Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-01-02
HUMAN SIDE OF
PENROSE RECALLED
Many Did Not Really Under
stand Him, Says State Com +,
mittee Secretary Baker 7

mIttee secretary baker NJ
Warm tributes to the human side
of Senator penrose were paid today by
men who had bccn associated with him
~ state politics. They told stories 4
illustrating various traits in the Sen
ntOr's character.
w. Harry Baker, secretary of the
state Committee. plainly was detected
because of the Senator's death as hp
recalled incidents in the life OF the
leader.
'Many persons did not understand
Senator Ppnrose" said Baker today
at the headquarters Of the Republican
state Committee, 516 South Broad
street. He was preparing a resolution
on the Senator's death which will bc
presented to the Republican state
Committee.
Good Story Teller
The Senator had very human
side" he continued. "He could tell n
funny story better than anybody
knew. When politics was not at
"ritiral stag" his ability az story
teller was at its height and he had n
vast fund Of droll anecdotes and odd
experiences which he would tell with
great effect.
| ~ mere question asked by the SEN
ator often was regarded as command.
Once, It Harrisburg, I received tel.
"grNm from him which read something
like this:
Shall wc hold the convention
June Is at the Majestic Theatre?'
- showed this telegram to the State
Committee members. who accepted 1t az
= resolution formally adopted. / wired
. back 10 the Senator:
You have named the time and
place of the convention
William L. Gallagher. chief clerk OF
the state Senate, added eulogy to
that of Mr.. Baker. He said the Sen
ator always had n pleasant way of OBJ
tanning results and that n smile usually
accompanied his orders to subordinatcs. .
Senator Prnrose seldom became ex-
cited. continued Mr.. Gallagher. Ever
in the midst of Il crisis he was un
ruhi"d on the surface
Senator p"nrosC was known to hn,
warm spot in his heart for a Neg
retainer, known as "Washington." wi
acted aS body servant both at I, "
Senator's Spruce street home and at h.
hotcl in Washington,
Praise for "Washington'
Mr.. Pcnrosc occasionally declared
that Washington was one Of tue
greatest diplomats in the country. Sen
at"r Knox was calling on Penrose at
the Spruce street house one day when
PcnroSc told his callor Of the old Ne
gro's tin"SsC us n diplomat who was
never at loss for an answer and who
always upheld his chief.
, "l'II prove il to YOU remarked Mr..
P"nr0S" to Senator Knox. Then he
. called "WaShingtun into the library
when did YOU send those books 10
senator KnoXt" Penrose asked the
bOwing servant.
. Washington straightened up and
I without the slightest hesitation replied /:
II put those books in big box, fixed
them up with thick pasteboard TO pro
u toct them and personally addressed tn,
u box to Senator Knox last week. II
! look into the matter and sec why they
7 haven't arrived"
= Th" point is that no books had beer
. sent. none were 70 be sent and Pen
rose and Knox knew it, Washing
; tom also knew it. but he was taking
no chances in covering up his employer
The Quay Incident
The same loyalty was shown the
. Senator by his other servants. Sons
r times. when rigidIy carrying out his in :
: structionS they would lead TO embar-
raSSing situations.
. Quay. then the political master OF
? Pennsylvania. called at Penrose :
& Spruce street home 4 servant had
.. instructions that Pcnrosc was not nj
: home, although he was in his library
: intent on some task.
d The powerful Quay was amazed when
: he was refused admission to the house.
e lie disclosed his Identity and insisted
e he had to So" PCnrose, but the servant
was obdUrato. Finally Quay went to a
y nearby hotel and called Penrose on the
e telephone. The Penrose door was
, opened speedily.
: Fond OF Horseback Riding
Few, except his intimates. knew of
n Senator PenroNe's fondnCss for horse
" back riding. Up to two years ago h.
: could be- seen occasionally riding king
. Lee, his sturdy bay, along the Wissa
Y AiCkon in Fairmount Park.
The senators riding companion
usually was Thomas Tobin, who has
: been in charg" Of the Penrose stables
u %l3 South Juniper street, for twenty
l. five years. Tobin, leading king Lee. "
Il would ride to the Lilac Club in the
Y park and meet the Senator who went
Il there by mot0rc0r.
Il 'Tom, the senator once said, "ths
: automobile * all right for business or
speed. bur for comfort, give me a
horse