The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1892-08-20
REPUBLICAN, POLITICS.
Lively Contest in the Primaries Next satur-
day

Our Republican brethren are on the eve of
the warnlest local fight they have had since
the appointment of postmaster about three
years ago was carried into the primaries.
And the Westminster postoffice is at the bot
tom oil the coming contest, also.
FOR years the late Judge Smith and Col.
VIM a: Mekellip were the Republican lead
ers. When the former went on the bench in
1857, Col Mchellip alone was looked up to
as the leader. Ambitious politicians, how
ever, assumed TO boss the organization, and a
few years later succeeded in getting hold of
the party machinery. This was quietly done,
and when Col McKellip's friends brought
him forward for clerk in 1885, they found the
little bosses, who had been working secretly,
IN control of the county convention, and
deal to appeals and needless of warnings of
disaster, turned down Col. Mckellip and car
ried out the pre-arranged program, nomina
ting all on the slate. Disaster followed,
though large corruption fund was used to
carry part Of the ticket through.
Mismanagement followed, the bossism was
too apparent and too severe, and disaster con
tinued. The voters demanded a change.
For a time faction seemed to be buried, and
n number of Republican politicians got to-
gether and started another Republican paper
and hired an editor. The paper was not
success, and its course toward the old organ
of the party tended to divide the party on
another line The editor left, and the staff
was reorganized. Home talent was employed.
Col. McKellip's friends, the old staunch Re-
publicans Of the county, got control of the
party again, and this so incensed some of the
would-be leaders they washed their hands of
the new paper. After the election, Mr..
Clabaugh, who was personal and political
friend of Col. McKellip, was made editor,
and it was not long before he resigned. The
journal has now fallen into the hands of those
opposed to Col. McKellip, and last week it
came out squarely against him and the county
interest aud advocated the nomination of
Bob Thackery, of Cecil county, for Congress
man, over Col. McKellip, whose selection had
been urged some weeks past by many Repub-
leans in all parts of the county. The same
little bosses who control the little paper sue
ceeded in getting control of the county con-
vention last spring, and while they spread
honey over everybody except Col. Mckellip,
they took good care to select as delegates
only those who would serve their purposes.
At the congressional convention, it is alleg
ed, bargain was struck with Ihackery, by
which Carroll was to support Thackery for
the congressional nomination in turn for
Cecil's support of Mr.. Samuel Roop for dele
gate to the Republican national convention.
This has been denied, but the course of the
organ of the anti. McKellip faction would in
dictate that deal had been made.
As above noted, the Westminster postoffice
is at the bottom of the impending struggle on
next Saturday. Whoever is nominated for
Congress will surely be defeated, but IN the
event of Harrison election-a remote con-
tingency-the candidate would have the dis
tribution of the federal patronage in the dis
trict. If Col. Mckellip should be nominated
he would endeavor to distribute the patronage
with the purpose of bene6ting the party. If
Thackery be nominated he would listen 10 the
soft. sweet voices of the little coterie who are
now trying to capture CAROLS delegates for
him, and who are for themselves first and
party afterward-who believe in party
means of private success.
The party organ, the Sentinel, some weeks
ago came out in favor of Col. Mckellip, urg-
ing his nomination not only because Of his
fitness, but also because the county was emit
tied to recognition now, as it had not the
honor of presenting candidate for Congress
since 1870.
The ADVOCATE has nothing to do with the
contest, except to chronicle 1t as an item OF
news 1t may be proper to remark, however,
that the ADVOCATES opinion is, from per,
sonal knowledge of both Col. Mckellip and
Thackery, that Col. Mckellip would be by far
the better candidate in every particular. He
is not ihe speaker Thackery is, but is far supe-
rior to him in all else.
Col McKellip, the impression prevails, will
carry his county, and the probability Is Cecil
will not support Ihackery.