East Stroudsburg Lodge No. 319

A. MITCHELL PALMER 

By Dave Merklin

Mr. Palmer  was one  of  the founding  members of the East Stroudsburg B. P. O. E. #319 and served as our third Exalted Ruler.

He graduated first in his class from Stroudsburg High School at the age of fourteen.  He graduated summa cum laude from Swarthmore College and was admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar at the age of twenty-one.  He was junior partner in the law firm of Judge John B. Storm, a firm that Mr. Palmer took over after the death of Judge Storm in 1901.

In addition to his involvement with our lodge, he actively participated in several influential civic organizations.  He also acquired control of the leading local newspapers and a local community bank.

In 1908 he was elected to the United States House of Representatives and twice reelected in 1910 and 1912.  He served as the leader of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party from 1912 to 1921.  In 1912 he was considered the leading candidate for the Democratic nomination for the President of the United States.  Later he was named to the post of Alien Property Custodian and served as the Attorney General of the United States for two years under President Woodrow Wilson.

In 1921 Mr. Palmer returned full-time to his Stroudsburg based law firm, which continues to exist today under the name of Bensinger and Weekes, P. A.  Mr. Palmer passed away in Washington, D. C. in 1936 and is buried in Stroudsburg’s Laurelwood Cemetery.

The B. P. O. E. #319 is currently working with the Monroe County Historical Society and the Monroe County Bar Association in considering a suitable recognition for Past Exalted Ruler A. Mitchell Palmer.

For further information, please contact Dave Merklin at dvmerklin@yahoo.com.