Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1914-06-19
Maryland's Two United States Sena
tors In A Controversy Over
Federal Patronage.

On Saturday last, through an advertise
ment in the Baltimore Sun, Senator Lei
attacked Senator Smith. He made Fedora
patronage the keynote of his remarks. Hi
charged that Senator Smith, while claim
ing to be friend of the Wilson Admins.
tration. has prevented the confirmation by
the Senate of Joshua W. Miles and W
Mitchell Digs, nominated over two months
ago by the President for the office of Inter-
nal Revenue Collector and Naval Officer,
respectively, thus keeping in office more
than 80 Republican employees not under
Civil Service and not in harmony with the
purposes of the Democratic National Ad-
ministraton."
i have not yet deemed it proper" con-
tlnued Senator Lee. ITO bring the question
OF confirmation to an issue in the Senate.
trusting that Senator Smith would not COM
rel me to do so, but that he would recog-
nlze the injury which will be done to the
party in the State If he proceeds further
IN ms efforts thus to thwart the policy of
the Democratic Administration in the mat
ter OF Federal appointments at Baltimore
The time is approaching. however, when
the decision of this question cannot be
longer delayed, and have felt that it was
due the Democratic party of Maryland, its
candidates at the coming election, as well
as myself, to make clear my position"
Politicians regard Senator Lees public
letter as declaring open warfare on Senator
Smith. They regard his declaration as
meaning that he cOntemplates lao deal with
Senator Smith over patronage. and that it
is to be the survival of the fittest as to
who will receive recognition from the hands
of the President.
On Tuesday Senator Smith replied through
an advertisement that appeared in the
Baltimore Sun, and, in part, is as follows
On the back page of the Baltimore Sun
of Saturday appeared two-column paid
advertisement by you which though some
what labored and obscure l take it is
meant as an attempt on your part to dis
credit me by charging me with trying to
do political wrong such as you confess
to doing yourself and boast of as political
virtue. might well rest with the sugges-
ton of the old proverb, Physician. heal thy
self. However. your position as a Senator
entities your article to more extended
notice, particularly as it is hard for me
to understand why you should want to dis
credit me on the eve of a contest with the
Republicans at the coming general election.
AS will almost certainly be the Demo-
cratic nominee, virtually the choice is now
up to you to accept me as the Senator
from Maryland. with all that means to the
success of the present administration, or
accept Republican.
You try to justify your efforts-lOng
suspected. but never before formally ad-
mitted-tO corner all the Federal appoint
ments at the Presidents disposal for what
you call that element of the party here"
with which you have been affiliated for
many years"
Then the element" you claim sort of
-
not dominant element" as was demon
strated by the result of the last general
State primary election. do not wish to
say anything to hurt your feelings or the
feelings of your political followers, but the
facts speak for themselves. You made
every effort in your power. travelled much.
sent letters broadcast over your own sig
nature in many counties of the State tell
ing the people for whom you wished them
to vote, you and your lieutenants were
prodigal with prOmises-causes now OF in
convenience il may be-Of jobs, all in
order to control the party organization
and the State Convention. Nevertheless,
you elected but handful of the members
of the State Central Committees. and as to
the State Convention. if my recollection is
correct, of the 1923 members about Is were
of your element" and the balance were
the other way. Therefore. say your prOpo-
sition that your element get all the ap-
pointments. should it reach the Presidents
ear, must shock his sense of proportion.
Mathematical precision would require that
you get about 1929 of tine places.
No one knows better than you that
voted for President Wilson in the Balti-
more Convention. did more than you did
or could do to bring about his nomination
that worked increasingly for his election
that he was loyalty supported by every
friend of mine. and. indeed. by every ele-
ment in our party No man ever received
more splendid support. Likewise ! did
everything within my power to secure
your election, and expect you to accord
me the same treatment
supported President Wilson without
promise or expectation Of personal prefer
ment, but in the expectation that his adj
ministration would mean much to the
people. In the Senate | have supported
his administration in every way could
reasonably do. No man in the Senate
desires his success as our President and
the head of our party more fervently
| than l.
| would like as Senator to be accorded
the prerogatives Of the office. But for all
that, patronage is not necessary to my
political success nor to enable me to retain
the support Of the great majority of our
party. whose confidence and respect am
proud To boast.
| am as anxious as you or anyone to
secure places for Democrats and try as
hard. Knowing very well that you spend
your time when making the rounds Of the
Departments seeking political preferment.
always for your own personal and political
friends such as your office associate in the
practice of law in Washington. your cam
paign manager. aides in your personal
headquarters. etc. etc, you gravely accuse
me with no apparent sense Of humor) Of
recodniZinp only my CLOSE personal and