Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1924-03-08

1t is expected OF me 10 write OF
Samuel K. Dennis, since I am dealing
with the younger political leaders of
the State. I do so under protest.
"Sam" is not one of the younger men,
although everybody still thinks of
him, when he is practicing politics
rather than law, as John Walter
Smiths young man.
The fact is, "Sam" will be 90
years old within few months. In a
few years more the Eastern Shore,
with its accustomed solidarity will be
lining up to declare him the Grand
Old Man Of the State, as it would
have done long ago for the old Sena-
tor had it not known, on the one hand,
his peculiar form Of vanity and, on
the other, his superb cursing talents.
But I protest against dealing with
"Sam" Dennis as a political leader on
more serious grounds, to wit, that
"Sam" has no more political leader
ship in his bones than I have in mine
Look at him! The minute John Wal
ter Smiths power waned it became
possible for any old sort of a poll
tician to kick "Sam" around when
ever he emerged from his law office
They do it now. They pay no at
tention to him at all. Sometimes il
seems that they are out to put th'
reverse on whatever "Sam" has III
mind. Not only did Richie, who once
upon a time ate out of "Sam's" hand
roll him around in the dust in the
Gubernatorial primary fiasco last
year; when the time came to elect
the President of the Senate Richie
behind Mcintosh, denuded "Sam," be-
hind Curran, of every county Senator
except Harrison and Wade.
You say that "Sam" was playing
in bad luck and ask me how I accoun;
for the long years he sat in the sad
die. I reply that "Sam" did not SIT
in the saddle as a general on horse
back in front of his troops and lead
He sat in the padded front seat Of g
political machine and drove. And he
had nothing to do with making the
machine. It was put together by Mr.
Smith, through years of expenditure
Of very rare personality and a yer!
rare politically pocketbook.
When the machine began to rattle
and miss fire, and Mr.. Smith, grow
ing tired and Indifferent. neglected te
replace the broken parts, and at last
the day came when the wonderful
old flivver slumped over into a mud
bank and stalled, "Sam" was through
He simply had nothing to drive ant
he had no disposition to build or buy
a new machine. So, in a little while
the boys who had been jumping ou'
of the road before him for a quarter
of century began sitting on the
fence and thumbing their noses al
him, including even Richie, habitu-
ally the most innerly scared, brave
bold man who ever appeared in Mary
land politics.
And so it will be, barring thu
chance that some day the good, solid
conservative gentlemen who now
mold the destinies Of our fair State
decide that they want an unbendable
unbreakable, thoroughly medievalis
tic reactionary in the United States
Senate. If they ever decide to have
the courage Of their convictions ane
if "Sam" Dennis shall have made e.
nough money practicing law to fee
sufficiently Independent to go to the
Senate they will turn to him unani.
mously.
For "Sam" is the sort of reaction
any that has been described because
he has the most distinguished thir-
teenth century political mind in
Maryland public life, and he com.
bines with it a moral quality that
makes him tell the truth, as he sees
it, and the whole truth, and nothing
but the truth, in spite Of hell and
high water. He would be a grand
and militant ally in the Senate o1
Frank Brandegee, Of Connecticut. 1t
would be lovely, some say, to see the
pair Of them-Brandegee with his
Yankee squeak of voice and "Sam'
with his Pocomoke river drawl-
standing shoulder to shoulder and
shouting defiance at the ninety-fou1
other Senators, all bent on righteous
reform.
Some such decision as to Senate
representation by the profound con-
servatives who now rule us behind
the scenes is "Sam's" only chance in
Maryland politics. Exactly the quail
ties that would make him such a
magnifcently towtring figure against
the modern reformers in the Senate
mack him lame and halt and blind