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 winter. I will explain the situation more fully to you when I have an opportunity of seeing you personally, as there are phases of it which I can not very well write about, and in the meantime I suggest that you let the matter drop until we can meet. I fully appreciate the fact that you are viewing the subject with a view to the interests of us all. Yours truly,

.

, January 12th, 1905.



I read your message of January 3d to the General Assembly of the State of Pennsylvania with a great deal of pleasure and had hoped to be able to get over to Harrisburg yesterday and congratulate you upon your able document, but owing to pressing business matters I was unable to be away from my duties here.

You certainly did credit to yourself when you wrote the message, and I have today received a copy of the message from the adjutant general's office in pamphlet form which I shall take home and preserve for future reference. The message shows to the people of this commonwealth just what kind of a governor they have, a good thinker and a man of integrity and honest purpose, and if I may be permitted to quote the words of our mutual friend, the late lamented Senator Quay, "When Governor Pennypacker lays down the mantle of executive of the State of Pennsylvania, he will be looked upon as the greatest governor that this state ever had." I don't know that these are his exact words, but that was the tenor of what he said. I hope to be able to get over to Harrisburg and have a talk with you sometime soon.

Remember me with much kindness to Mrs. Pennypacker and your daughters, and also to Secretary Wharton. Rh