Norwich bulletin., 1922-01-02

United States Stnator Boies Penrose Of
Pennsylvania one Of tie most interesting
personalities in the upper house which
be entered in 1S97 as the successor to
he late Senator ]. Donald Cameron, was
ne Of the wea,thiest bachelors in the
senate An old guard republican. he
ras member of four important senate
committees namely. the finance commits
see. Of which he was chairman banking
and currency immigration and naval af-
fairs.
Chief Lieutenant of Senator Matthew
Stanley Quay. whose representative he
had been in the Pennsylvania legislature
Tor many years. Penrose did not at first
take a very prominent part in republican
party councils at Washington Until his
MS death, however. he never lost prestige
as the isader of his party in lis own
state. Blunt at all times. but with
reputation that could be trusted in a po-
liiical deal. Senator Penrose made fast
friends and irreconcYable enemies. The
latter often charged him with represents
ing the interests
Senator Peurose rss an early advocate
Of United States Intervention in Mexico
and in 1915 Introduced a resolution re-
aaestiEg that American troops be sent
nio me republic south Of the Rio Grande.
te was an unyieiGing opponent of tns
'fsf aSon administration and partic,1iarlx
'f the draft Of the treaty Of peace as
sfomitici 10 the senate by President
Nezcn. He characterized the transfer 10
Japan Of former German concessions in
shantung. China. AS "a violation of everv
principle Of the league of natoins and a
oribe 10 japan and declared it ..fisnos-
'sssed feoee,ooe Chinese Of vital rights
tsainst their will"
~4fcciri work for rrofaofi.-a to-;ee. -
Senator Penrose's chief legislative hobby,
particularly with reference to revenu
fsis'aiion and although his devotion did
o.. result in the passage Of ssPenrose
oil- he viii long be remembered for his
activity along those lines. He consist
ently fought prohibition legislation. He
seldom made speeches in the senate
7faaing few prepared addresses. and
nose almost only on fiscal affairs but ht
vas quick in partisan repartee and his
-nrusts won for him the fame of hurnorist
~ he upper house. both democrats and
republicans enjoying his clever sallies.
Ine senator's long feud with tn,
are political faction in Philadelphia
vas one Of the outstanding features O,
MS career. Il showed him as a mos
rcsourceful fighter. As Pennsylvania :,
rational committeeman he was move,
behind the throne" in all republican CON
santious. senate and national councils
lie and Senator Smoot were regarded
rs having largely forced President Tsft'
.enomination in 1912. when CoIone
Roosevelt bitterly asssiled Penrose's con
irol Of the convention.
Although called the boss" of PennxvI
vania. Penrose obtained larger election
m9lorities than ever under the prinar,
lslem and held as tight control spend
ne much OF his time between Washing
on and Harrisburg and Philadelphis
tne senator. although a lawyer. seldom
ap1eared In courts in late years.
Ho was. perhaps, the largest mar
physically in the senate. standing si
Get four inches in height and we;rrin
sose 70 500 pounds. He traced his an an
sesIry back for more than 500 years an
MS veins flowed the blood of some q
ne most distinguished American fam|
YES The senator's family is related I
ne pennsylvania Biddles, the Marvlan
lhers and Thomases and the Massachr
let's Dudley and Boies families Tn
''eer Boise aided in building the breas,
Forks for the battle of Bunker Hill.
Horn IN Philadelphia on Nov. l. 1856,
young Penrose was educated by privat
tutors and NJ the Episcopal academy
~ home city. AT Is he entered Harvar,
Fon which Ne was graduated In 1873
ne studied law with Wayne MacVesr
and George T. Bispham and was adnitte
% ne bar in 1SS3. Entering immediat,
y Into politics. J EAR later he W.
siccied 10 the state legislature In 1gs
1e helped to secure the passage Of q r
iorm Charter for Philadelphia. known ;
ne Builtt bill and the next year W;
s1osen state senator from one Of II
nost aristocrstic districts in Pennsvlv,
Ia In 1890 he was made president D,
,empore OF the state senate and partic
9ated N the bitter partisan politics in Il
Fears which followed Meanwhile At II
request Of Johns Hopkins unfversit
senrose had written in collaboration wi
cn"ard p Allison. his law partner, +
use as a textbook. History Of the a.
1orcrnmfnt Of PHILADELPHIA He w
rcrardcf as an authority at that tin
On municipal subjects