National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1880-01-10
M.IRrLAYD's NEW SEN.IToR.

A National" and State Reputation.
Hon. A. F. German, nominated for United
States Senator from Maryland, Is not u stranger
In Washington, and his residence in this city
is cherished in grateful remembrance by the
knights and friends of the diamond field.
While he was an employee n the Senate post.
otfice, the baseball fever sIuss out in au
epidemic form, and Mr.. iso. .a.s became an
carly aud energetic meprn , o the National
Base.Ba Club, which was then organized on
Capitol Hill, and he subsequently became IT'S
president. For several years he was one of
tho regular nine, usually pl.T.pg. centkc
field After retiring as player, ~ continued
his interest in the club and was among its
most active supporters. The club, after an
existence Of fifteen years. still bears on its
rolls the names of gentlemen who were with
Mr.. German at the time of its organization.
The Baltimore american, in speaking of the
prospective new Senator from that State, says
I'm going to the United States Senate, the
Hon Arthur p. German will havo the triumph
of returning to that august body us member
which he once served as page u thing which
never occurred before in the history of the
Senate. He was born In Howard county,
which he now represents in the State
Senate, March II, 1880. His grandfather,
John German, came from Ireland TO America in
1900, settling first near Harrisburg and after
wards removing to Baltimore. His father,
Peter German, esq, was n farmer aud largo
contractor OIL tho Baltimore 81 Olio railroad
when 1t was building; vas moreover, an
active politician and had Il large acquaintance
with public mon. The Senator-elect, when
boy, enjoyed only such educational advan-
tages rs tho public schools of Howard county
can supply; aud at the carly age of thirteen
he was appointed page In the Senate, through
tho influence Of Judge Edward Hammond,
then member of the House of Representa-
tives. The youth was bright, active and
obliging, and attracted the notice of Stephen
A. Douglass, of Illinois, who eventually made
him his secretary and confidential friend.
Young German lived in the great Sem
ator's house and accompanied him OH
all his electioneering tours, including
the famous stumpiug tour against Lin
coin when they were Contesting the IlIi-
nois SenatorShip. Mr.. German WAS familiar
with all the political intrigues of that day !;
his "reminiscences of the secret history Of the
split between Douglass and Breckenridge
would make an interesting contribution to the
history of National politics. At the outbreak
of the war Mr.. German wavered little, aud
it is stated that he once went to Jefferson
Davis and asked him his opinion Of what he
ought to do Follow your State" said the
Secessonist leader; aud so he did When the
firing on Fort Sumpter took place he, like
Douglass followers generally, supported the
forcible suppression Of the rebellion. lie re-
maned in the service of the Senate, advauc-
ing from one post to another, until he held
tho position of Postmaster. When President
Johnson broke with the Republican party
he followed his lead, and made him.
self so active in opposing the i'm.
peachment that The majority Of the
Senate dismissed him from his office, Reverdy
johnson, Thomas A. Hendricks aud other Dem.
OcratiG members of the Senate, together with
Montgomery Blair, procured from President
Johnson Germans appointment AS collector Of
Internal Revenue of the Fifth district, which
comprises Southern Maryland. 1t was very
difficult collection district but Mr. German
addressed himself to its duties with such en-
ergy aud ability that he cleared away its ar
rearages, and in less than six months after
he left tho otlioe his accounts were closed up,
which was the first time such thing had been
done In tho history Of that collection district.
lie held the office until April 1869, when
he resigned it to his successor, appointed
by General Grant and returned to his
farm in Howard county In the fall of
1869 he was elected to the House OF Dele
gates. He was just thirty ut that time,
and belonged to tho Hamilton wing Of the
party, which had been defeated by Bowie in
the struggle over the GoVernorship two years
before. He was active in the party contests of
1871 when Mr.. Whyte was candidate for the
Rubernatorlal nomination, supported by Mr.,
Hamilton, who was then In the United States
Senate. He was elected Speaker OF the
House of Delegates ia 1872, and made the
reputation of being the best parliamentarian
who has occupied that chair within modern
memory. When Whyte took his seat as GOV.
ernor, ho appointed Mr., German president Of
the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Mr., James
c. Clark, who was the president under Bowio's
administration, had received $4,000 per an.
mum, but Mr., German accepted $4,000, The
oh W. a "A a nl.
executive ability was very high, aud Mr.. Cor
man WIS looked upon merely as politician.
Mr., German had previously served as Il direct
or, having been appointed IN 1862