The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-01-07
BoIEs PENsKosE.


The death of Senator Penrose has
brought forth editorial comment on
the life and Character OF the man.
from most If not all the newspapers
Of the country. It would hardly be
fair to look to his friends for a proper
estimate OF the dead statesman, nor
to his enemies. Among the former
may be reckoned the Republicans who
regard themselves as regular and
among the latter the Bull Moose, who
hated him and saw nothing good IN
him.
Psfhaps one could not do better,
therefofe. than accept the estimatss of
an open and honorable opponent, the
Democrat New York Times, which
Says:
sehatof. Pshro5s figured thru most
Of his. political life. merely. as a SYM
boil Fortunately for himself. he lived
long et1ough to be recognized and
judged as I, human, being. The pluck
past past year, he held himgeif to hig hub do
lic tasks, despite an almost over
whelrning physical crippHng,. must
have, shown to many for the first time
the stuff that was, in him. For years
his maine had been Used as a con-
Yehiehts label for a political regime
which SOME oaphorred, others .enYied,
and few understood. From 1916 to
1912 the nurses Of Progressive babies
frightened. them in their cradles by
whispefing "PenrOSe." When Mr..
Roosevelt. Who as president had got
on comfortably with the PENNSYLVANIA
senator, acqniescing without a muir
muir in his worst. recomm endations for
minor office, Sought in 1872 to break
up the Republican party and to ad-
minister the fragments Of its estate.
his fayorite epithet was "Penroseism.' .
1t was at that time a name to conjure
and. to curse with.
49, Meanwhile, Senator Penrose held
steadily. and, for the most part, ST.
lently to his course. Perhaps his
greatest triumph came in 1914 when
he was reelected senator by the di-
rect vote of the people of his State.
The direct Senatorial primary and
election had been thought of as a
deadly WEAPON specially designed to
make an end OF men like Boies Pen
rose. But he simply took it into his
own hands and slew his opponents
with it. If that was their game, he
| could. play it better than they.
His grim cynicisIn was never more
instructively displayed. than when,
two or three years ago, he remonstrat-
! ed with a friend who wished to go
|
terly Of the disappointments of the
method of direct election of senators.
/ why, my dear fellow he said lust
think of what it has done for me! I
couldn't think of giving it up
Never one of those heather senators
who think they will be heard for their
much speaking, Mr.. Penrose attained
his position and authority in the SEN
ate by hard work and a. reputation for
political -sagacity. His oratory he
shut UP within the four walls of his
/ office or q Committee room. On the
floor of the senate he was noted for
an occasional trepchant utterapce. OIL
for SOME half-humorous aside. that
went to the heart of the business I'M
der discussion. It was. not mereIy
seniority. that made him the Successor
Of Senator, Aldrich and put him nj
the. head of the finance committee
There was full perception of his in
dpstry, of his grasp and of his driving
power. Few. even of those who stout
" opposed and attacked him could
nave. tailed to see something at once
pathetic and admirable in his bearing
thruout the months just past. Visibl1
Touched by the hand OF death, ht
stood nnanfuf1y at his post of labor
The senate has seen nothing like il
since John c. Calhoun dragged him
self into the chamber with life EFF
only in his piercing gaze.
Senator Penrose's death is a seriou:
loss to the Republican party. He wa.
a real leader ana had he lived would
have stood as a bulwark against tn,
advance. OF that group known as tn,
Agricultural bloc" which seems de
termined to rule the Organization o.
wreck it.