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!v PUBLIC MEN GRIEVE
i FOR DEAD SENATOR
? Tributes From Edwin H.
r t Vare, Mayor Smith, Regis
&' ter Sheehan and Others
POLITICAL ENMITY FORGOT
Personal Admiration Obliterates
Animosities Engendered by
Factional Warfare
' PICTURESQUE CHARACTER
.
Born and Raised in Tenth Ward,
He Early Became a Power
in City Politics
The death of .Senator McNIchol was a
blow not only to his close pcrnonnl friends
and followers, but to tho men who have
been his bitter political opponents ns well.
Men In oil walks of life, from his political
associates and the leaders In tho public
affairs of the State and city down to tho
smallest political follower, Joined In paying
him the highest tribute.
State Senator IMwIn II. Vnrc, whoso vlc
nrv over the McXichol faction of tho Re-
1 publican Organisation last week hastened
' Senator McNIchoI'H end, was ho overcome
when Informed oer the telephone at nis
home In Ambler that Senator McNIchol
had died that he could not speak at th
time.
SKN'ATOR VAItK SHOCKllD
The two men, thouch bitter political
antagonists, were close personal friends and
f held each other In high regard and esteem.
Senator Vare said:
,, "Senator James I. McNIchol was a strong
1 character. He was a fine, clean, upstanding
man. In no respect was this tfyer than as
regards his moral qualities He had no
Superior In or out of public life As re
ards moral qualities, he may havo been
" Bald to be without a fault.
'The city and State lose one of their
most forceful and best citizens. If we only
regard his record ns a business man en
gaged In largo enterprises, that alone would
stamp him as a man of extraordinary abil
ity. But ho had n genius for politics which
no one assessed higher than I do, because
It was based on an Intimate association with
him extending back twenty-five years.
"One of the most pronounced characteris
tics of Senator McN'Ichols was his ability
to make and keep friends, not only along
political lines but social lines as well. Some
of his critics havo said that he was careless
as to the details of politics, but no one
who knew him well oer doubted that he
possessed at least two qualities which
make a man stand out abovo his fellows,
great courage and a broad outlook as to a
political trend.
FIUENDLY rnUSONAI, RELATIONS.
"I did not always agree with Senator Mc
NIchol politically, and I will give him
' credit that ho did not always Insist that
I should. On several Important occasions
we disagreed, but wo parted friends and
our personal relations, I think I can truth
fully say, were not marked by mean or un
manly dislikes.
"Aside from his great ability as a party
leader and a man whose business Interests
yearly took on Immenso proportions, Sena
tor McNIchol had the faculty of finding
time for social affalrH In which scores of
devoted friends were permitted to Join,
"No man of my acquaintance could In a
more carefree manner put aside business
cares and worries and open his heart and
his home to a host of friends, certainly
1 not exceeded by any man in public life In
this city.
"I am tempted to recall examples of his
great courage under nre of covert and
unfair enemies who at several stages of
his career undertook.to undermine his repu
tation as a public man, but they failed as
they deserved to fall. These Instances aro
so fresh In the minds of his friends and the
general public that It Is not necessary to
dwell upon them.
"I was shocked to hear at my home that
Senator McNIchol was dead. I believed
and hoped, with his other friends, that
he would recover and return to tho circles
which had long known him as a man among
men. I am sorry that this could not be
the case.
y "The Senator's widow and children, to
i whom he was so devoted, havo my sln
1 cerest sympathy."
PENROSE HURRYING HOME
United States Senator Boles Penrose, with
whom Senator McNIchol had alwayu cast
his political fortunes, was out of communi
cation with Philadelphia when his associate
died. H6 was resting from tho campaign
at a bungalow above Atlantic City.
Samuel Dunbar, one of his secretaries,
sent a friend of Senator Penrose In a char
tered boat up from Atlantic City to Inform
him of the death of Senator McNIchol. Pen
rose Immediately prepared to leave and Is
hurrying back to Philadelphia.
MAYOR SMITH'S TRIBUTE
Mayor Thomas B. Smith paid the follow
ing tribute:
"The death of Senator McNIchol comes
as a great shock to me I Inquired about
I his condition yesterday and was advised
that he was Improving Senator MsNIchol
l was a man of achievements , he had the
capacity of doing big things well. His
j warm, sunny disposition and genial char
' acter won him thousands of admirers. He
. had an exceptionally large personal fol
i lowing, by whom ho will be sincerely
1 mourned. The city loses a man whose one
I desire w-as to see Philadelphia expand and
become the greatest municipality In the
' country. It will be his family, however,
who will suffer most by his sudden taking
I off, for they are the only ones who will
truly appreciate the separation. He was
t a devoted husband and father. He idolized
bis family."
J OTHERS EULOGIZE DEAD FRIEND
Register of Wills James B. Sheehan, a
1 life-long friend of the Senator, was visibly
affected by his grief when he called at the
McNIchol hpme.
A "What can I say?" was his only com-
mant. "In the death of Senator McNIchol
i-v 2 1 many persons havo lost a friend a frlemW
- i,h i ri Maori In him." r
' ' Charles B. Hall, chief clerk of SelefP
Council, who was always associated with
Senator McNIchol, both personally and po-
4i.,..tl. ..ntll tltA pamnnlim that (tint -lmi,..l
' W t. could hardly realize that McNIchol was
f "If la a fprHhlA hlnw. T Dm tmat.
m.';-w. fcrolcen. Jim McNIchol and I rave eaten
Sj-Stj together and fought together for twenty
f ..y years, rur Bovciiiccfi vcaia wo fiavo sone
.--.Bouth' together every winter. He was the
.;- ....,- : .i . ii .
HOlz iovbuio jjmii uuib ocr jtveu, always
tooklnr on the bright side of life. I can't
:a.1(t. thnt he la dead."
Sr State Senator Edward? W. Patton. who
s45 associated with Senator McNIchol In
j we upper Drancn oi me Pennsylvania ivecis-
' v Mium, m .
"Ir, "No riiatter how he and I stood In politics.
ilU death was as big; a blow to me as any
, RlfaB Ulttk BVKr llJp,KU. A BIWftri TV
t l k - ....uv.A.t T -I....
': carted him as one of my closest friends."
' J IABORERJS. TOUCHINO ORIEF '
t -A touching- Incident occurred shortly after
Senator McNIchol died, when-a laborer from
, ' tho Tenth Ward called at the home to see
, Um Senator In regard to a Job that he was
' fMklna-. When be learned of the Senator's
, J,;' tears started In his eyes and he ex-
7Too naa: aye lost one or my
K.3-.-.. . .
0 worm DMsamaa said:
P. McNIchol comes as n, shock to the whole
community.
"For more than twenty-five years he has
been engaged In tho performance of many
of the largest publlo works In the city,
notably, the filtration plants, the Market
street subway, the boulevard and parkway
Improvements.
"These works will outlive him and all are
essential for tho health, comfort und con
venience of travel to the whole public.
"By reason of his successful completion
of theso largo works ho will no doubt bo
remembered by tho public, and on account
of his genial disposition by his friends."
TREASURER McCOACH'S EULOGY
City Treasurer McCoach said: ,
"In tho passing away of James P. Mc
NIchol I feel that I have lost a good and
noble friend nnd tho city of Philadelphia
one of Its best and truest citizens.
"I have known him since hli boyhood and
havo with pleasure watched tho gradual
rlso of this self-mado man. I knew him
In his Ilrst political position as Janitor of
the old courts at Sixth and Chestnut streetB ;
I knew him as superintendent of the small
contracting business, conducted by his
father and uncle, where under the strict
business guidance of his uncle he was so
schooled as to enablo htm to branch out
for himself, until at last ho became one
of tho greatest contractors In our State, If
notjthe entire country.
"H:s political tutor was tho late 'William
II. Leeds, after whoso death he became the
leader of tho ward In which ho was born
and has always lived. As In business, he
was a success In politics, when his advice
was sought and followed In not only city,
but State nfralrs.
".Mr. McNIchol from the meridian of his
llfo to Its clo?o was a Just, true and faith
ful man In every sense of tho word and
tho sunset of his llfo found him with that
which should be the envy of every one. love,
honor and a host of friends. Ho has left a
memory the example of which. If followod
by nil, should leave the world some degree
tho better for our temporary sojourn In It."
"CAPITOL HILL" SHOCKED
News of the death of Senator James P.
McNIchol was received with sorrow on
Capitol Hill, In Harrlsburg, where he was
known personally by almost everybody and
well liked. When tho word reached him,
Governor Brumbaugh said
"I was greatly fhocked to learn of Sena
tor McNlchol'a death. I had hoped that
ho would recover. While we differed occa
sionally, our personal relations were al
ways very cordial and I hnd great respect
for his. earnestness and enthusiasm"
Attorney General Brown said: "I nm
very, very sorry to hear of It"
The death of Senator McNIchol Is tho
third to occur In the Senate among the
members of the Besslon of 1917. Senator
Charles J. Magee. Pittsburgh, having died
Just previous to adjournment of the Legis
lature and Senator William W. Smith, of
Philadelphia, In August.
"Tho death of Senator McNIchol Is very,
very regrettable," said Director William II.
Wllbon, of the Department of Public Safety
"I knew the Senator Tor many years and
always found him a most amiable man. Ho
was a fair lighter and his death Is a dis
tinct loss to his friends."
"Senator McNIchol was too young to die,'
STATE SENATOR J. P. M'NICHOL
DIES SUDDENLY OF HEART ATTACK
Continued from race One
with his friend. United States Senator Boles
Penrose In indorsing the Town Meeting
party.
William J. McNIchol was asked this
morning If, during the Senator's Illness, he
had heard any expression fall from his
father's lips as to the election or general
political cc-ndlttons. For a moment ho
paused before replying, then said:
"I may answer that lator."
WIFE LOSES RACE WITH DEATH
As Senator McNIchol was dying, his wlfo
was racing to his bedside In a big touring
car from the new McNIchol home In Over
brook. After his condition became critical
this morning. Senator McNIchol's son Wil
liam telephoned to his stepmother, who w-as
spending the night In the Overbrook resi
dence built by Senator McNIchol some
months ago.
Mrs. McNIchol hastily called a powerful
automobile and told tho chauffeur to drlvo
to the Race street house with nil possible
jeed. Tho car tore Into town, but It
w.vh a loser In Its race against death. Sen
ator McNIchol had been dead for five min
utes when Mrs. McNIchol reached his bed
side. Afrs. McNIchol was overwhelmed by her
loss. This afternoon, while still bearing her
bereavement brnvely, it was found neces
sary to send out for home aspirin to quiet
her nerves. Her lnf.int son Robert, two
months old, was brought Into town by his
nurse at noon and bis mother watched over
tho child as ho lay In a big wicker basket,
llllcd with pillows, at her feet In the upper
room where Mrs. McNIchol remained.
A bteady stream of friends called at the
house during the diy to offer their condo
lences. Among them was Charles P. Don
nelly, tho Democratic leader. Fifty or more
telegrams of condolence were recelvd, many
of them from prominent men In all parts
of tho United States.
Among the callers at the McNIchol home
Immediately after the death became known
were Monslgnor Kleran. rector of St. Pat
rick's Church, at Twentieth and Locust
streets; Father Clark, of the Cathedral;
Register of Wills James B. Sheehan, a life
long friend of the Senator, and Magistrate
"Billy" Campbell.
MCNICHOL'S REMARKABLE CAREER
The story of James P. McNIchol Is the
story of ono of tho most remarkable, and
nlcturesnue characters known In the life
of Philadelphia during the present genera
tion. It Is the ktory of one man battling
against other men, his antagonists narrow
ing down to more and more powerful In
dividuals aa he himself grew stronger and
stronger.
So told, It Is at once a drama of Ameri
can life and a running commentary on
American municipal political history. It
haH Its first act. Its climax and Its con
clusion. Its underground and therefore un
heeded victories of wits pitted against
weaker wits, Its palpable victories and de
feats which all the world may read, and
Its bright reflection upon the dull and dark
colored waters of civic consciousness.
Most of nil. It la typically American In
Its appeal to the pragmatism of "the man
in the street," "Jim" McNIchol was not
boss of a debatable ward In the one of the
nation's greatest cities throughout twenty
five years without furnishing some perti
nent comment on the political attitude of
the mass of citizens. He was not a State
Senator for fifteen years without supplying
some picture of the link between municipal,
State and national politics. He was not a
builder of municipal Improvements on a
huge scale without awakening some vision
of the Immemorial alliance between "the
people" and "the friend of the people,"
Fittingly enough, he was a son of no
family which had had luster shed upon It
by the exploits of Its earlier members.
What he was he made. Nor can he be re
membered beyond his own generation of
politicians any more than the politicians of
a almlllar type who preceded htm, for his
tory la Is not modeled upon the lives of
municipal contractors. He Is. to be remem
bered as a contribution to realism.
IN TENTH WARD ALL HIS LIFE
He was born on July 3, 1864, and brought
il In the Tenth Ward. His father was a
contractor. In a small way, as was his
uncle. The family was In moderate cir
cumstances, Irish-Americans. The Tenth
Ward, at Its eastern end. was no sweet
smelling place. The McNlchols, however,
lived in its western half, a section of homes
which bad decency .without frills.'
Jim, a tail, gangling boy with a perpetual
s? .J ji.- .', . . i 'saaai 'A-- .' ? . A .-' W rfiw.,
said former Mayor Rudolph Blankenburtf
today at his home, 131 Walnut Lane, Ger
mantown, when told of the death of his
former neighbor and political opponent.
The "Old War Horse of Reform," who
has been 111 for a long time, but who de
clares he Is "getting younger every day,"
talked to a reporter as he Bat In a morris
chair In the sitting room of his home, read
ing his morning mall,
"Thai's too bad," ho remarked, "and I
nm sorry to hear of Senator McNIchol's
death. He was my neighbor for many
years nnd our relations were always pleas
ant. I'm sorry J ' ho was too young a man
,to die."
"Politically, Senator McNIchol and I were
as far apart as tho earth Is from the sun,
but as neighbors we were nlways pleasant
and cordial."
Asked ns to his own condition, Mr. Blank
enburg replied: "I'm feeling fine nnd getting
stronger every day. I take a horseback
ride dally nnd expect to go out this after
noon. Yes, I feel good. I believe I'm get
ting younger every day."
Mr, Blnnkenburg added that he expects
to be fully recovered In n. week or two
and will be nble to return to a dally round
of duties.
Congressman William S Vare, comment
ing upon Senator McNIchol's death, said:
"Senator McNIchol's death camo as a dis
tinct shock. I knew, of course, that his
condition was serious, but felt, with his
many friends, that his rugged constitution,
built upon a clean, mom! life, would pull
him through.
"I did not always arree with Senator
McNIchol along political lines, but ho had
my deepest respect ns one whoio unques
tioned courage, devotion to his friends und
many deeds of charity stamped him ns a
kind-hearted, generous, manly man. Tho
members of the family have my deepest
sympathy In this time of sorrow."
A Merrltt Taylor said- "Philadelphia
has lost a citizen possessed of remarkable
executive ability, no has built many great
works which will remain ns monuments to
his foresight nnd constructive nbtllty.
"Thousands of Phlladelphlans whom he
has befriended In time of need and In nn
unostentatious way can bear testimony to
his generosity nnd sympathetic affection
for his fellow men.
"Every ono feels tho deepest sympathy
for the bereaved family, as tho devotion
which existed between father, mother and
children marked a beautiful characteristic
of Senntor McNIchol."
Former Recorder of Deeds Ernest L.
Tustln:
"I regard Senator McNIchol's death a
great loss to the city of Philadelphia nnd
Stato of Pennsylvania. His intimate
knowledge of city affairs and the readiness
with which he was .vllllng to meet and
discuss with fellow citizens questions on
public welfare made him a valuable mem
ber of the Senate. I was a member of tho
Sonnto when Senator McNIchol was a mem
ber of that body, and I can my that Sen
ator McNIchol was of great assistance In
shaping legislation for Philadelphia. I nl
was found Senator McNIchol willing to
discuss nny question that concerned tho
public He was broad enough to recognize
tho other man's viewpoint
"Personally, I foel that I havo lost a
friend whoie place will be hard to take."
grin, went to school at tho Northwest High
School,, nt Fifteenth and Race streets. Then
ho studied two years nt a business college.
Tnat ended his schooling When he was
twenty he went to wjiIc for his father and
his uncle Ho learned not only how to got
a good Job of street grading done, but how
to make friends with tho men who worked
on tho Job If the youi.g men and tho
older men liked "young Jim" It was because
he was a likable lad.
"Jim" McNIchol's first "Job" was that of
Janitor In tho old City Hall, which was In
the east wing of tho Independence Hall
group of buildings, at Fifth and Chestnut
streets.
By the time ho was twenty-four he knew
all the voters In his dlv.olon, then tho
eighth. William It. Leeds was then boss of
the ward. The word went out that Leeds
was to be overthrown. Jim couldn't see
why. He did the best ho could to help
Leeds In his division. Ho got licked. Ho
laughed.
Thou he decided he would havo a try for
election to the Republican committee of tho
ward fror.i his division. Ho got licked
ngaln. Again he laughed.
HIS FIRST CITY CONTRACT
About this time he went Into business for
himself, going Into tho business of street
contractor with his brother, Daniel J. Mc
NIchol, In 1800. He was then twenty-six.
They had little more than $1000 between
them to start with, nnd part of this was
borrowed from their father. Three horses
and two carts were purchased. Charles A.
Porter, who got most of the municipal con
tracts of thoi-n days, turned a little street
grading work over to the young men. Jim
was more excited over that first Job than
he was when the first $5,000,000 filtration
plant contract went to his firm ten cars
later.
He kept on "mixing" quietly among tho
politicians of tho ward, and In u year or
two ofter his first failure he found that he
was the strongest of them all. Leeds had
died, and In 1892, when McNIchol was only
twenty-eight years old, he found himself
chosen to the City Committee and leader
of the ward In Leeds's place.
When the next mayoralty campaign came
on and David Martin, then the Republican
boss of the city, supported Warwick, Mc
NIchol worked loyally for Warwick In his
ward After Warwick's election, McNIchol
was a bidder for city contracts, but lost
them to John M, Mack, although Mack's
estimates had been higher than his. Mc
NIchol merely grinned his wide grin and
Joined forces with Israel W, Durham,
"Dave" Martin's rival for supremacy in the
crty's Republican leadership.
RISE IN LOCAL POLITICS
After six years of building up his strength
In the Tenth Ward. Jim ran for Select
Council and took his seat In 1893. The
four years that followed were the most
critical In his llfo. It was during them
that he first measured his brains against
those of the leaders In wards other than his
own. It was then that he began to form
alliances with leaders of other wards. "Tho
Ward Leaders' Combine," otherwise known
as the "Hog Combine," to which McNIchol
had belonged until ho broke with "Da- e"
Martin, found a new organization forming
under tho leadership of Durham and Mc
NIchol. They found allies In the downtown wards
In the persons of two brothers named Vare,
street-cleaning contractor?, who were Just
beginning tu use their employes to form
the nucleus of an army of voters. A dozen
years later the Vares were to become the
worst thorns In the flesh of McNIchol and
Boles Penrose, who, elected' United States
Senator to succeed J Donald Cameron,
had taken the place of Durham as the power
behind Philadelphia's city politics.
From Its formation In 1890 until 1901,
when Jim McNIchol ended his term as Select
Councilman, the McNIchol contracting Arm
had executed city and private contracts
aggregating more than $5,000,000. A million
dollar share of this was the paving In con
nection with the Hestonvllle Railroad
system. Work for the Philadelphia Traction
Company, the Electric Traction Company
and the Union Traction Company was done.
Callowhlll, Wharton, Federal, Ellsworth and
other streets were paved by the firm.
On Christmas Eve, 1901, the firm got Its
first big plum the award rt .contracts from
the city worth $5,000,000 for the building
of the filtration plant at Turresdale. The
award went to Danle) J. McNIchol. James
P McNIchol had been working sedulously
In Councils for the plan to equip the city
with the great system of filtration plants
which was eventually to give the McNIchol
firm $30,000,000 of contracts.
Jarrles p. McNIchol. elected a State Sena
tor to represent the. Third Philadelphia DIs.
trlct, which Included the F(fth, Sixth,
Tenth. Eleventh. Twelfth, Thirteenth, Four
teenth, Sixteenth and Eighteenth Wards,
took his seat ia the Legislature la 1902.
Hardly had he done so when Durham In
stituted suits which held up the filter ap
propriations and contracts until the bids
and figures were readjusted. The legal
fight dragged on for nearly two years.
McNIchol won. Discussing It somo years
afterward, he said:
"From tho day the fight was started 1
was confident that sooner or later I would
win. I knew this when the opposition made '.
the flltrntlon question tho basis for the
fight. I was conscious that I had a voucher
for every Item of expense, even though tho
nmount was no more than five cents. I
knew that I haJ checks showing every pay
ment made. I' knew that my payrolls nnd
bills showed the cost of tho work. I knew
that an honest examination of my books
would clear me of every charge. I was
confident of my position because I knew
that sooner or later the case was one that
would go to the courts and there bo fairly
tried,
"If It hnd been a straight-out political
fight, I shouldn't have carod so much, In
fact, I rather enjoy a fight now nnd then.
But I looked upon the fight ns one to dis
grace me, nnd my family through me, and
(o break me down financially. I had to
fight back. I wouldn't havo been much of
a man had I surrendered. I started out
to secura vindication. I think I have suc
ceeded." UPHEAVAL OF 1905
In 1905 came the famous upheaval In j
city politics In which the City Party over-
threw tho Durham-.McNIchol organization t
The Tenth Ward, McNIchol's, was the t-cene
of excitement In Its Tenderloin division
which was not paralleled until the outbreak
of 1917 In tho "Bloody Fifth." McNIchol
took the realignment of political strength
with smiling cheerfulness and set to worl
with Senator Penrose until the Penrosc-Mc-Nlchol
organization once more gathered
strength.
To tho building of the Torresdalo filtra
tion plants, from 1902 to 190S, Senator Mc
NIchol gavo n tremendous nmount of per
sonal attention. It was his greatest achieve
ment. With It he puflu-d through to comple
tion, between 1908 and 190S, the Market
street subway, a $7,250,000 Job, which pre
sented enormous engineering problems.
In fifteen soars tho two carts and the
team nf horses with which ho had started
had grown to a business In which 7000 men
wero employed.
Municipal contracts were far from being
the only work dono by tho McNIchol con
tracting A-"nis. Ono piece of construction
for tho Krlo Railroad was completed at a
cost of $4,500,000.
Senator McNIchol's first speech In the
Pennsylvania Legislature he was not n
speaker and seldom spoke In Councils, the
Leglslitute or In political campaigns won
him tho nickname of "Strawberry Jim." He
had Introduced a bill to amend tho "blue
laws" of 1794, forbidding the sale of anv
article on Sunday, fo ns to permit working
people to buy soft drinks, cigars and the
like on Sundays.
"They haven't got a chance to enjoy
themselvs on nny other day In tho week,"
ho said hotly. "A workingman gets home
nt night nnd he's so tired that he can't do
.invthtm? htlt ftmnlrp Mr nltirt nml en tn tied
Sunday Is his only day for Tecrcatlon I
Can't ho have a chance to buy anything or,
that day In the lino of harmless recreation'' I
He's not like the rich. He don't have straw
berries ; ho hns beans for breakfast " ,
Tho bill was parsed '
But even more widely than ns "Straw '
berry Jim" was Senator McNIchol known as t
"Sunny Jim. He was a man of stalwart
frame, more than six feet In height, with
out an ounco of superfluous flesh upon him
and his tall fornf was topped by a face In
which n wide, humorous mouth was per
petually spread In a grin that mado friends
everywhere. Ho grinned Just ns broadly
when he lost as when ho won Ho was
never n "quitter," nlways "a good loser"
which means that he was bound to win
eventually. (
Senator McNIchol's one recreation during
tho last ten years was horso racing, and
he never got over Ms love for fine horses
of which he owned several. He owned the
trotters Dago, Roy Miller, Darrah and
Jacqueline P., and tho pacers R. H. Brett,
Maxlme Audubon and Beldon. R. H. Brett,
with a record of 2:02tt, was regarded ns
champion of the Grnnd Circuit. In one
year the bay gelding brought In $12,000
In stakes.
Senator McNIchol was twice married, He
Is survived by twelve children, who are
Dunstan, William J., Harry A., Joseph T.,
Frank J., Edward J., Daniel J James J.
Jr., John F Robert, Helen and Agnes. Be-'
sides tho twelve living children there were
two who died. Mrs. McNIchol before her
marrlago to the Senator In 1909 was Miss
Margaret Donahoe. Sho was chief nurse at
the Philadelphia Hospital at the time of
her marriage. Two boys, Robert and Duns
tan, are children of this marriage, while the
other ten aro tho children of Senator Mc
NIchol's first wife, who was Miss Anastasla
Fatty. Ho married her early In life.
Senator McNIchol's family was his thief
Interest, for to It he gavo every possible
moment away from politics and business,
"There Is only ono thing I nm working for, '
he once snld. "I want to give all my chil
dren a good education and serf that they nre
-started In life, I want to teach my boys
to be good business men so that they will
bo able to take care of themselves after I
am gone. I want to give my family all
the comforts possible nnd help a few others
here and there to get a little sunshine out
of life."
That he succeeded In helping not "a few
others," but very ninny, "to get a llttlt
sunshine" Is well known, In spite of the
fact that Senator McNIchol never referred
to his charities. There Is a home for oi
phans In Sea Isle City whlcti received muc
of Its support from him. In the days of
the coal strikes of fifteen years ngo he sup
plied coal to hundreds of poor families, nm
of his standing orders to division lieuten
ants In tho Tenth Ward was to see to It
that any needy family was helped. Many a
ragged youngster ha-s been supplied with
new shoes, warm stockings and other cloth
ing by Senator McNIchol's orders.
Several years ago Senator McNlch(,l built
a spacious residence of twenty-two rooms
at 222 West Logan square, a few doors
from tho residence of his old political foe.
ex-Mayor Blankenburg. The building was
appraised at $153,000 when tho Parkway
plans called fcr Its demolition np wc llK
that of ex-Mayor Blankenburg's. It has
been demolished.
"HE WAS A CLEAfl MAN,"
PROVOST SMITH'S TRIBUTE
Dr. Edgar Fahs Smith, provost of the
University of Pennsylvania, who was n
close friend of Senator McNIchol, said
when Informed of his death by t.ie i
Kvenino LuDOEn:
"I am sorry Indeed to hear this newp
You know, after he left his sickroom to
go to the polls to vote at the recent elec- '
lions ana sunerea a relapse as a result i
dropped him a little note to say how sorry
I was, and asked If I might not drop In
to see him for a minute or two as soon as
he was able to. Bee his friends once more,
He wasn't able to receive any one and now
that opportunity will never come to mo
again.
"I have always had high esteem for
Senator McNIchol I have known him for
many ycara, you know. We had many
Interests In common not In political nor
business matters, but socially. He was a
man of remarkable brain porter. Although
ho had never enjoyed the educational ad
vantages which others may have had, he
was a very clear thinker. I knew his sons
well. Four of them atiended the University
fine boys, with good records.
"I admired him, too, because he always
stood firm on the subject of drink. He
never drank himself and his attitude was
an example to others. He was a clean
man.
"I admired him Immensely for his In
variable square-dealing. And I admired
him for his publlo spirit. You recall that
when the Subway appropriations were held
up, Senator McNIchol, knowing how much
the Subway and the Frankford Elevated Is
needed, simply said, Til go ahead.' He was
willing to risk his own money and to wait
I think that was a pretty fine thing for
'any man to do.
I'm sorry to near inai ne na gone.
Ttutt'i all I can say,"
.r. ' .'tis-ii-
ir
Is all night long as they watch and
wait in the dark, cold first line trench
an hourly cup of cocoa or tea from the
nearest Y. M. C. A. hut, often a dug
out. Then just before they go over
two cakes of chocolate are put in each
boy's pocket so that if he gets lost
in No-Man's Land or is wounded or
taken prisoner he has something in
his pocket that will feed and nourish.
The Y. M. C. A. thus gives a boy the
last home touch as he "goes over."
Will you help us to keep this up ?
Send money or make checks to order of f
DREXEL & COMPANY, Treaiuren, 5th and Cheitnut Street, PHILADELPHIA
t
IThia advertisement i$ paid for by a private contributor
l
m
The Last Touch Our Boys
Get Before They Go
"OverTheTop"
The Author of "Over The Top":
Do everything you can to help the Y. M.
C. A. The Y. M. C. A. hut is the real
home of the American soldier in France.
It brings home to him there in the mud of
the trenches. It's up to you people in
America to help the Y. M. C. A.
ARTHUR GUY EMPEY.
America is asked to contribute 35
million dollars tp this work the share
for Philadelphia and Delaware, Mont
gomery, Chester and Bucks Counties
is $1,300,000. This sum must be
raised this week. Will you help Js?
n
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