The Republican., 1925-05-21
WHO WILL WIN IN The
CONTEST FOR GOVERNOR?
(FrOm The MaryIander)

10 say 4HS hOIlIIliS dS " HIS IHleHIlOHS
for next year, except that he expects
to be a candidate, either for re-
nomination for his present position,
or else for the seat in the United
States Senate now held by Senator
Weller, and that he has not made
up his mind which place he will take.
In the meantime, the subject is
undergoing discussion from one end
of the state to the other, and every
democrat who visits Baltimore wants
to know what is going on, and what
Governor Ritchie intends to do, and
there are all sorts of surmises on the
subject.
And now arises the report, that all
this silence on the part of the Cover
nor and his closest advisers, both in
side and outside the Kitchen Cabinet,
is intended as a camoufage, that back
of it all is the desire to secure the
nomination of Howard Bruce as the
democratic candidate for Governor,
and a ticket in harmony with the
views of those gentlemen in Balti-
more who have been in practical con-
troll Of the State Government for the
past five years. A part of this plan
is to send Governor Ritchie to the
United States Senate, and later on,
if the outlook is promising, to aid him
in his campaign to secure the demo-
cratic nomination for the Presidency
in 1928
Mr. Bruce, who is an immigrant
from Virginia, and is a nephew of
Senator William Cabell Bruce, is
very rich man-and many well-in-
formed people say he is the richest
man in Baltimore. He is at the head
of the Bartlett and Hayward Co.,
one of the largest industrial concerns
in the country, which has recently
been taken over by the Mellon inter
ests, at the head of which is Secre-
tary of the Treasury Mellon while
Mr.. Bruce will still remain at the
head of the Baltimore concern. The
deal involved millions-several mil
lions, and Mr.. Bruce is reported to
have received the lions share, and,
while he was a rich man before the
deal with the MELONS, his wealth has
been greatly increased thereby.
Personally Mr.. Bruce has not the
slightest resemblance, either physic-
ally or otherwise, to his distinguish
ed uncle, the United States Senator.
His connection with politics began
when his uncle became a candidate
for the democratic nomination for
the Senate three years ago, and, as
he evidently likes the game, he has
been more or less active ever since
then, for no one is more welcome as
participant in such affairs than a
rich man, who is willing to help
things along, even if he wants his
own way. Hence, Mr.. Bruces ad-
vent to the inner circle of the rul-
| ing caste was greeted with pleasure,
he was welcomed with open arms and
| given one of the highest and most
desirable seats in the political syna-
gogue, where he is sitting in state
at the present time. There is no
doubt about it-he is fine man,
with many admirable qualities, of
great ability, and is thoroughly
qualified for the governorship or any
other place to which he may aspire.
And it is further reported, that
Governor Ritchie will throw all his
influence back of Mr.. Bruce, should
he himself deem it advisable TO fore
go third term, and take the Sena-
torial seat at Washington.
The only obstacle in the way to the
completion of this deal, is the fact
that there are several able and dis
tinguished Marylanders, who are
known to have aspirations to succeed
Governor Ritchie, and who may
strenuously object to any plan which
would have as its object the election
of a Virginian as Governor of the
State. All the Governors of Mary
land since 1776, when Thomas John
son of Frederick, was elected as the
first Executive, after the indepen-
dence of the Colonies, and this Com
monwealth had become a free State,
except Governor Ritchie, whose faith
er was Marylander, were born and
bred here, and all had performed
outstanding public service which en-
titled them to the honor; and no
good reason can be shown why the
old, time-honored custom sh ,uld be
set aside for the native of any other
State. 1t was a strain on the demo-
cratic party when Marylanders were
set aside and Mr.. Bruce's uncle was
sent to the United States Senate. The
election of Senator Bruce was a re-
Election on all citizens of the State,
and to choose a member of the same
family, however able and worthy he
may be, would be a still greater re-
Election. That it can be done next
year is extremely doubtful, and it
will 1ap11ira 11oooc+ c,1ya,,l,,,,,o,,