The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1945-11-29
DURELY
i OFFICIAL
By BALLOT BOX


While 1 won't say that the 'Fatted
Calf will actually be provided at
the County Commissioners Office on
Saturday, I do know that those who
run the county's affairs are eagerly
looking forward to that day - for
Saturday is the day that the popular
Charlie Wagaman, recently dis
charged from Uncle Sans Navy,
will be back on the job as Attorney
to the Board of County Commits
sioners.
In the issue of April 25, l pre-
dicted in this column that the Re-
publican slate in 1916 for the three
major posts would be:
For Governor, Theodore R. McKeldin
For U. S. Senator, Congressman j.
Glenn Beall
For Congressman, H. L. Mills
I would like at this time to amend
that prediction slightly to read:
For Governor, Theodore R. McKeldin
For U. S. Senator, H. L. Mills
For Congressman, the present in
cumbent, ]. Glenn Beall.
During the past several weeks,
H. L. Mills, prominent Hagerstown
business executive and president of
the local Chamber of Commerce, has
been receiving requests from all over
the State, to enter the Republican
Primary as a candidate for Cover
nor. Although the drive to draft
Mr. Mills, is spearheaded by the
Maryland Federation of Republicans,
an organization that is opposed to
Mr.. McKeldin, the fact remains that
the Hagerstown merchant is receiv-
ing statewide encouragement and
many prominent Republicans, not
even associated with the Federation,
are already promising him their sup
port
In his own County however, while
strongly encouraged by many Cloth
Republicans and Democrats ITO enter
the Gubernatorial race, there S a
strange lack on the part of the
County Central Committee, to come
out publicly in favor of his candi-
dacy at this time.
AS you know, there is at present,
definite split in the ranks of the
Democratic party in the State, but
judging from events of the past, this
split will probably be completely
healed before the Primary - or
shortly afterwards = enabling the
Democrats to present a united front
for the elections in November
The Republican Party, on the
other hand, while split as badly, if
not worse than the Democrats, will,
if past experience is any criterion,
widen that split as time goes on,
unless someone steps in to bring the
Party together again-and that man
might well be H. L. Mills.
Two years ago Mr.. Mills filed for
u. S. Senator in the Republican Pri-
mary, along with Paul Robinson and
Blanchard Randall, Jr. But realiz-
ing that primary fight would ma
terially weaken the Republicans
chances of unseating Senator Tyd-
ings, Mr. Mills not only withdrew
from the race, but also moved
heaven and earth to bring the Tate
and the Robinson factions together,
and thus avoid even a two-man pri-
mary fight.
It is my belief that Mr.. Mills feels
today-just as he has always felt
that the only way for the Republican
Party to win in Maryland is to pre-
sent united front, and l also be-
lieve that no sacrifice would be too
great for him to make, in order to
bring it about.
And, thinking along the same
lines, it seems to me that the Re-
publican Party in the State can
bring about this desired harmony
in a very simple way.
If Mr.. MceKldin is going to file
for Governor (and think he isl and
since Congressman Beall is evident
ly going to run for denomination,
the offering of the Senatorial nomi-
nation to Mr.. Mills, would not only
avoid any Republican Primary for
those three offices, but would also
present golden opportunity to the
Party to at last bury the Ratchet
and really get down to business.
ZION REFORMED CHURCH