Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1904-12-30
Republican Leaders Surprised.

The announcement from Washington or
Monday that President Roosevelt had de
cided to appoint Mr.. W. Hall Harris as post
master at Baltimore, to succeed Mr.. s. Davies
WarAeld, caused quite sensation among
the Republican leaders Of that city.
Immediately after the announcement q
statement was received there from Senator
McComas that the appointment of Mr.. Har.
ris was acceptable to him and would be
promptly confirmed by the Senate. The In.
formation was also officially given from the
White House that the name Of Mr.. Harris
had been laid before the President by Mr..
Charles ]. Bonaparte.
Before Monday the name of the appointee
had not been mentioned in connection with
the office, the drift Of Republican sentiment
being toward Gen. ]. Stuart Macdonald,
whose chief advocate was Congressman
Wachter.
The complete unexpectedness of the Pres.
idents action is undoubtedly hard blow
to the political sponsors Of Gen. Macdonald
Congressman Watcher, when told of the SO.
lection Of Mr.. Harris, at first fatty refused
to believe 1t. When finally convinced that
1t was true he said:
"There is little can say. | am simply
too astounded for words. My Amusement
Is particularly great because of the fact that
had the word Of the President given to
me personally that he would not make this
appointment without notifying me or cali
ing me into conference. Having been told
this 80 distinctly by the President, felt con-
1dent that even If my candidate was not Sc.
lected would know who would be named
in advance of the announcement
at is unnecessary for me to say that l
had not the slightest inkllng of the appoint
ment of Mr.. Harris. l do not know Mr..
Harris. never saw him and never heard
of him. do not know whether he Is
Democrat or a Republican, and have heard
Of no part played by him in the battles of
the party In the past.
"You say that the name Of Mr.. Harris was
to the President by Mr.. Charles
]. Bonaparte. This Is almost as great sur.
prise to me as the appointment itself. can
only say that Mr.. Bonaparte's attitude To.
ward this question must have changed re-
Gently. He told the candidates for the place
who saw him that he was not interested In
who was to be postmaster, either directly or
indirectly. He said he was Federal Office
holder himself and frequently engaged in
Federal investigation; therefore il would
not be proper for him to recommend any
to the President and he could
take no active part in the matter. In his
way he created the impression
among those who sought him on this mat
ter that he was not interested and would
not urge the appointment Of anyone. Be.
ieving Mr.. Bonaparte to be sincere In what
he said, the candidates for the place did not
trouble him.
thereafter l think It would be well for
hose who want to hold Federal offices In
to see Mr.. Bonsparte first, as 1t
would appear that his word has more weight
than that Of Republicans who have been
bearing the brunt Of the party's battles In
this State for many years and who succeed
ed last November in practically carrying
this State for Roosevelt"
Mr.. Harris Is son of the late ]. Morri son
harris, who was the Republican candidate
for Governor In 1876 when Hon. John Lee
Carroll was elected. He is Republican,
but has never taken any active interest In
the affairs of his party. He is lawyer by
profession, enjoying good parctice.