Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1921-05-21
SOMETHING ABOUT
MARYLAND POLITICS
William P. Ryan Appointed Pur-
chasing Agent. Major Lee Will
Not Run ForssC Comptroller.

state Purchasing agent, in place of
the late Alder: Weir. Mr.. Ryan is
an ideal man for the place, most
careful and conscientious business
man, of the highest character in all
the walks of life, he will no doubt be
able to make a success out of de-
pc rtment which under other than the
n ost careful and painstaking mail
agement would be a failure. 1t is
therefore fortunate, not only for the
head of the State Administration but
a.so for the people of Maryland, that
President Harding removed Mr.. Ry-
an, whose valuble services will be
given to the State instead of the Ma
tional Government. The President
and his advisors have also given the
people a lesson in practical partisan
ship, as eXemrlified by the republi-
can leaders, and those democrats who
are in the habit of criticising their
own party and it's official heads for
craftsmanship and voting for Republi-
can candidates, will now understand
that when it comes to real unadulter-
ated partisan rancor and bitterness
the Republicans are always ready to
&C much farther than the Democrats,
end that no Democrat in Maryland
would ever have any chance to secure
or hold official position, if they de
pended solely upon the aid or favor
Of Messrs. Weller and France, or men
of their stripe of politics.
The Governor is to be commended
en- his prompt action in naming Mr..
Ryan as Mr.. Wehr's successor, and
the State is to be congratulated in
having such man in so important a
position.
Comptroller Brooke Lee has at last
made public personal statement,
giving his reasons for declining to be
. candidate for denomination. From
time to time during the past few
months, your correspondent has sent
out statements to the same effect, but
in all this time there has been a de-
cided impression that the Comptrol-
Ter would reconsider his apparent de-
termination, and that in the end his
name would be found at the head Of
the Democratic ticket, and that he
would be elected in November to
serve out another term, and that the
administration would continue the
same during the entire term of the
present Governor. The latest state
ment of Mr.. Lee however, settles the
question definitely, and leaves no
doubt on the subject-he will not be a
candidate under any circumstances,
and will not accept a nomination, ev-
en- if it should be offered to him.
But the able and gallant young sol
der and statesman from Montgomery
county, does not intend to retire from
politics. On che contrary, he makes
it perfectly clear that he is still in
the game-in fact that he intends to
be in the game, as soon as he is out
Of office, more vigorously than ever
and that he intends to devote large
share of his leisure to the upbuild
ing and unifying of the Democratic
Tarty in the State. What he has his
eye on, he does not say-possibly he
is not looking cut for anything in the
near future. for he is young and can
afford to wait a few years. But his
enemies, and popular and agreeable
as he is. he has few jealous oppon-
cnts and critics, do not hesitate to
gay that he has his mind set on the
Governorship, not six years hence,
but two years hence, as the imme
diate successor to Governor Richie.
These people say that his determine
ton to get out of office as soon as
possible is based on the fact that he
does not desire to be tangled up with
'IlC plcSeHt ADMINISTRATOR any IOHSCi
than he can he1p--for he is not sure
tEat he will be helped in the attain
ment of his ambition thereby. At any
rate Mr.. Lee IS definitely and posi-
lively out of the running for the pres
ert, but it is equally certain that he
is not out of politics, and has no idea
of getting out of politics for a long
time to come. What his definite aim
may be in the way of official honors
if he has any aim at present, he is not
giving out. 1t may be the Governor
slip two years hence, or six years
hence, or even later on and it may be
the seat in the United States Senate
rext year. But the public can rest
assured that it will be nothing less
than either of the above mentioned
places, in either of which there is no
doubt that he would serve the people
with honor and credit to himself and
the State.
In the meantime, general regret is
expressed that he has thought it wise