The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1915-02-03
CHAIRMAN 0. {. WELLER IS
MENTIONED FOR GOVERNOR
State Roads Commissioner REGARDED
As Ideal Candidate.
The Baltimore Star says:

A'NAiiS VI W II. w CllCIs ClldllIIldu VI
the State Roads Commission, is fire.
quently mentioned as strong possibility
for the Republican governatorial nomi-
nation. This passing about of Mr..
Weller's name is entirely without his
consent. Indeed, the prominent Re-
pubicans responsible for the Weller
boomlet frankly admit that their choice
would probably laugh aside the mention
of his name, and they add the main
difficulty would be to win his consent to
accept the nomination.
/ The talk concerning the man largely
responsible for the creation of Mary
lands good roads system does not come
from Republicans allied with,either of
the two prominent factions of the party
IN the state. Instead they are men
largely independent in their views,
friendly to all factions and who do not
hesitate to take their position regardless
OF the views of others. Mr.. Weller,
they say, looms up today as the strongest
man the Republicans can nominate and
at time when the G. 0. P. will have
to select an unusually strong nominee
to again overcome the Democratic
majority in the state.
Among the qualifications and strong
points they attribute to the state roads
chairman are that he is of independent
views, fearless and of a type that would
appeal to Independents and those Demo-
Gratis willing to scratch their ticket;
that in his former and present business
careers Mr.. Weller has demonstrated
his ability to handle big problems and
that he has further demonstrated this
ability in the handling of the millions
OF dollars appropriated to build the
states highway system; that he is a
man of Independent means, largely able
to finance his own campaign and
financially able to fill an office regard
ess of the amount of remuneration the
latter carried. This latter fact, they
say, has been demonstrated by Mr..
Weller, while identified with the State
Roads Commission for three years at
an annual salary of 50. 500, and during
which he has devoted the bulk of his
time and brains TO the states work.
With all these strong points taken in
to consideration it is claimed that the
roads chairman would make an ideal
candidate provided he could be induced
to accept the nomination. Still another
argument used is that Mr.. Weller, while
identified with the state administration,
is not so strongly partisan as to be
offensive to those members of the party
who have had differences with the
Governor
While he is a resident of Baltimore
county, Mr.. Weller in his business con-
nections is largely Unidentified with the
city and has frequently shown his in
terest and pride in the civic advance of
Baltimore. From the standpoint of
education to handle public matters. it is
also pointed out that Mr.. Weller is
ideally equipped. He is a graduate Of
the Naval Academy, where he went
through with high honors.
Following his service under the
government he became identified with
the banking and brokerage firm of
Hornblower & Weeks, of Boston, of
which he later became a member. This
connection he retained for years until
forced to drop active business bv i'll
health. After recovering his health he
looked about for some important work
with which to occupy his mind and it
was at this time that he was offered and
accepted the Craftsmanship OF the roads
commission. Mr.. Weller throughout
his business life has been prominently
identified with big men. He was a
classmate and later business partner
of United States Senator Weeks. of
Massachusetts,, who is now being men
toned as possible presidential timber
for 1916. The two men have retained
their close friendship and frequently
visit each other.
MIR. Weller is now on his wav to
Florida to take long DELAYED vacation.
1t is known that the possibility of his
being a candidate for the governorshin
has never been preached to him. but
the matter will be suggested when he
returns home some weeks hence. Then
1t is said concrete demand will have
been worked up and clear evidence will
be presented to Mr.. Weller that he is
really being sought for permission to
permit the use of his name.
There are a number of other suh-
stantial Republicans whose names are
also beng mentioned. But it would
not be amiss to say that there is small
possibility of former Senator William
Z. jackson consenting to be candidate
despite reports to the contrary. 1t is
known that Mr.. Jackson prefers the
Federal Senate to the governorship and
it is most improbable that he would be
a candidate Tor the latter office under
any conditions. William T. Warburton.