LAWRENCE.

Gov. Sproul Of Pennsylvania is ex-
pected here to succeed the late Phil
ander c. Knox as Junior senator from
Pennsylvania. Except for the TIMELY
intervention of President Harding
the Pennsylvania governor would
have been a candidate in the prima-
ries next spring. opposing Mr.. Knox
for denomination. Only the innuence
of the President of the United states
vania which for time, threatened
party solidarity. With the DEAN o.
Mr.. Knox the story can be told, ZOE ~
bears directly upon the choice Oh MS
successor.
Mr.. Knox was happy in the Senate;
He wanted 10 be reelected. He had
been Attorney General under Presi-
dent Roosevelt and resigned to enter
the Senate. only to resign again ana
ident Taft. But he finally found IN
the Senate an opportunity to display
mis- legal talents to best advantage
and fairly reveled in the task or
picking holes In the Versailles treaty
and league covenant. He was
dominant influence in the famous
''battaIion of DEATH" which deter.
mined that the United States should
never enter the league of nations.
Sprouts Rise in Power.
Mr.. Harding would have liked to
make Nj. Knox Secretary OF state,
but realized that he must choose
man who had not been so conspicu,
tights in the Senate. Mr.. Knox was
in i'll health. yet he was considerably
annoyed by reports that his advanced
age was Interfering with his possible
selection as Secretary OF state. After
Mr.. Hughes was appointed. the Penn
dsyoting himself very much to the
fixing of political fences in his home
state, came to realize that his seat
was endangered by the rising In
huence of Gov. Sproul In republican
councils.
The governor had been urged to
run for the senatorship. Mr.. Knox
told Presiden: Harding the situation.
The President invited Gov. Sproul
10 the White House. He did not
specify in advance what the subject
Of the conference would be.
AS Gov. Sproul enetred the
executive offices of the White House
,he President stepped forward and
greeted him cordially.
Il want to discuss some matters
with YOU" the President is quoted as
saying, land there's a man here ]
would like to have with u.s."
At this moment Senator Knox
stepped into the room. He had been
waiting for the governors arrival.
Whatever surprise the sudden ap-
pearance OF Mr.. Knox had for Gov.
Sproul is said to have been immedi-
ately dispelled as the President put
his arm about the senator's shoulders
and. according to the story. said:
L want you to know. Gov.
Sproul what strong support I have
had from Senator Knox in the Senate.
I have come to be largely dependent
upon him and upon his sound advice.
! would esteem it q great loss not
only to myself but to the country if
anything should interfere with his
denomination and reelection next
year"
Grants Presidents Request.
1t is said that Gov. Sproul smiled
dent that he knew OF nothing politica,
that would prevent the denomination
of Mr.. Knox. He told the President
that Senator Knox would have his
full support. Not long afterward the
President went to Valley Forge. the
home of Senator Knox, and spent a
week end. Gov. Sproul. Senator PEN
rose and others prominent in Penn
sylvaniaan affairs came to call on Mr..
Harding. Shortly afterward Mr.. Knox
told his friends here that the situa-
tion had been Strengthened out and
that he was assured of denomination.
So he went to Europe for a couple of
months and had just returned to
Washington this week. The signif1-
canoe of the foregoing story is this:
Having persuaded Gov. Sproul to step
aside for Senator Knox. the administra-
rion cannot but put the full weight of its
influence behind Mr.. Sproul now. The
Pennsylvania governor, moreover,
has the power to have himself ap-
pointed for the remaining months OF
Mr.. knoXs term. Once in the Senate
he would be entitled to administra-
eion support for reelection He is
hound to become an important infiu-
ence in the Senate. He was talked
Of as a presidential candidate a year
ago and received Pennsylvania bal
lot repeatedly at the Chicago conven-
tion which nominated Mr.. Harding.
Washington looks upon him as one
Of the progressive group who is like
iy to take UP the mantle of leader
ship in Pennsylvania when Senator
Penrose Is compelled by i'll health to
relinQuish 1t.
Copyright. 1921