Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1913-01-17
Frank o. Smith For Lee.

Congressman Frank o. Smith, of the
Fifth district, announced on Monday that
he had enrolled himself in the camp Of
State Senator Blair Lee and would sup
port Mr. Lee for the short-term Senatorship.
He said
81 have read with much interest the
interview of Congressman David j. Lewis
in support of Senator Blair Lee for the
short-term Senatorship. published January
3, and heartily indorse what he says.
IN fact, wish to 90 further and give
it as my humble opinion that whatever
may have been Senator Lees views. or the
wishes of his friends with respect to the
Governorship, or any other position, stu
alton is now presented which has made it
nothing short of public duty for him to
stand for the short term to succeed Sena-
tor Rayner, for in that position his services
would become Immediately available, both
to the Wilson cause and the cause of pro-
gressive Democracy in Maryland.
I'VE now have no other public man who,
by his record and attainments, so per-
fectly fits the situation. And the dawn of
a new era in the State simplifies the mat
ter of his selection.
I'VE should look at this whole matter
through the glasses of our President-elect.
His policies are the policies of the Demo-
cratic party. He will need men in thor
oueh sympathy with him in the Senate to
carry them through. According as he
succeeds or fails the party will succeed or
fail. So the Senate and the President
must feel alike on public questions in order
to get the best results. In other words,
the party needs men in the Senate of the
Wilson type. BY their fruits ye shall know
them.
"Mr. Lewis has forcefully presented Sena-
tor Lees public record and has clearly
shown that he is distinctively a man of
the required type. And wish to add
that it is largely to the recent State legis-
lation for which Senator Lee is RESPONSE
BILE that attribute the redemption of the
Fifth Congressional district from Republican
control, which has existed for the last 20
years. With Senator Lee in the u. S.
Senate standing for the rights and interests
of our people, am convinced that the re-
clamatiOn of this Congressional district will
be made permanent.
ITO me there is a certain charm in the
personality of Senator Lee. accumulated
by his fearless devotion to public duty,
which has developed personal regard
closely akin to affection But this does
not determine my course with respect to
his candidacy.
Subject, as we may, his political career
to the severest tests, Senator Lee, since
the death of Governor Crothers, stands out
above all others as the man of the hour.
His public record for the last eight years
stamps him as the leader of the progress
sive Democracy Of the State at the present
time.
From his entrance into the State Senate
he began to secure, against great odds,
the enactment into law of measures which
then seemed to be out of joint with the
times But looking backward now we can
all see that at that early date he was
leading in this State a movement for the
restoration of popular CONTROL such as
kindred spirits in other States were at
work upon, and that he and they were
then following the soil and planting the
seed which resulted in the glorious har-
vest of l9l2-Democratic control of both
branches of Congress and Woodrow Wilson
as President
"A failure to avail ourselves of the ser
vices of such man for the United States
Senate at this particular time would seem
to be reflection upon our capacity to take
care of ourselves and a demonstration Of
lack of appreciation on the part of the
Democratic party of the State, which
cannot believe to be possible in the pre-
sent condition of the public mind.
without i'll will to any other rival can
didate and with due respect to all elements
of the party which have contributed to
my election to Congress. may say that
Mr.. Lee stands for what believe to be
right and that in every legitimate way he
will have my earnest and unqualified SUD-
port in his candidacy for the United States
Senate"