GOVERNOR, 1906
Short and fat, when he spoke he shook all over. When he argued he began in the middle of the proposition and worked both ways at once with the most intense energy. Yet, worthy and assiduous, he won respect and, what is more remarkable, reputation as a constitutional lawyer.
The Pittsburgh Gazette said, editorially, February 16th:
“Pennsylvania has had no better governor,” and the next day the Philadelphia Inquirer followed suit with:
“The biggest man in Pennsylvania today is Samuel W. Pennypacker, Governor,” and “Pennypacker's name will go into history as one of the greatest of governors.”
An act had been passed at the session of 1905 providing for a commission of three lawyers to codify the divorce laws of the state, and authorizing the governor “to communicate in the name of the commonwealth with the governors of the several states comprising the Federal Union, requesting them to co-operate in the assembling of a congress of delegates from such of the states as take favorable action upon the suggestion; said congress to meet at Washington in the District of Columbia, at such a time in the near future as shall be agreeable for the purpose of examining, considering and discussing the laws and decisions of the several states upon the subject of divorce, with a view to the adoption of a draft for the proposed general law which shall be reported to the governors of all the states for submission to the legislatures thereof, with the object of securing, as nearly as may be possible, uniform statutes upon the matter of divorce throughout the nation.” Ten thousand dollars were appropriated with which to pay the expenses. It was the first and only serious effort, up to this time made, to correct one of the greatest and growing evils of our modern life. The commissioners appointed were: C. La Rue Munson, of Williamsport, an eminent lawyer, later suggested for the governorship; William H. Staake, of Philadelphia, whom I appointed a judge of the court of common pleas, and Walter George Smith, of Philadelphia,
