Delmarva Heritage Series, by Dr. William H. Wroten, Jr.
John Walter Smith - Famed Shoreman
Salisbury Times - January 5, 1960
The name of John Walter Smith is certainly a familiar one to many
Marylanders. Although it has been said that no man in political life ever was
born under a luckier star, it is doubtful whether any political leader in the
State since 1900 has equaled his leadership and power.
Writing a little over 10 years after Sen. Smith had left politics in 1920, an
historian said: "No man in Maryland, in the past generation, has exerted a
greater influence on the State and its people than John Walter Smith. Governor
for four years, U. S. Senator for 13, undisputed leader of the Democratic Party
for nearly two decades, his power has been felt in every county of the state and
every ward in Baltimore City. It is not an exaggeration to say that his
ascendancy, the full extent of which is grasped only by those who have had the
privilege of intimate touch with the man, has been unselfishly used for the good
of his state, his people and his party."
Sen. Smith did not seek political honors or appear as a candidate for public
office until he had reached the age of 44. While he did quietly labor on behalf
of the Democratic Party, he spent his early life building a reputation as a
successful business man. On the Delmarva Peninsula the politician must bide his
time, and usually success in the business world is the strongest recommendation.
Farmers and watermen have strong leaning toward such a man as a candidate for
public office.
- : -
JOHN WALTER SMITH was born at Snow Hill on Feb. 5, 1845. On both sides of his
family, the ancestors had resided in Worcester County for several generations.
And, some of them had served their fellow citizens in public life. Although John
Walter Smith had the misfortune of becoming an orphan at the age of five, he
became the ward of Ephraim K. Wilson, twice elected to the U.S. Senate.
Smith's formal education was gained in the primary schools and the Union
Academy of Snow Hill. He did not attend college but began his business career at
the age of 18 as a clerk in the store of George S. Richardson and Brother.
Subsequently he became a partner in the business and later the firm operated as
Smith, Moore and Co. He became active in many business enterprises of Snow Hill,
Worcester County and the Peninsula. He was active in organizing the First
National Bank of Snow Hill in 1887; was one of the largest landowners in the
county; had interest in the oyster industry, and insurance. He also was
connected with institutions in Baltimore and other parts of the State.
Smith's roots were deep in Worcester County, and even after his elections
to the governorship and the senate he maintained residence in Snow Hill. The
Smith home had the reputation of being a center of true Eastern Shore
hospitality. Heinrich E. Buchholz has written that, "Even the most violent
political enemies of the ex-governor admit that for courteous manners and
hospitable instincts the Worcester Countian has no superiors, and nowhere are
these characteristics seen to better advantage than when Mr. Smith is the host
of his friends in his Snow Hill home."
It was in 1889 that Smith decided to throw his hat into the political ring
and to represent Worcester County in the State Senate. He was elected then, and
re-elected again in 1893 and 1897. In 1894 he was elected president of the State
Senate. Although his years in the Maryland General Assembly were successful, it
was during this time that he experienced the first of two major political
disappointments.
Smith was a master of local politics, and even with many obstacles and
battles to overcome he was ambitious from the start for high offices. When his
close friend, Sen. E. K. Wilson, died in 1891 Smith announced his candidacy for
the vacant seat. Charles H. Gibson, seemingly, was more acceptable to the
political leaders of the Western Shore and was chosen over Smith.
But Smith found the path to higher office in 1898. Two years previously, the
Republicans had captured the First Congressional District of Maryland, but in
1898 Smith was prevailed upon to regain it for the Democrats. From the newspaper
accounts the political battle of 1898 was a memorable one with Smith coming out
on top. Smith did not serve long in the House as a rather unusual step was taken
in 1899 -- he had the distinction of being elected to two of the most prominent
offices in the State at the same time.
The Democratic State Convention of 1899 placed Smith's name in nomination
for the governorship. In the previous gubernatorial election, Marylanders,
dissatisfied with the Democratic leaders and their methods, had elected a
Republican for the first time since the Civil War. Smith was able to defeat the
Republican Gov. Lowndes, and thus resigned his seat in Congress.
One of the major events of Gov. Smith's administration was the special
session of the legislature called in 1901. His supporters claimed this special
session was to clear up the frauds "perpetrated in the census returns for
the decade of 1900, which, if they remained uncorrected, would result in
allowing an unjust representation in the House of Delegates to the Republican
counties." But another man said that the session was for the purpose
"of passing a new election law which every body knew had for its purpose
making the State more solidly Democratic."
Gov. Smith's fame does not rest upon such selfish political moves. His
achievements, although they brought honor to himself, were for the people of
Maryland. An earlier biographical account of Smith's life states: "There
stand today in Maryland many monuments to Sen. Smith's political control and
public spirit. Chief among these are: Passage of the first free schoolbook law
for the state; reorganization of the public school system, and removing it from
the realm of political influence, and providing for a superintendent of public
education; reorganization of the State's Agricultural College, and removing it
from private control; aiding in the first Workmen's Compensation Enactment,
i.e., for the miners, when such legislative acts were rare; divorcing the
Baltimore City police system from politics and providing that appointments and
promotions should be based upon merit; revision of the election machinery and
eliminating partisan control; correction of errors and inequalities due to a
fraudulent federal census; reorganization of the health laws; establishment of a
State Sanatorium at State Sanatorium, MD., for tubercular white citizens of
Maryland, and a similar institution at Henryton for colored citizens; and vital
aid to the shipping and agricultural interests of Maryland.
These are among the larger of his public services, but they do not begin to
tell the complete story. In every section of the state there are scores of men
who can bear witness to the unflagging zeal, remarkable efficiency and energy of
Mr. Smith as governor of Maryland. His administration of the affairs of the
state stands as an enduring monument to his energy, vision and business ability.
It is a fact during the four years of his term the state did more building than
in the 20 years prior to his election in 1899. It was during the Smith
administration that the splendid Court of Appeals Building at Annapolis was
constructed, that the old State House was rebuilt and greatly enlarged; that the
5th Regiment Armory in Baltimore, one of the finest halls in the U.S.
and the place where Woodrow Wilson was nominated in 1912, was built; that the
Maryland Penitentiary was built; and the capacity of the House of Correction
doubled.
The remarkable thing is that, notwithstanding this amazingly comprehensive
building program, all of which was planned and executed under Gov. Smith,
"he so wisely and skillfully managed the finances of the state that, when
he went out of office in 1904, the State of Maryland was practically free from
debt."
Very few, if any men, accomplished so much, or worked so hard as Gov. Smith
did for his two pet interests - education and health for the masses.
Smith, after leaving the governorship in 1904, once again sought a senate
seat, but a bitter and fierce fight brought victory to Isidor Rayner. Smith was
broken-hearted but not broken, although it looked as if he had lost political
control in Maryland. His fight for the nomination and election of Austin L.
Crothers as governor in 1907 firmly established him as the head of the
Democratic party. He was more or less in complete control of the Legislature and
was elected to succeed the late Sen. William P. Whyte for both the short term
and the full six-year term. He was re-elected in 1913 by popular vote, as the
U.S. Constitution had at that time been amended and the direct popular vote was
in effect. He was defeated for re-election in 1920 when a Republican wave
covered the country. When he was asked to seek the office again in the 1922
election he declined, announcing that he had retired, but would work as long as
he lived on behalf of his friends.
Sen. Smith had a great influence in the senate and leaders of both parties
held him in affection. The story is told that when he was interested in an
appropriation bill or carrying on a personal fight to amend a bill, senators
would smile and say: "Smith is interested in this. You might as well let
him have it now. He will get it anyway." Even after he left the senate,
through the friendship he had with the leaders of both parties, Smith was able
to influence legislation.
According to some, Sen. Smith's greatest traits were his indomitable
courage, the rigid regard for his word, and the way he stood by his friends,
regardless of the personal fortunes.
A columnist for the Wicomico News in 1914 had this to say about
"The Old Man", as Smith was fondly called by his close friends:
"He has made and unmade Governors, Senators and Congressmen in his
political career and has always been successful in making places for his friends
... There has probably never been another man in Maryland politics who has had
such a wonderful run of good luck as Sen. Smith. His success has been so
phenomenal there are many people who believe he bears a charmed political life
and that it is useless to fight him when once he is a candidate. Be this as it
may, there is no man who has had such a wonderful era of office holding and
political successes as this man from Worcester who has been able to stand upon
the field of battle and see every foe vanquished and disappeared, and whose
fortunes still stand out foremost and whose guiding star still leads him towards
the goal of political successes and achievements."
Foe and friend alike agree that John Walter Smith of Worcester
County was one of the most outstanding, accomplished, influential and
interesting political leaders the
State of Maryland has seen.
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