The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1901-11-23
Their Labor in Vain.

f. A. r., the Washington correspondent of
the Baltimore Sun, says Interested, but
not the less amused, comment has been caused
among experienced politicians here over the
proposed action of the Republican State Com
mittee of Maryland.
Mr. German may we'll laugh in his sleeve,
and out of his sleeves, if he wishes, over the
dreadful threats to keep him out of the United
States Senate. This, without any reference
whatever to the charges of trick ballots, the
throwing out of votes, etc., for more or less
of these charges may possibly be proved, but
under the circumstances, whether more or
less, it will not have the slightest bearing on
the question of Mr.. German admission to the
Senate. can scarcely fancy the members of
the Republican State Committee lack the in
telligence not to be fully aware of this, and
hence conclude as every one else here does,
that fierce pronunciamentos are meant only
for political effect.
SENATE NOT LIKELY TO NOTICE IT.
If, as intimated in The Sun, the sum total
of the efforts which the Republican managers
are about to institute will be to bring case
against Mr.. German, they may as well spare
themselves the trouble. Anyone in the least
familiar with the Senate course of procedure
in contested election cases knows perfectly
we'll that the Senate will not take more than
the most perfunctory notice of charges OF the
character set forth, even should they be well
sustained, which may be considered as ex-
ceedingly doubtful.
The Senate has set too many precedents in
this respect to depart from them. If Mr.. Cor
man comes to the Senate of the United States
with credentials properly authenticated by the
MARYLAND authorities he will take his seat with
out question. Should the Republican com
mittee submit the charges which are fore
Swallowed they will be received as matter of
course and referred to the Committee on
Privileges and Elections. Just as likely as
not they will never be heard of again, or they
may be reported back to the Senate with the
statement in effect that they relate to matters
over which the Senate has no jurisdiction.
There is no analogy whatever between the case
of Senator Clark, of Montana, and that of Mr..
German. The charges against Senator Clark
were based entirely on allegations that he had
paid for the votes of members of the Legisa-
ture The charges covered subjects which
most clearly came within the purvlew of the
Senate. Recognizing this, and in the face of
certain adverse action by the Senate, Mr..
Clark forstalled his action by resigning.
AS TO LEGISLATIVE SUPPORT.
As, according to the general understanding,
no competitor will appear against Mr.. Cor
man, and practically every Democratic mem
Der of the Legislature is pledged in advance
to vote for him, no issue can arise as to the
action of that body.
So much for the legal and the technical as
pect of the case. But so far as Mr.. German
is concerned, there is a personal element
entering into consideration of character so
strong as to require legal and technical OBJ
structions of a much more than ordinary nature
to overcome. | do not propose to enter into
l. 800,
man, in his relations to the national leaders
of the Republican party, occupies position
unique and entirely exceptional in American
politics. Although Democrat and unques-
tionably for the last 10 years of his service in
the Senate the leader on the Democratic side,
he was on intimate personal and it may be
said almost affectionate terms with all the
leaders on the other side of the chamber.
Whatever agreements, whatever bargains,
whatever comprises were consummated be-
tween the two sides of the chamber they were
always effected through Mr.. German alone, as
it was rarely if ever the Republicans took the
trouble to see any other Democratic Senator.
When Mr.. German went out of the Senate a
wave of regret swept through the whole Re
publican side, and there were not a few who
took him by the hand and said they hoped to
see him back.
IL
yet it is the fact that in this great arena in
Washington men prominent, stanch and even
bitter on their respective sides are the warmest
of personal friends, and will oftentimes crowd
their political conscience on account of their
personal regard. Mr.. German is striking
Illustration of this condition.
WISHED Mr.. GoRMAN BACK.
All through the last campaign in Maryland
it was the common thing on the streets, in the
hotels, around the Capitol and the White
House to hear Republicans express the wish
that German would come back.
1t is an open secret in political circles that
German can in Washington, Philadelphia and
New York get more Republican money for
campaign purposes than any Republican from
the State Of Maryland. So you can see when
Mr.. German knocks at the door of the Senate
after his FIVE years absence there will be
rush from the Republican side to let him in,
and try he never so hard, my dear friend SEN
ator McComas will not be able to get him out.