Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-01-02
DEATHOF Penn.
SENATOR May
BRING CRISIS
Plans of Pennsylvania Party
Leaders Completely
Upset
TO NAME SUCCESSOR
Proposition That Governor Sproui he,
sign to be Appointed Not Approved
by His Close Friends.

A Complete collapse Of all of the
plans of the party leaders in Pennsyl-
vania Republican politics followed the
death of Boies Penrose shortly before
midnight Saturday.
The passing away OF the Senior
United States Senator from Pennsyl-
vania may mean entirely new align
ments of the active Republicans. For
the time being all of the county lead
ers are at sea as To the future.
No individual it is generally admit
ed is in sight who can command the
following or hold the prestige which
this pupil and successor of the late
Matthew Stanley Quay enjoyed prac-
tically ever since the death OF the
former Republican National Chair
man.
Governor William S. Sproul as in
the case of the death Of Philander
Chase Knox. a short time ago, is the
central figure in the present crisis in
the party organization.
He will have the appointment of the
successor to Mr. Penrose and his ap-
pointee will hold office until a candl-
date for the i. S. Senator nominated
at the May primaries and elected IN
November next shall qualify.
The coming primaries will, there
fore. be the most important, possibly,
,of any that has been held III the his
tory of the Commonwealth. as sue
ccssor to United States Senator Will
liam l.. Crow for the full term of six
years will then be named along with
candidates for Governor. Lieutenant
Governor and Secretary Of Internal
Affairs on the ticket for the State-at-
large.
congressman will then be chosen in
the thirty-Six Congressional districts,
State Senators. i'll the even numbered
districts an4 State Representatives in.
every district throughout the State.
Senator Crow. who is in hospital
in Pittsburgh, is in very poor health
although he talked last evening over
the telephone with W. Harry Baker,
secretary of the Republican State
Committee after the IatterS arrival
here from Harrisburg. and dictated
strong culogy Of Senator Penrose,
who had urged Governor Sproul to
name him successor to Senator Knox.
Senator Crows physical condition
prevents him from figuring in State
leadership at this time.
Secretary Baker, VINO IS campaign
manager for Lieutenant Governor Ed
ward f.. Bcidleman in the Iatter's can
vass for the Republican nomination to
succeed Governor Sproul, said last
evening that Senator Penrosc had
promised to give out public declara-
tion for Bcidleman for Governor fol-
lowing Il conference which he planned
to have with Senator Crow and
McsSrs. Bcidlcman and Baker at the
National Capital next Wednesday,.
AS was the case when Senator Knox
died the suggestion is again made that
Governor Spr0ul resign so that Lieut.
cnant Governor Bcidleman can sue
coed him and then appoint him to the
United States Senate as PenroSeS sue
ccSSur.
The same objections to this plan
that were presented in the Knox case
are now made with the exception that
there is no ground under these con-
dltlonS for the argument that the
Scnatorship belongs in the west as
was made in the matter of the Knox
vacancy.
Governor Sproui unqucstionably
seeks to become United States SEN
ator, but some of his closest friends
contend that popular objections would
be raised to his quitting the Cover
norship to be appointed to the vac
ancy.
Supporters Of Lieutenant Governor
Bcidlcman have the same objections to
his elevation to the Governorship
through the resignation of the Gov
crnor as they had before their thought
beng that the voters would resent
what would appear to be a deal, and
this would affect their attitude toward
Mr. Beldcman's candidacy for the full
term of Governor at the primaries.
Speaking for Mr.. Beidelman's
friends, Mr.. Baker is urging that there
be general conference Of active and
potential Republicans representative
OF every clement in the party and
every county, Republican newspaper
publishers and Others interested in the
welfare of the party 50 that Governor
Sproul may learn sentiment in the
matter of the appointment of Unit
ed States Senator.
Friends Of former Postmaster Gem
cral John Wanamaker are again sug-
costing that he be made the appointee
of the Governor. as was done in the
Knox vacancy, and they now point
out that the appointment belongs to
the eastern end of the State and that
he has the advantage Of residence as
we'll as his other qualifications.
Mr.. Frank S. Phillips, who spent
the holidays in this city, left today