Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1921-04-08
setback For Republican Leaders.

The Washington correspondent OF the
Baltimore Sun, under date of March 81,
avs:
Patronage plans Of Maryland Republi-
ans were thrown into disorder today when
Secretary of Commerce Hoover let 1t be
known that he was not considering re-
moving Hugh M. Smith. Wilson appoint
tee, as Commissioner Of Fisheries, to make
place for Reno S. Harp, Of Frederick county,
who has the backing of the State leaders.
In reply to the direct question as to
whether he regarded the Office as a polit-
ical appointment and whether he had con-
sjdered naming Mr.. Harp. Mr.. Hoover re-
piled:
II do not regard the Office of Commits
sioner of Fisheries as political appoint
ment and have not contemplated making
any changes in it for the present.
Mr.. Hoover's stand was the second set
back of the day for the Maryland Repub-
lican leaders and for Mr.. Harp. The first
came this morning, when President Hard
ing announced the appointment OF Thomas
E. Robertson. of Washington and Mont
Romery county, Commissioner Of Patents.
Mr.. Robertson is credited to the Sixth Dis
trict, which also is Mr.. Harpis bailiwick.
The Republican leaders had Endorsed
both Mr. Harp and Mr.. Robertson. but they
were particularly concerned to land Mr..
Harp because Of his power in Frederick
county politics and Frederick county's i'm
portance to the Republican party. Later
developments. however. were such that
some of the State leaders have been will
inR to sacrifice Mr.. Robertson to aid Mr..
Harp.
Thus the situation tonight is that the
Maryland leaders seem to have lost the fight
for Mr.. Harp. in whose case they seemed
to be more interested than in that OF any
other Maryland candidate. barring VIM. P.
Jackson, and they have had handed them
an appointment, credited to the Sixth Dis
trict, in which they were only mildly in
terested at the most.
The job now before the leaders, with the
Sixth District given one important Office
and with Mr.. Harp apparently out OF the
running for Fish Commissioner, is to find
another place into which Mr.. Harp can be
fitted and to over come any objections that
may be made to giving two big jobs here
TO men from the same Congressional dis
trict.
Failing to land Mr.. Harp in another
place here the Maryland leaders may be
compelled to revampthe slate they framed
for the distribution Of Federal Offices in
Maryland Mr.. Harp was not put on that,
because he had picked the Commissioner
of Fisheries. and was believed to have the
inside track for it. But, If he cannot land
satisfactorily in Washington. he and his
friends in Frederick county may make a
hard fight to have one Of the big jobs in
the State assigned him.
Frederick county Republicans are in
position to compel attention. especially
from Senator France. II is big county,
with six votes in the State convention, and
with from 500 to 1000 potential Repub-
lican majority in general elections. Also.
it may spell the difference between Demo-
cratic and Republican control Of the next
Legislature. Consequently. Senator France
may find that placing Mr.. Harp is Of large
importance to him. So may Representative
Zihlman. of the Sixth District, who also
will run again next year.
OF course, any attempt to alter the slate
agreed upon for the Maryland Federal jobs
would raise one Of the worst rows the State
ever has seen. and the Republican State
leaders may shrink from that at any cost.
Nevertheless. it is quite possible that they
must choose between that and letting the
politically important Mr.. Harp 60 without
Office. unless he is content to take the
Frederick postmastership.