The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1933-10-05
PARTY RUNNING LAID TO
WELLER ~ TAIT'S REPLY
Republican Chairman BIames
Loss of Four Elections on Ex-
Senator's Tactics
CONTROVERSY is OPPOSED

party wrecking was Galen L. Tait's
answer to the suggestion of former
Senator Ovington E. Weller that he
resign from Craftsmanship of the Re-
publican State Central Committee and
thereby do great service to Mary
land Republicanism.
During the six years of Mr.. Wei
ler's leadership-when he was in the
Senate-said Mr.. TAFT, the mainten-
ance of the former Senator's party
control Caused series of fractional
primary fights between him and var
ious other leaders and the losing of
the elections of 1921, 1922, 1923 and
1926" y x
No Time For Factions
Mr. TAFT added that, with the 1884
campaign for the Governorship in the
Offing, this is no time for fractional
squabbling and went so far as to sug-
gest that Mr.. Weller be invited to join
"a no-faction group" to meet this
emergency" by a general uniting of
all forces for the party's good.
Mr.. Weller, in a statement issued
Monday, called on Mr.. TAFT to step
down after twenty-one years chair
manship of the party, asserting that
under his leadership in the last twelve
years he has made host of enemies
and that Republicanism of the States
has sunk to the lowest level in its
history.
Opposes Controversy
"The interests of the whole Repub-
lican party are greater than that of
any party" said Mr.. TAFT. 81 must de-
cline to enter personal. controversy
with any Republican.
81 became party chairman before I
met Mr.. Weller and conducted the
successful campaigns of 1916, 1917,
1918, and that of 1920, when Presi-
dent Harding and Senator Weller had
Maryland's support.
"Mr. Weller was Senator and there
fore the fully recognized party leader,
actively directing party affairs. I'm
fortunately, the maintenance of that
leadership caused series of fractional
primary fights between him and var
ious other leaders and the losing of
the elections of 1921, 1922, 1923, and
1926, during the six years of his Sena-
torial leadership. cooperated with
Senator Weller, had then and have
had since, no differences with him.
Gave "WhOlehearted" Aid
"It so happened in 1928 after ex-
Senator Weller was defeated for ma
tional committeeman by combina-
ton of Senator Jackson William P.
Jackson, of Salisbury, Mayor Broen-
ing, Senator France CDR. Joseph l..
France), Colonel Hill, John Philip
HilD, General Lowndes wv. Bladen
Lowndes), Roland Marchant and
others, that 1 chose to go straight
down the main line of party progress
and loyalty and gave my whole-heart-
ed allegiance to the nominated Presi-
Dental, Senatorial and Congressional
ticket, which was successful.
"'This is the sum of my offending
Like some others, 1 did not follow
the classical examples of Archilles
and sulk in my tent, nor have l stayed
in my tent from that day to this and
emerged only when the party skies
were frightening outside.
Lays Defeat To Depression
"When Mayor Broening ran for
Governor in 1880, and President Hoov-
err for reelection in 1882, the wide
flung depression defeated Republicans
everywhere, leaving us but eight
States out of forty-eight in 1882.
Does any critic expect sane and just
Republican party to require that their
chairnien in state, city, counties, and
wards and party workers be super
men or gifted with divine or occult
powers to reverse in Maryland a spirit
of distressed opposition to constituted
authority sweeping over our country
and the world?
Republican voters and leaders
should not become intoxicated with
the prospects of success in the State
election of 1884. If so, l appeal from
Philip drunk to Philip SOBER
Party Must Stay United
"To win elections in Maryland our
own party must remain united and
the opposition party divided. For
this reason l refuse to be party to
disunion. Furthermore, we must pre-
sent such an appearance of harmony
and preserve such sense of party
dignity as to retain the cooperation of
many thousands of Independent Re-
publicans and obtain the support of
sill more thousands of independent
Democrats.
evidences of disunion, whether by
fractional announcements or by in
temperate attacks on groups or by
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