Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-01-02

death, however, he never lost pres
tiee a. the leader of his party In his
own state. Blunt at all times but
with = reputation that could be
trusted in a political deal, Senator
| Penrose made fast friends and irre-
concilable enemies. The latter often
charged him with representing the
interests"
| Senator Penrose was an early adj
| vocate or United States Intervention
in Mexico and in 1913 introduced a
resolution requesting that American
troops be sent into the republic south
of the Rio Grande. He was an un-
yielding opponent OF the Wilson adj
ministration and particularly of the
draft of the treaty of peace as SUBJ
mitted to the Senate by President
Wilson. He characterized the trans
fer to Japan of former German con-
cessions in Shantung. China, as "a
violation of every principle of the
League OF Nations and a bribe to
Japan" and declared it 'dispossessed
100000 Chinese Of vital rights
against their will"
Special work for protective tariffs
was Senator Penrose's chief legisla-
tive hobby. particularly with refer
ence to revenue legislation, and al
though his devotion did not result in
the passage of "Penrose BILL" he
will long be remembered for his ac-
tivity along those lines. He consist
emily fought prohibition legislation.
He seldom made speeches in the Sen
ate, reading few prepared addresses
and those almost only on fiscal af-
fairs but he was quick in partisan
repartee and his thrusts won for him
the fame of humorist of the upper
House, both Democrats and Republi-
cans enjoying his clever sallies.
The senator's long feud with the
Ware political faction in Philadelphia
was one of the outstanding features
OF his career. 1t showed him as
most resourceful fighter AS Penn
sylvania's national committeeman he
was a power behind the throne" in
all Republican conventions, Senate
and national councils.
He and Senator Smoot were re-
garded as having largely forced
President Taft's denomination in 1912
when Colonel Roosevelt bitterly as
sailed Penrose's control of the con-
vention.
Although called the "boss'' of
Pennsylvania, Penrose obtained larg-
er election majorities than ever un-
der the primary system and held as
tight control, passing much of his
time between Washington and Har-
risburg and Philadelphia. The sena-
tor, although lawyer, seldom ap-
peared in courts in late years.
He was. perhaps, the largest man
physically in the Senate. standing SIN
feet four inches in height and weigh
ing close to 500 pounds. He traced his
ancestry back for more than SEQ years
and i'm his veins flowed the blood of
some of the most distinguished Amari-
can families. The senator's family is
related to the Pennsylvania Biddles,
the Maryland Chews and Thomases
and the MASSACHUSETTS, Dudley and
Boics families. The elder Boies aided
in building the breastworks for the
battle of Bunker Hill.
Born in Philadelphia on November
I, 1860. young Penrose was educated
by private tutors and at the Episcopal
Academy in his home city At 16 he
entered Harvard, from which he was
graduated in 1881. He studied law
with Wayne MacVeagh and George T.
Bispham and was admitted to the bar
in 1883. Entering Immediately into
politics, a year later he. was elected !
to the state Legislature. In 1885 he
helped to secure the passage of a re-
form charter for Philadelphia. known
as the Bullitt BILL and the next year
was chosen state senator from ono
OF the most aristocrat;c districts in
Pennsylvania. In 1890 he was made
president pro tempore of the state
Senate and participated in the bitter
partisan politics in the years which
followed. Meanwhile. at the request
Of Johns Hopkins University. Penrose
had written in collaboration with Ed
ward p. Allison. his law partner. fol-
use as n textbook History of the
City Government OF Philadelphia" He
was regarded as an authority at that
time on municipal subjects.