Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1902-01-23
Mr.. Gorman's Career.
From Page to Leader Of his Par
ty I'm the Senate.
From ths BaLtimore SIN.

1 HUHf fftr DafttHtJfF tJAH
Arthur Pae German was born at
Woodstock, Howard county, Md,
March IL, 1899. His father was Pc
ter German and his mother Elizabeth
A. Brown. The name of the Sena-
tor-elect comes from DR.. Arthur
Pue, prominent physician OF How
ard county, who was friend and
relative Of Mrs. Peter German. At
the age Of 6 years Mr. German went
with his parents from Woodstock 10
live at Laurel, which has been his
home ever since. At the age of l3
years his father, aided by General
Hammond, the Congressman from
his district, and William 7. Hamil-
ton, who was then in Congress, Sc
cured him position in the House
of Representatives as page.
It was here that he attracted the
attention of Stephen A. Douglas,
who became very much attached TO
him and obtained for him an appoint
ment as page in the United States
Senate. He soon became close and
intimate friend of Mr.. Douglas, his
private secretary and a member of
his household. He accompanied
Mr.. Douglas in his Illinois campaign
in which he engaged Abraham Lin
coin in joint tdiscussions. From the
position of page Mr. German was
advanced to that of messenger, then
successfully to those of assistant
doorkeeper, assistant postmaster and
postmaster. Ii was while occupy
ing this position that the famous
struggle over the Kansas Nebraska
bill took place in Congress, and in
it Mr.. German, by his vigilance, ac-
tivity and physical endurance, was
able to afford important assistance
to the Douglas party. At the out
break of the war Mr.. German and
his father became Union men.
COLLECTOR OF INTERNAL REVENUE.
Arthur P. German retained his
position of postmaster of the Senate
during the war. He was employed
by the Government in many impor-
tant missions where tact and skill
were required. As the differences.
began to widen between President
johnson and the Senate Mr. German
was in sympathy with the former,
aud lost his position as postmaster
in consequence. But the President
appointed him Collector of Internal
Revenue in the Fifth Collection Dis
trict of Maryland, which comprised
the southern counties of the State.
Arrearages amounting to $3.50, 900
were collected along with current
dues and prompt settlements were
made. 1t was during the incumben-
cy of this Office that Mr.. German
first became interested in State pol
itics, in which he has occupied so
conspicuous position for the third
of a century.
His first Office under the govern
ment of Maryland was that Of sairec-
tor OF the Chesapeake and Ohio Ca
nal Company, to which he was ap-
pointed in 1869. He was elected to
the House of Delegates from How
ard county and served during the
sessions of 1870, 1872 and 1874. At
he session OF 1874 he was elected
Speaker. At the close of this ses-
sion. with the influence of Governor
Whyte, he was appointed president
of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal,
and held that position for about 10
years. But in the meantime he was
elected, in 1875, to succeed John
Lee Carroll as Senator from Howard
county, position to which he was
reelected in 1877. Z
It was during this session that he
conducted the adiustmentof of the diff
ferences between the State and the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Com
pany growing out of the capitation
tax, in which he exacted from the
company certain concessions for the
Chesapeake and Ohio canal. In the
controversy with the road Mr.. Cor
man acted upon the belief that the
Washington Branch, in which the
State had heavy interest, would be
bankrupt in competing with road
which had no such burden as the
capitation tax upon it.
ELECTED UNITED STATES SENATOR.
In 1880 be was elected TO succeed
the Hon. William Pinkney whyte as
Senator of the United States. he
took his seat March 4. 1851. He
was at that time Al years Of age and
the youngest man in the Senate.
Six years lGter be was reelected
without opposition.
In 1891 the Democratic State Con-
vention nominated Dir. German for
reelection to the Senate in recogni-
ton Of his fight against the Force
bill. AT the session of 1892 ne was
reelected BY the unanimous vote Of