The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-06-05


&143A Nz to rout, if he can,
ronrn- some very persiS-
SnAI, tent pretenders to
the throne of party dictatorship in
his own home state.
The big scarlet touring car of the
senior senator from Pennsylvania tore
along the roads last Thursday after
noon at a speed that took little heed
of the ordinary pace of highway trav-
ell There is nothing bigger or redder
than the Penrose machine in Washing
ton or philadelphia, except a fire truck
And no fire apparatus ever responded
to an alarm more urgent than the
political sos sent out for the big fell
low of the Senate. 1t was like the
good old days to see the flame colored
auto disappearing in cloud Of dust
down the Baltimore pike. top down,
the senator in the back scat with
cap pulled well over the eyes.
They brought Senator Penrose to
Washington by train two months ago,
a sick man. His return to Philadei-
pha this week, just as he used to go,
in the big red car, was symbol OF
his return to strength. The big red
car was not expected in the quaker
city at all, but it scarce had crossed
the city line before it's presence, and
all that its presence meant, was flash
ed to all the political bailiwicks and
qualifications OF the third city of the
United States.
Twofo1d Mission
For Penrose has gone to Pennsylva-
mia not alone because his own sway 8
senate leader is threatened, The story
has come to Washington that the
Pennsylvania "insurrectos" are making
SO bold as to threaten the political
life of Senator Philander Chase Knox
In this they are not likely to be sue
cessful but the bo1dness with which
the possibility is suggested. is dis
turbing to some of the senator's friends.
Senator Knox comes up for renomina-
ton next year.
1t is interesting to note in this con-
xection that President and Mrs. Hard
Ing today are the guests of Senator
and Mrs. Knox at the senator's summer
home in Valley Forge, Pa.
This visit. denotin8 the close per-
sonal friendship between the Hardings
and the Knoxes, IL not alone signifi-
cant.
Some very prominent officials in
Pennsylvania have reason to know
that President Harding is leaning
heavily upon Senator Knox in the up
per branch of Congress, is consulting
freely with him at all times, and is
particularly anxious that no stones
shall be placed in his path in the sem
atorial campaign of 1922. So plain has
been this intimation that some who
were leading in the talk of oppo ,ition
peace with Germany, have drawn in
their horns.
Comes From Philadelphia
The threat of danger to Senator
Penrose's position of power in the
state, as well as to Senator Knox's
toga, both have emanated from the en-
virons of Philadelphia, the home Of the
Penrose family for generations. And
it is there that Senator Penrose has
hurried to stamp out the smoldering
fires of instruction. He has gone
bearing the good news that important
federal Jobs are about to be handed
out in the Quaker City and that he
personally is investigating the situa-
ton with respect to these Jobs.
When he left here in the big red
touring car, when he left his palatiaI
bachelor suite of twelve great rooms
in Washirgton's most fashionable res
idential hotel, the senator declared
that he might not be gone for more
than ten days Some political srarps
who claim to know the extent OF the
revolt" in eastern Philadelphia say
THE Boss,' as they affectionately term
him. may be gone for six weeks or
longer. They say he probably will
20 soon to the seashore at Atlantic
City, and establish himself in his old
suite in a board walk hotel, and sum-
mon there the leaders who are show
ing the chief signs of restiveness
Under Yelled Assault
Ever since his serious illness began
more than a year ago, Senator Pen
roses impregnable position in his
home state has been under yelled as
saut. The senator was desperately
i'll during the. Chicago convention OF
last June, but at no time during his
incapacity was he unaware of the po-
litical Vaccinations that his disa bility
inspired.
Senator Penrose knows that dim
mutton of his power in Pennsylvania
would mean a loss OF prestige in the
Senate, where for so long he has been
SO powerful factor. He is fighting,
therefore for his political life today
as he has been fighting for eighteen
months for his lost health.
There was doubt as to the ADVISABLE
ity of the senator attempting to resume
direction of affairs in the Senate at
the beginning of the present session.
Some of his physicians were all against
the plan. But his return to power
here in the national capital acted az
tonic to Penrose. The old fighting
spirit burned strong within him, and
his physical reaction has been little
short of remarkable. His plunge into
the turmoil of Pennsylvania politics
may. mark another turn for better or
for worse, but in any event Boise PEN
rose is on the firing line and some ,r
the pretenders in the Keystone state
who have attempted of late to igno "a
his advice and consent" may learn
soon that being down is sometlmey
very far from being out.