Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1913-11-26
BELLS OUT OF RACE
FOR POSTMASTERSHIP
Former Senator Sends Letter to
Postmaster-General.
SULLIVAN MAY GET PLACE.
City AldermsB, il is Understood, Has
Been Endorsed BY The Democratic
Organization.
SULLIVAN MAY GET PLACE.

Former State Senator Joseph H
BELLS, who has been the leading ap.
plicant for the postmastership of
this city, has withdrawn from the
contest and Representative Frank o.
Smith has been released from further
support of the Senator's cause.
This fact leaked out here today
after Mr.. BELLS had written letter
to the Postmaster-General indicating
that he was no longer in the
contest and asking that no further
consideration be given to his sppli-
cation.
1t is understood that the Demo
cratic organization of the county has
endorsed Mr.. John X. Sullivan for
the poscmastership. # this is true,
Mr.. Sullivan's name is likely to be
sent to the Senate for confirmation
at any time. Mr.. Sullivan is at pres
ent an Alderman in the City Council
from the Second ward. and Secretary
of the State Senate. He has also
held several other positions under
the State. For number of yearshe
was assistant superinte ndent of pub
lie buildings, and served several timss s
egates. At the last session of the
Legislature he was made Secretary
Of the Senate, and is in the field for
re-appointment to the latter office at
the coming session of the General
Assembly. II Mr.. Sullivan is male
postmaster, he would be compelled to
resign from the City Council, and
he would also get out of the race for
Senate secretary.
The news of Mr.. Bells withdrawal
caused much speculation here. Up
to this time other aspirants for the
office have been more or less in the
background because Congressman
Smith has been lined up uncompro-
misingly for Mr.. Bells. The opposi-
tion which Mr.. Bells has met from
the day his candidacy became known
has been both bitter and determined.
Many women have urged the Postmas-
ter-General 10 name some other ap-
plicant and number of them, some
from Baltimore, went 10 Washington
to press their protests.
1t has been known for some time
that these protests have been given
careful consideration by Postmaster
General Burleson and that they re-
suited in the dispatch of postofTice in
spectors to this city for a personal
investigation. Just what these in
speetors reportd is not known here.
The impression is, however, that
friends Of Mr.. Bells, realizing that
his case was hopeless, urged him to
retire from the race and to relieve
the embarrassment which his eandi-
dacy was causing his friends. In any
event, the letter has been forwar led
to Washington, according to infor-
nation here and is now IN the hands
of the Postoffice Depa rtment.
This move gives Representative
Smith the opportunity of reeornme nd
ing a second choice, and it is practi
cally certain that this choice will be
given the office. 1t is known, for
instance, that the Postmaster-G General
has re peatedly suggested to the Con-
gressman that second name be sub
mitted. Mr.. Burleson did not want
to turn down the Fifth district Rep
resentative, and in making such
suggestion sought 20 pave the way for
a Smith man to receive the place.
A few days ago DR.. George Wells,
the organisation leader Of this county,
went t. Washington, and in company
with Senator John Walter Smith. call.
ed upon President Wilson. DR.. Wells
has been the chief hacker of Mr.. Bel.
lis, and it was stated at the time that
he had gone to Washington TO ask the
President to take personal interest
in the case.
Senator Bells was one of the earli-
est applicants for the position. He
resigned as State Senator from Anne
Arundel county with his term but
half completed because, it is said. he
felt certain of being named as post
master.