The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1921-06-30
WASHINGTON OFFICIALS ARE
AMAZED BY FRANCES STAND
Berlin Interview Expected to Cause
Defeat of Maryland Senator for Re-
election in 1922 if he Seeks Officer

DcIedI Ol MdTyldHQ IoeHdtOT IOT Re-
election in 1922 if he Seeks Officer
The New York Tribune, in its Mon
days issue, published the following ar
ticle from its Washington Bureau:
In view of the fact that Senator Jo-
seph l. France, of Maryland, who has
just received permission to enter So
Wet Russia, comes up for reelection
next year, his interview in Berlin de-
nouncing Secretaries Hughes and
Hoover, caused amazement here today.
| The interview appeared in Nory Mic,
the Bolshevist organ in Berlin.
Politicians have long wondered over
Mr.. Frances extremely radical ten
denotes, in view of the circumstances
attending his election. 1t had been
thought here, however, that the early
ing to extend him permission to enter
Russia, despite his speeches in favor
of recognizing Lenine and Trotsky in
the Senate before leaving this coun.
try, would turn the Maryland radical
against the Soviets.
But his interview, as printed this
morning, would seem to show that his
indignation against the "capitalistic"
members of the Cabinet is just as
great as before he left Washington. 1t
IS a little bit unusual for Senators to
denounce publicly two members of the
Cabinet of their party so that Mr..
Frances vigorous attack is more sur
prising.
For Mr.. France will need every
ounce of help ne can get when the
campaign opens less than a year from
now. Maryland politicians say that he
is certain to have strong opposition in
the primary, and, even if nominated
Maryland is such a solidly Democratic
state in normal times that the election
of any Republican would be like car
rying Tennessee and Oklahoma over
again. Maryland has had Republican
Senators before but no Republican
Senators from Maryland has ever been
reelected in the States history.
Maryland politicians generally have
been astounded at Mr.. Frances radi-
calism for some time. They point out
that he would never have been nomi-
mated if it had been thought at the
time that there was a chance of any
Republican being elected. Then en-
sued, however, bitter fractional fight
in the Democratic party, in which the
old Democratic boss, Senator John
Walter Smith, put up David J. Lewis
to deprive Senator Blair Lee of the
nomination. Lee had been trying to
smash the Smith machine for years,
so that Smith was really fighting for
his life.
Lewis had represented the mining
district of Maryland in the House for
several terms and was known thru
out Maryland as the "father of the
parcel post" In Baltimore he was
regarded as practically a Socialist
though the Smith machine in the city
rolled up tremendous vote for him,
this being really vote against Blair
Lees aspirations to state leadership.
Then came the regular election, and
so heavy was the cutting of Lewis be-
cause of his Socialistic views that he
was defeated by France by more than
5000, although the state gave Wood
row Wilson a majority of about 10000.
At that time very little was known
of France. He had served in the State
Senate without attracting much atten-
ton. He was a doctor and most of
the conservatives in Baltimore assum-
that he would entertain no such radi-
cal views as his opponent, Lewis, was
known to hold. Moreover, his wife,
the widow of Jacob Tome, who endow-
ed Tome Institute, was well known
and liked in Baltimore.
Since then the Baltimore conserva-
tives have been much shocked. They
have found that not only is France
radical, but his brother edits a very
radical paper in the West. The poll
ticians say they would not like to bet
very much money on his reelection.
What Senator France Said.
1.-THE declarations made by Mr..
Hoover are not the last word. The
last word belongs to Congress.
and Congress does what the peo-
pie command. When Congress
speaks its final word Hughes and
/ Hoover dare not disobey it.
"A resumption of trade rela-
tons between the United States
and Russia is absolutely essential
to the interest of both countries.
This is true, despite declarations
to the contrary made by Hughes
and Hoover. There are only three
countries in which true democracy
is being racticed-namely, the
United States, Germany and Rus
STA.
There is much in common be-
tween the United States and Sow
let Russia, for both our and YOUR
country are ruled entirely by the
people"