The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-01-26
SATURDAY. JANUARY &c, 1884.
Mr.. Groome's Successor.

Mr.. Groome's Successor.
just after the ADVOCATE was put to
press last Friday afternoon the Legislature
chose II United States Senator to succeed
Hon. James b. G.oome, whose term will
expire March I. 1885. The choice oc-
cured on the fifth ballot, and the result
was unexpected Judge Robinson, of
Queen Aune's county, had lead on all bal
lots taken, from Tuesday until the fourth
on Friday, when Judge Wilson, of Wor-
cester. lead by several votes. On the fifth
ballot Judge Robinson's vote ran up to
twenty-nine Before the result was an
nounced, there was a hurried consultation
among several Republicans. 1t was the
Republican plan to cast their votes Tor
Robinson, without the consent of Judge
Robinson, however, as soon as he received
enough Democratic votes, which, with their
own. would be enough to elect. The Re-
publicans thought the time had arrived,
and Senator Moore, of Montgomery, lead
off by having his vote changed from Robert
b. Dixon, Republican, to Judge Robinson.
Senators Randall of Anne Arundel, and
Hodson, of Somerset, Republicans, changed
their votes to Robinson, and as the Republi-
can plan became apparent, excitement ran
high. The Democrats were aware of the
Republican programme. They had not
expected it on Friday, however, but they
prevented the move by changing their votes
in turn. and when the ballot was completed
Judge Wilson had sixty-eight votes, thir-
teen more than enough to elect. Robinson
received seven, Thomas six, Groome eight,
Creswel seven and Dixon twelve, the last
two being Republicans.
Judge Ephraim X. Wilson, the success
full competitor for the Senatorial prize, was
born in Snow Hill, Worcester county, De
cember 10, 1921, and has just entered his
sxty-tLrd year He attended school at
the academy in his native town until the age
offiftecn, then took a clerkship in store in
Philadelphia. Judge Asa Spence, his
brother-in-law, believing he was youth OF
promise, induced him to go to school again
and bore the expense of his education. In
1910 he graduated at Jefferson College,
Cannonsburg, Pa, then taught school for
six years, in the meantime studying law
and serving a term in the House OF Dele
gates. Judge Wilson practised law for
twenty years, then retiring on account OF
i'll health. Next he was school examiner,
then elected to Congress, then appointed
associate Judge to fill Il vacancy, and in
1882 was elected to the same position for
A term of fifteen years. He is strong
man, fine speaker, conservative, free from
all factions in the state, and has always
been a consistent Democrat So far as
public opinion is known his election is very
satisfactory to the people of every section
of Maryland.
The Suns Annapolis correspondent gives
the following views of the supporters of
Judge Robinson
Senator Gill, of Baltimore city, who voted
for Judge Robinson from first to last, not in
Guiding, of course, the final Stampede vote,
and who was one of his most active represen-
tatives in the joint convention, thinks that the
stampede might have been checked had some
of the Robinson men, after changing to Will
son, changed back to Robinson again, eX-
planning that the change to Wilson had been
made for the purpose of proving that they
were not in collision with the Republicans.
He had himself endeavored to accomplish this,
but the Robinson men were demoralized, and
he soon found it could not be done. Mr..
Gadd. the member from Queen Anne's who
led the stampede to Wilson, stated that he
changed his vote without the least idea OF the
consequences that would follow. He sup
posed that his announcement would be ac-
cepted as an evidence of the good faith of the
Robinson men, and that the matter would
stop there. He was overwhelmed when he
found that he had Hnwittngly given the cue
to Judge Wilson's friends, and practically
transferred Judge Robinsons strength to the
strongest candidate. After ALL however,
Judge Wilson, he was satisfied, would prove
acceptable to the people of Queen Anne's,
and if he had erred, he had at least the salts
faction of knowing that he had contributed to
the election of Il strong and able Senator.