The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-06-05
had strong Influence arrayed against
him In seeking political control Of the
Democracy Of the state.
Mentioned for the Presidency.

Democracy OF the state.
Mentioned for the Presidency.
On two occasions Senator German was
before the country as q strong candidate
for the presidential nomination Of the
Democratic party. or, at least, his name
was foremost In that connection, he was
very widely admitted to be the clcarest
headed and shrewdest political manager
OF his party, and while as a presidential
possibility he had many powerful cne-
mics, especially in the radical element
of the organization. he had the conf
dence OF practically every ona so far
us his manag erial ability was concerned.
He was chairman Of the National Dem a
ocratic Committee when the Democrats
elected Mr.. Cleveland in 1884, and he re-
ceived a great deal of credit for Bome Of
the results that were accomplished III
that campaign When he was named
prominently as q candidate for the pres
idency, a great many Of his friends doubt
whether his political sense approved or
his own candidacy At least, he was res
ceptive, rather than active. as a candl-a
date, waiting to see what force boom
for him would receive before nRVng
anything to say about it. He was never
a candidate In any outspoken way, but It
was believed that his friends had his
advice In much that they did in order to
promote his interests In that respect.
He was always an organization man and
one strong argument in his favor was that
he had never bolted, but had done all
he could for the party candidates, even
If they had not been chosen with his
approval.
Senator German had always taken an
active interest In the affairs OF the Dis
| trict OF Columbia and had q Very tho
rough knowledge OF 5conditions here. For
many years he was a 5fnenber OF TIE
Senate Committee on the District OF
Columbia, and until his recent illness
confined him to his home he was a reg
ular. attendant upon the meetings Of that
committee.
In Committee Work.
From the beginning OF his term as
senator he had showed his chief strength
In the counsels OF his party and in COM
mittee work he was especially powerful.
There was never time when his opinions
upon any subject relating to the good OF
his party were regarded lightly. Soon
after he began his services In the Forty;
seventh Congress he was made mem
Der OF the COMMITTEES on Rules. in which
place he performed a great deal OF work
| OF service to his party. He was always
a member Of the Steering Committee and
rapidly advanced to the most important
! minority committee places in the Senate.
| AS member OF the Committee on Ap-
| preparations, on Commerce and on 1n-A
| terstate Commerce, he made himself a
| power In the Senate. His membership
| on the Committee on Finance was mpor-
tant in all discussions of the tariff, rs he
! always took leading part In the framing
Of all the tariff bills .while he was In
Congress. In fact the so called Wilson
tariff bill at the time it was passed was
almost as thoroughly identified with his
name as 1t was with that OF Mr.. Wilson,
as 1t was German who took the leading
part In Its reconstruc t1on, and 1t was
believed by many that had his hard
not been In 1t the shortage OF revenue
would have ben DISASTROUS.
Mr.. Gornlan's connection with the up-
building Of the new navy that was be-
gun under Secretary Whitney during the
first Cleveland administration is generally
acknowledged. He was at that time a
member Of the Committee on Appropria-
TONS and he was friendly to the efforts
for the upbuilding Of the navy. When
the Cleveland administration passed out
and the government again went into the
hands of the Republicans. Mr. German
continued to take the same interest that
he had previously shown In the navy,
and assisted by his vote and Influence In
appropriating funds for that purpose. On.
the occasion Of q banquet given in the
honor OF Mr.. German In Baltimore. Sec
rotary Tracy acknowledged in a strong
speech that the Maryland senator had
contributed much to the advancement of
the new navy
Senator German was especially active
lin getting appropriations for his State,
He was to n large extent influential In
advancing the Improvement OF the Naval
Academy at Annapolis. in securing new
custom house for Baltimore. and In get
ting river and harbor improvements, and
4 in many other ways building up his State,
Senator NLcComas and others In the
Maryland delegation We're at the same
time working for a common end In those
respects, and did much to advance the
interests OF the State In the getting of
Improvements, but Mr.. Germans assists
ance was always looked upon as of the
utmost Importance In the accomplishment
OF the desired results.
No Politics in His Home.
It is said that Senator German early in
life adopted plan for his daily routine
that prevented him from ever discussing
politics In his family circle, and which
caused him to drop all work on Sundays
49,