Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1910-07-15
Anti-Pearre Men Seeking a Winner.

- AASN ASSoiy ia washington lines.
lnsursent Republicans of Alleeany county
stand ready to rally around any candidate
for the Republican nomination for Consres:
from the Sixth district who can defeat Rep.
resentative Pearre
They will 60 little further: They will
support any one of the independent can.
didates who can demonstrate any decided
strength against Pearre.
This is the situation which Gist Blair
the Montgomery county candidate, found
in Cumberland on his automobile sweeI
through the district 1t was for the pur-
pose of showing his strength in the eastern
counties that he visited Cumberland, the
native heath of the man whom he is to
defeat if he represents the Sixth Maryland
district in the Sixty-second Congress-.
Regardless of the native heath part OF
1t, Colonel Pearre has opposition here He
has opposition that is worrying his friends
His efforts to control the new municipal
organization of Cumberland, his old feuds
and his combative disposition, have en-
eendered hatred politically that is bitter
and vigorous. This opposition is willing
to lend aid and encouragement to the first
Republican candidate for Congress who
looks like a winner.
Allegany county politicians are, therefore,
looking over Mr.. Blair to see if he is the
man they want. They have heard of him.
They know that he comes from a distin-
euished Maryland family; that he has
been an active worker as chairman of the
Montgomery County State Central Commit
tee that he already has wide and valu-
able acquaintance in official life at Wash
ington; and that he is said to have a most
attractive personality.
SIZING Up BLAIR.
However that may be. they want to size
up this candidate for themselves. And
this is their first real opportunity. 1t is
Blair's first invasion" as a candidate, in
the section of the State west of Hagers-
town. His preliminary campaigning was
done in Montgomery. Frederick and Wash
ington counties. This was his program,
because he knew he would have to show
these Allegany county insurgents that he
had the backing of his own people before
he could expect theirs
There have been conferences here all
day between Mr.. Blair and the opposition
leaders, who are fighting the denomination
of Colonel Pearre. The outcome cannot
be foreseen. 1t may mean that the anti
Pearre people will indorse Blair. Ii is ad-
mitted that they are friendly to him. They
have half a notion. some of them SUGGEST
that he can beat Pearre given a clear
field. They do not believe any other OF
the present candidates can do that.
In addition to the conferences between
Blair and the anti-Pearre leaders, there
were conferences between the Montgomery
county man and former United States Sena-
tor George L. wellington, Pearre's hacker
and with Colonel Pearre himself. These
however, were more personal than political
Blair has always been on friendly terms
with Pearre and even MANAGED the Mont,
gomery county end of his last campaign
Dual CONTEST HOPED For.
There seems, therefore, to have been nc
significance in the meeting between Blair
Pearre and Wellington. 1t was just q
friendly talk over the situation Pearre Il
confident that he will be renominated. Hi
has been told by his friends that there Il
no doubt of it. if Blair. Warner and Haene
stay in the race to the finish. If two o
them should drop out and leave the thirC
TO make the race, the other two concen
trating upon him, there is reason to believ,
that Colonel Pearre would be retired t
private life.
II is just to this very end that the anti
Pearre leaders in the Sixth district are nov
working. Their slogan is exactly the sam,
now as it was three weeks ago, when the
fight was reviewed in the Washington
Times. Somebody is badly needed to stand
alone against Pearre and his machine anC
the county leaders are anxious to find him
Their Endorsement would follow without
hesitation.
Ii is to fill this need that Blair, Of Mont
gomery. is willing and anxious to offel
himself. His friends declare that in thi.
race he holds the strategic advantage. The,
point out that he already has his owl
county practically solid for him; thai
Frederick county would willingly support
him as against Colonel Peane, and that
with Hagner out of the race Washington
county is right now ready to fall in behinC
| him.
/ II is further pointed Out by Blair's friend'
that he is on friendly terms with Hagne
and his Washington county following ant
that he has been associated with the War
ners in his own county in such way thai
their relations have been most cordial
These facts. Blairs friends declare. maxi
him the logical candidate against Peane
Whether or not the movement to induc'
Warner and Hagner to retire from the race
and support Blair in the primary mate
rallies, depends upon the amount Of goOt
politics that is played within the next tw'
or three weeks.
WITHDRAWALS PROPOSED.
Ii has been proposed that Blair and Hag
ner withdraw and allow Warner clea
field against Peare. Hagner's and Blair
friends. however. say that thisis not to b
considered. for the reason that with War
ner the nominee the Democrats woul'
carry the district
The plan to have Warner and Blair pull
out of the fight and leave Hagner to maxi
the race cannot be contaminated. IL is said
for the reason that the Motter organization
in Frederick county refuses to support Hae
ner under any circumstances.
Boiled down to its last analysis. 1t ap
pears that unless Blair receives the un
, I;,,idad ounDort If the anti paarre forces