Evening star., 1932-11-27
VAN VALKENbURG,
NOTED EDITOR, DIES
Philadelphia North American
Ex-President Was Friend
of 7. R.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
PHILADELPHIA, November 26.-
Edwin A. Van Valkenburg, former presi-
dent and editor of the Philadelphia
North American, and in his active days
one of the most widely known news
paper executives, died tonight from a
heart attack.
Mr.. Van Valkenburg died in the JET
ferson Hospital, where he had been
taken about two weeks ago for treat
ment.
A close friend of the late President
Theodore Roosevelt, who had referred TO
him as great editor and great pa
triot," Mr.. Van Valkenburg retired from
the North American in 1924. The paper
the following year was taken over by
the Philadelphia Public Ledger.
Born in Wellsboro, Pa, September !,
1867, and raised there, Mr.. Van Valken-
burg was for more than 35 years q
prominent figure in the public affairs OF
Philadelphia and Pennsylvania.
His aptitude for politics was developed
by active participation as young man
in political contests in his home county,
and he gained an insight of State affairs
while holding a legislative clerksnip at
Harrisburg.
"Seventy-six" Organized.
He was one of the organizers Of the
famous "Seventy-six" group Of mem
bers which for two years kept Matthew
Stanley Quay from returning to the
United States Senate. In that memor-
able battle and q succeeding contest he
was the political manager for John
Wanamaker, the Philadelphia depart
rnent store owner and leader of the
Quay and anti-Penrose movements
It was while he was directing the
fight in Harrisburg, early in 1899, that
Van Valkenburg suggested the idea OF
establishing a metropolitan newspaper
to carry on the struggle against the
Republican leadership in the State at
that time. On his recommendation.
Thomas B. wanamaker, eldest son OF
the merchant, purchased the North
American, a venerable journal OF good
repute but little circulation.
The newspaper Immediately became
aggressively Independent and engaged
the best newspaper men 1t could rno
in the East.
He waged incessant war against bal
lot frauds, sending some men to jail
and others into exile. He fought what
he declared to be contractor rule" IN
Philadelphia politics. He also fought
the granting of franchises by city
councils for street railways without
proper return to the city and was a
leader in the famous gas lease night In
Philadelphia in 1905.
Van Valkenburg, through the North
American, also took considerable part
in the exposure of the State capitol
fraud during the term Of Gov. Samuel
w. Pennypacker.
One Of T. R. Lieutenants.
He was one Of President ROOSEVELT Is
chief lieutenants in the Republican re-
volt in 1912. He was one OF the found
ers of the Roosevelt Memorial Associa-
ton and the Roosevelt Pilgrimage,
which perpetuate the doctrines and
ideals Of that leader.
Van Valkenburg was an advocate Of
local option and later Of prohibition,
and campaigned for the adoption OF the
eighteenth amendment. Humanitarian
legislation was supported by him, and
through his efforts the North American
and its readers established in Atlantic
City a fully equipped sanitarium for
the treatment Of poor children suffer-
ing from surgical tuberculosis.
Upon his retirement Van Valkenburg
took up his residence on country es-
tate near Wellsboro, but kept in touch
with public affairs. In the 1882 national
campaign he took an active part in
helping to shape the Republican policy
on the liquor question, and was con-
suited by national leaders, including
President Hoover.
Mr.. Van Valkenburg is survived by
his widow, Mrs. e. Louise JOHNSON Van
Valkenburg, who was at his bedside
when he died.