The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1916-03-02


In political ambition the star of
Governor Thomas was in a steady and
clear ascendancy until, after the
meridian of life, it entered the eclipse
the divorce decree, and in the wake of
that deplorable step, no little of the
closing years was bound in miserles
and in shadows"
With a fearless independence he
filled most every position of exalted
trust in the domain of the common
wealth. His terms in the Federal Con-
gress aggregated nearly quarter of a
century. 1t was in debates as a can
didate before the people and on the
floor of representatives, that were
emitted so many escaping sparks, tell
ing of the deep fire glowing in the
mental engine.
One of these occasions was vividly
reproduced for my hearing, by the late
Judge George A. Pearre, himself a
lawyer of admitted forensic qualities in
period of distinguished competitors,
and subsequently elevated to the bench
of the 4th Judicial Circuit of MARYLAND,
handing down opinions respected for
their ability. In fact, Judge Pearre,
in his graphic, vigorous style, pointed
out two of these instances. One was
nominating convention in the lower end
of the district at the wind up of a heat
ed and bitterly waged contest for Con-
gressional leadership. If memory cor
rectly serves me, an aspirant named
Hoover, measured blades with the
Governor in the closely fought battle.
The storm center was in the lower
extremity of the Congressional district,
and the Governor regarded his strenth
too safe in the house of his friends in
the upper section of the district to re
quire diversion from the main conflict.
The watchful adversary caught the
chance for sklllful move and, by a
quick manipulation captured the pre-.
cinct; but, it was explained, got rather
rag-tag delegation. The loss of sup
port from a strong hold relied upon as
his own, made the old War Horse champ
the bit and paw the ground. But
popular expression gave the honor to
Maryland's favorite son. That even
ing the recipient OF the nomination was
called out by a serenade to speak from
the balcony of a hotel; and in racy
vituperation paid warm respects to the
delegates filched from his friends. say
ing in part: "All came down to this
nominating convention dressed up in
borrowed clothes that they might wear
the semblance of gentlemen. Early
inthe morning, following the night
of their arrival, the proprietor of
the hotel tried to press open his front
door, but close from the outside against
it was a weight as that of hog. He
went round some other way and found
one of these delegates asleep nhis drunk
and filthy in the swll from his mouth.
The proprietor wished the door opened,
and to save his hand from such touch,
shook him under the pressure of his
foot; and all the hog could grunt was:
| am for Hoover! Hoover. Hooverll
And, continued Judge Pearre. in the
same locality on another occasion, this
champion of the busting was pitted in
debate against an applicant for office,
who had previously filled an important
official position but during his admins
tration moneyed shortage had been
whispered. leaving suspicion delicate
to probe. This candidate rashly held
the Governor up to ridicule as an arlsto-