The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1922-07-13
G. O.P.C COMMITTEE CHOOSE
J. W. GARRETT FOR SENATE
Baltimore Diplomat viii Make
Fight Against Mr.. France

enter the primary for United States
Senator in succession to Senator
Joseph l. France, the invitation be-
ing extended by Statewide commit
tee empowered by a recent informal
convention at Braddock Heights to
pick a candidate for the party. Mr..
Garrett accepted and announced
that he would file his primary entry
papers within a week.
Composing the committee were one
representative Republican from each
county except Cecil, omitted as
Frances home, and four from Balti-
more city, with Col. D. John Marley,
of Frederick, chairman of the Brad
dock convention, as member ex-
officio. Two women were on the
committee, one hailing from Fred
erick and one from Hartford county
On converting at 3 o'clock the
committee was called to order by
Colonel Marley, who asked for the
views of each delegate on the Sena-
torial situation. Without exception,
each reported bitter opposition to
continuance of France in the Senator
ship and said that his or her section
demanded the nomination of a Re-
publican candidate. In several in
stances names were suggested, and
the discussion of possibilities and eli
gibles became general. In the end,
however, Garrett appeared to be far
and away the favorite choice and his
selection was made unanimous by Sc
cret ballot.
A committee was at once appointed
to wait on Mr.. Garrett and soon re-
turned with him to the Rennert where
the meeting was held. Col Mark
ey read the resolution inviting him
to become a candidate, and Mr.. Gar
rett accepted, saying:
Your committee, which met as
result of the spontaneous gath
ering at BraddOck Heights, has
sounded out the Statewide deter
mination that Maryland shall
have a new Senator in Washing
ton who will act in accord with
her demands, support the achiev-
ments of the Administration and
not continue to stand out alone
against the wishes of the people.
The man selected by you will
win. Those of you with whom l
have talked know that | have not
wanted this opportunity for my
self, but have repeatedly said that
would take off my coat and put
every scrap of energy l have be-
hind whoever you might select to
carry out your mandate. AS
you have decided on me, / accept.
I shall count on the same back
ing from the men and women of
the party that | myself would
have given to another candidate
chosen by you. I shall at once
file my papers at Annapolis and
take up the task. l am confident
that the voters will support your
action.
Instead of converting with cut
and-dried program in their pockets
and the name of a picked candidate
in their hats; the members foregath-
cred with friends pressing the claims
and qualifications of at least half a
dozen aspirants. From the first it
was evident that the committee
would not have to wish" the can
didacy on any man, but rather would
be obliged to weigh the claims of
many and make an ultimate choice
by the process of elimination.
From a negative movement against
the denomination Of Senator France,
the primary campaign today assumed
the nature of a positive, aggressive
fight for a real Republican candidate
enlisted by the party voters through
a Statewide conference.
Throughout the day the sentiment
of various possibilities and their
friends might have been measured by
the mercury Of Mr. Fahrenheit's tube.
No attitude of "receptiveness" was
assumed, but the claims Of prefer
ment for individual eligibles devel-
oped almost into a scramble. Even
since the Braddock convention, belief
has increased that the Republican
candidate could beat France in the
primary and win over any Democrat
in the general election, and yesterday
this conviction had become a certainty
in most minds.
Advocacy of the selection of John
W. Garrett came from much wider
range of territory than that of any Of
his rivals, his supporters not being
restricted to any one county or dis
| +rIof &c 4bo o;f1y b,,t I, o;l;,o. fro,, 81