The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1916-08-24
.DR. FRANCE WARMING UP
FOR HIS BATTLE WITH LEWIS
FOR SENATORIAL HONORS
Republican Candidate Began Life As
A Messenger Boy And Worked His
Way Up Ladder.

Democrat, and DR.. Joseph Irwin France.
Republican, for Blair Lees seat in the
United States Senate.
Mr.. Lewis as member of the House
of Representatives from the Sixth dis
trict is generally known to the voters
of Maryland, but his opponent is COM
paratively newcomer in State wide
politics. He is. however, eager for the
fray, is full of ginger and predicts that
whichever side does the shouting after
election day everybody will know that
there has been real contest.
The Doctor expects to go down the
line, and will invade every county, in
addition to making a vigorous cam
paign in Baltimore city. He has al
ready begun the work of personally
meeting the voters and of addressing
tournaments, picnics, fairs and other
gatherings.
"Davy" Lewis has nothing on his
Republican opponent as an early toiler.
DR.. France began the struggle of max
ing his own living at the age of II. He
started out as a messenger boy.
The France family has for nearly two
centuries been identified with the
history of Maryland The Doctors
first ancestor in this county-William
France came to Baltimore from Eng
land long before the Revolutionary
War. Joseph France, a son of William,
is buried in Old st. Pau's Cemetery,
and Richard France, a great uncle of
the candidate. lived on Mount Vernon
place, two doors east of Mount Vernon
Place Methodist Episcopal Church.
Richard France also owned beautiful
estate called the Villa, IN its time one
of the show places of Maryland.
DR.. Frances great-grandmother was
marguerite Boyle, daughter of Capt.
Thomas Boyle, noted privateer, who
sailed his ships out of Baltimore and
was conspicuous for daring deeds in the
American Navy during the War of 1912.
A model of one of Captain Boyle's ships
the Chasseur-is now on exhibition in
the rotunda of the City Hall.
The Republican Senatorial candidate
is 43 years old and is son of Rev. DR..
Joseph Henry France, who graduated
from Columbia University and Law
School in Washington and later entered
the Presbyterian ministry, now having
church at Naples, N. Y. The mother
of DR.. France was Miss Hannah Fetch
er James, daughter of Col William
James, of Richmond, Va. The Doctor
is a second cousin of Joseph C. France,
the Baltimore lawyer. So much for the
family history.
AS boy young France was ambi-
tious. Between his school hours he
worked as messenger, his pay consist
ing of very small weekly wage and
instruction on a telegraph instrument.
He applied himself and studied hard
realizing that education is one of the
most valuable assets.
At the age of q he was graduated
from Hamilton College. Clinton, n. Y,
and was awarded the Elihu Root for
elgn fellowship in physical science, be-
ing appointed at the same time to
graduate scholarship in anatomy and
physiology at Cornell University.
Later he went abroad and continued
his studies at the University of Leipzig,
in Germany. Returning to this country
he took course at Clark University.
and was then called to the chair of
natural science at the Jacob Tome In
stitute at Port Deposit. Md, where he
formed warm friendship with the
founder of this famous school.
Then he decided to take up medicine,
receiving his degree from the College
of Physicians and Surgeons in Balti-
more and postgraduate degree from
the Johns Hopkins Medical School. He
had an extensive experience in the dis
pensaries, and his practice brought him
in intimate touch with the poor, during
which time he made scientific study
of health problems. He is now secretary
to the State Medical Society. tech
nically known as the Medical and
Chirurgical Faculty of Maryland, al
though he is not at present in active
practice as physician.
1t was in 1905 that France became
interested in politics and incidentally
vigorous opponent of the Poe amend
ment, having for its object the dis
franchisement of colored voters. He
was nominated by the Republican
party in Cecil county for State Sena-
tor and was elected by over 400 ma
jority after spirited and memorable
campaign in which he defeated the late
Austin L. Crothers, afterward Governor
of Maryland.
Crothers was power in the poll
tics of Cecil county, which had UP to
that time given Democratic majorities
of from 400 to 700. But the Doctor
made his fight directly to the people
and on platform which promised de-
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