Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1915-07-09
GOING AFTER DR.. WELLS.
Anne Arundel Democrats VIII Try to
Get His Scalp.

Those Anne Arundel county Dem
ocrats who have biennially tried for
quarter OF a century 10 dethrone DR.
George Wells. the party leader in the
county, are renewing this year what
has hitherto been an impossible task.
Party bosses may come and party
bosses may go. but DR. Wells apparent
~ holds the managerial reins in Anne
Aundel forever He ranks as the old
est boss in the United States, not the
Oldest in years. but the Oldest i'm sery-
ice. Uncle Fred Talbott's friends
claim that he has been boss" longer
than DR.. Wells and very successful
one. Many have been the hardfought
battles in which DR. Wells has partic
ipated. and many have been the victo-
ries which ne has won.
For z quarter OF century Or. Wells
was Ditted against the late Michael
Banon for party control in Anne Ardn-
sel county. Sometimes he lost More
frequently he won. He was never de-
feateG in a primary IN Annapolis his
horne city. Since Mr.. Bannon's death,
over twenty years ago, DR. Wells has
had 10 fight a few battles within his
own party. but they have only been
small skirmishes compared with the
hand-to- hand conflicts and the bayone
charges which marked the encounters
between Mr.. Bannon and himself. His
sway is now undisputed.
Thre years ago his lieutenants did
not wait for orders from him. but lined
up for Speaker Champ Clark for nomi-
nation for President pr. Wells said
nothing. but he had his ears close to
the ground. When he disccrned in the
far distance faint sounds that told his
practiced ear that Governor Wilson
would be nominated in the Baltimore
Convention he sent word down the line.
There was a hurrying and scurryin.s
{ I his lieutenants as they sought cover.
They switched I'm a night from Mr..
Clark to Or. Wilson and DIR. Wilson
carried the county. Small was DR..
Wells reward His first and then an
other selection for postmaster of An
napolis were turned down by the ma
tional administration. But this treat
ment dio not impair his political
strength. lie had been true to his
| friends. Bruner r. Anderson a Balti-
more and Annapolis lawyer. whose
home is IN Anne Arundel county. is
leading the tight in Anne Arundel this
year against DR.. Wells Former Sen
ator Robert Moss, who tried for sew
eral years to oust DR.. Wells from the
party leadership in the county, seems
10 be quiescent in this campaign.
Or. Wells has endorsed Mr.. Harring-
ton for Governor. Hence the welding
of the forces IN the county friendly 10
| Senator John Walter Smith, against
whom Dr Wells was arrayed for many
years. and DIR Wells friends. They
have a common cause.-the defeat If Sen
ator Lee who is being supported by Mr..
Anderson. DR.. Wells has not always
been in line with the regular party or
ganization of the State More fire.
quently he has not been in sympathy
Mr.. Bannon was recognized by the
late Senator A. p German as the rep
representative of the State organization
IN the county. Hence the aptitude Of
ten displayed by Or Wells tn take the
| other side in county scraps.
Dr. Wells is a candidate for re-nom.
nation tor Clerk of the County Court
a position which was awarded to him
the contest. The late DR.. Wash G
by the General Assembly in 1898 after a
Tuck was his Republican opponent at
the election. For four years later. in
1902, DR.. Wells gave his aid To Isaac
Lobe Strauss, then a member f the
House, Who was able by the votes Of
the Anne Arundel Democrats and OF
Republicans to control legislat on in
the House. DR.. Wells was then trying
to settle some scores with Governor
Smith. Frank NJ Duvall member of
the last House of Delegates will be the
regulars candidate for nomination for
the Senate. John II. Sullivan Secrce-
tary of the Senate will probably be
nominated for Sheriff OF tie county,
Baltimore American.