Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-04-09
OLD-TlME LEADERS
The Memorable Session Of 1897 at
Harrisburg-6ie Men Who Graced
the Senate Chamber-Less Than
Half Of Them Survive
BY GEORGE NOX MCCAIN

by GEORGE NON MCCAIN
TOllN j. COILE, who is one of the three
y or four laymcn who accompanied Arch
bishop DOughcrtl to Rome to witness his
invpStiturc with the cardinals brctta, is
Philadolphian by adoption.
He is native of Schuylkill county and
first came into the imclight as n member Of
the House at Harrisburg in lSH8, when he
was thirty years Of age.
He was II bright young chap Of Irish
parcntngr. who had served two terms as
justice of the peace in Mahanoy city.
Subsequently hc was sent to tho Senate for
ono term which ended in 1898, shortly after
which hc came to Philadelphia and engaged
in the insurance and real estate business.
Older politicians remember Senator Coyle
as ono Of Senator Quay's shrcwdest and most
daring licutCnants.
lie was not only n clever talkcr, n char
artcrstir which hc retains to this day. but
he had a knack Of pcrsuading men TO accept
his views.
Captain John c. Delaney the late Judge
Brumm and John J. Coylc were three Of
the most untirng political workers of tho
old regime that SChuylkill county ever pro-
duccd
For Years the former senator has bccn nn
insurance promoter in this city. and re-
Gently became president Of Il banking insti-
tuition uptown.
rTIlE Senate Of 1897. Of which John J.
l. Co,lc was n member. was composed Of
a greater number of real political leaders
than possibly any other since.
William II. C"Bull"D Andrews. Of Craw-
ford county. was tho dean
cool. farsCCng and absolutely unScrupu-
louS I'm tho accomplishment of his purpose.
Andrews made and lost fortunes and then
ro>" to membership in Congress from New
McNiro.
Charles Lincoln Brown. now Judge Brown
Of the Municipal Court of this city. was also
n member.
1t is not generally known that Judge
Brown started ont TO become n civil engineer
and entered Lchigh University with that in
view. He later entered the law school Of
the University Of Pennsylvania and studied
for tho bar.
A prominent member and n great talkcr
wns WiIlinm VI. Brown. of Lawrence
county. Through his persistent advocacy
Of favorable olcomargornc laws he earned
his sohriuuct Of "OlcO Bill"
II" subsequently, was elected Lieutenant
Governor on the ticket with Governor Pen
nypackCr.
wa, for years tho Democratic leader of
tn" Senate. serving his first term in the
session Of 1897,
Cochran was known as n Quay Democrat
and served until 1910.
lie was personal friend and business
aSSOriHtC Of Attorney General MCtOrmick
thcn member Of Governor Hastings
cabinet.
NORMAN RRTCE CRITCHFIELn
~ who had~Ihr distinction Of filling tho
position of secretary of agriculture for tn"
Longest period on record. was then in his
second session in tho Senate.
Jacob Grouse. merchant and politician.
Of Philadelphia. who for years kept carpet
store on Market street u"ar Twelfth, was
on" of phiIadclphin' : representatives.
Th" COuSuicuouS member from PhiladCl-
rnia. though. was Israel W. Durham, tho
most popular organization leader the Re.
publican party in Philadelphia had in
generation.
Durham was clcrtcd in February. 1897.
to fill the uncXpircd term Of Senator B"i"S
IcnroSc. VIII" had been chosen to the United
States Senate.
So universally liked was Durham that
h" was elected practically without oppoSi-
tion. there being only scv"nty.scv"n votes
registered against him
A LLEGIIENY COUNTY in those and
a preceding years was in tho fun flower
of its political impurHur" in tn" state.
Her two most prominent and invinrihlo
Republican leaders had seats in tho rhHIn-
brr: Chris l.. Magcc and William Finn.
Chris Mage" was born n politician. II
was in III" blood His father had been one
hcfur" him. and his Unclc Samuel Steel had
occupied Il plnr" in III" Senate a session or
So hriur" Mag"r was elected.
Iii, career in politics was a brilliant ono.
He Wa> elected city treasurer Of Pittsburgh
when j." was only tNcn'y-thrpc years old.
and vas delegate tu Il Republican state
convention when h" was twenty four.
From that time ON for twenty five years.
Wilh IA" exception of two Years he was n
delegate to every Ropubican state con-
vrutiuu.
William FIInu his colleague. who is still n
poWor in PittSburgn politics. was elected n
member Of the Board Of Fire Commissioners
Of Pittsburgh when h" was twenty six. aud
ran Mage" n clos" second for political honors
{" Nh" clos" Of IN" att"r's life.
For quarter Of n century the political
hrm "f MHg"N and Finn was absolute in
Republican puIi1lr- in Allegheny county.
GENERAL JOlIN pETER SHINDEL
VI GOBlN. Of Lebanon county. diStin-
-II-hod soldier prominent attorney. grand
Ioa>trr Of til" Kni=ir> T"mplar of tho United