Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-01-02


combination Of a dominant intellect, n
powerful personality and n political
sixth sense. It was often said of him
that "Penrose can see six months ahead
of anybody else in politics. He knew
how to take advantage Of opportuni-
ties. to profit by the mistakes of an
tagonists.
Had his death occurred four or six
years ago, it would have left greater
void in party affairs than now. The
Old Guard Is disintegrating and dis
appearing In q few years 1t will be a
legend. His passing hastens the dis
solution and speeds the ascendancy of
the agricultural West in Republican
councils. Pennsylvania and other east L.
ern States with large populations and
consistent Republican majorities Will
continue to be q factor in party de-
Changes Are In Making
This is seen in the Senate and in the
House as well, where Frank w. Mon
dell. of Wyoming, is majority leader.
In the Senate the chairmanShips of the
big committees are rapidly passing into
the hands of westerners.
For tho first time within n genera =
ton Western Republican now will
become chairman of the Senate Com
mittee on Finance, the body that passes
upon all legislation relating to the rev
enucs of tine Government. Senator
Penrose's successor in this important
post will be Senator Porter J. McCum-
ber. of North Dakota. Since the Civil
War only eight men have held the
Craftsmanship Of the Committee on FL
nnncc-Wiliam L. Fcssendcn. of
Maine John Sherman. of Ohio: JUS
tin s. Morrill,, of Vermont: Thomas +.
I,ayard. of Delaware; Daniel w. Noor-
hees. of Indiana; Nelson w. Aldrich.
Of Rhode Island; +. NJ. Simmons. of
North Carolina. and Senator PcnrosC.
Senator McCumber is the ranking Re-
publican on the committee, and. follow
ing the rule of seniority, he will be
made chairman.
Effect on State Politics
IL is recognized here that the death
of Senator Penrose coming within a
few weeks IF that of the junior Senator
from Pennsylvania, Philander Chase
Knox, and on the eve of the State
campaign for election of a Governor, q
United States Senator, and State
ticket. injects new elements and con-
siderations into Republican politics in
Pennsylvania gnd raises new questions
in connection with the approaching
elections.
In national politics it will have a
less important effect. for the old Pen
rose power was gone. In the year
Of his absence from Washington be-
cause of illness the Senate and party
leaders learned to get along without
him. While he still retained his com :
manding position in the Senate leader
ship, nevertheless the record of his last
year is one Of repeated reverses. Time
and again he was overturned by his
own party and majority of his col :
leagues. His passing, therefore, will
have far less bearing on legislative and
governmental policies than in the days
Of his ascendancy. when he was the
Warwick of the Republican Party.
Despite his waning influence in ma =
tional affairs, which no one recognized
more clearly than nc. the pretense of
power was maintained to the last fos
its political effect at home. 1t was
necessary for Pcnrose's purposes that
PENNSYLVANIA should believe him still
the boss the dictator of govern
mntal programs. 1t was part of the
game as he played it. And he played
it out to the end.