The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-01-02
'SPR0l)L IS
At TER T0CA
'0FPENR0SE
Bitter Fight Expected In Penna.
Political circles-Party
Split Forecast.
BY J. BART CAMPBELL,
International News service.

The death Of Senator Boies Pen
rose leaves q big gap In the Re-
publican "Old Guard" leadership
which had already begun today to
bring about an upheayal In the ma
tional and State politics Of the
party in which he was such 4 con-
spicuous figure for so many years,
While the, body Of the Senator
rested Ia HE Philadeiphis. horne, pre-
paratory to the funeral. scramble
for the important Republican COM
mittee assignments In the. Senate
made vacant by his death. was under
way.
Senator McCumber. OF North Da-
kota, ranking Republican member Of
the all-important Senate Finance
Committee. was slated TO succeed
Penrose as its chairman by the Gus
tomary rule of seniority.
Agricultural Bloc" Wants Plumes.
The vacancies on the Banking and
Currency, immigration and Naval
Affairs committees, of which Pen
rose had long been a member. were
to be filled by the Republican Com
mittee on Committees.
Republican members of the Sen
ate Agricultural bloc" were casting
longing eyes upon the openings
offered them in the Banking and
Currency and the Finance Commit.
tees.
A clash between them and Repub-
Lean Senators from Eastern States
who desire to retain their control Of
the two committees was regarded as
inevitable.
A complete realignment of impor.
tant committee assignments may have
TO be worked out by the Republican
leaders to prevent an open break in
the Republican Senatorial ranks.
Penrose was one of the last of the
"Old Guard" leaders who stood be-
tween the agricultural. progressive.
and Independent Senators Of the Re-
ublican party, and their growing
ascendancy over the Senate and its
dominant committees.
Penrose's death was also threatening
to split the Republican party in Penn
sylvania with factional strife.
Even though a very sick man dur.
ing the last months Of his eventful
life, Penrose was able to retain much
of the power he had welded for years
as the big Boss" of the Republican
organization of his State since the
death Of Mathew Stanley Quay.
His political enemies at home,
grown increasingly restive under his
leadership, were ready to seize the
reins he held when Senator Knox
died and the appointment Of a sue
cessor fell to Governor Sproul, with
whom Penrose was no longer on
friendly terms.
White House Heals Breach.
White House influence prevented
an open breach. however, and Sem
ator Crow, himself a sick man, was
appointed to fill Knox's place as a
means Of patching up a temporary
truce between the Penrose and anti.
Penrose forces in Pennsylvania.
Crow had Joined with Sproul in
ousting the Penroe speaker OF the
house at Harrisburg during the fight
between the Penrose and the anti
Penrose factions during the last ses-
sion Of the Pennsylvania Legislature.
Grow, for years Republican State
chairman, had long been a Penrose
ally before his break" with the
Big Boss"
Governor Sproul is known to have
Senatorial aspirations, and he may
succeed to Penrose's seat In the SEN
ate, but not without considerable op-
position from Penrose's friends in the
Pennsylvania organization.
Pa. Virtually Unrepresented.
Penrore's death leaves Pennsyl-
yania virtually unrepresented in the
Senate, as Crow, since he was sworn
in on October "a last year, has been
able to attend but two or three ses-
sions because OF his chronic III health.
He was Ill In a hospital when Pen.
rose died.
On the eve of a hot gubernatorial
campaign, the Republican party In
Pennsylvania finds itself face to face
with the election OF not only q gov.
ernor but Of two United States Sen.
ators, a. II is probable that Penrose's
Continued ON Pare 2. Column Il