SKETCHES OF STATE OFFICERS. 217

he made a favorable impression by his faithful performance
of his duty and impartial rulings upon matters that came
before him as the chairman of a number of important
committees. He is a bank cashier and a keen and success-
ful business man, and was until recently president of the
Maryland Bankers' Association, delivering the annual
address before that association at its meeting in Ocean City
last summer. He is the only layman who has been presi-
dent of the General Conference of the Methodist Protes-
tant Church of the United States.

State Treasurer: THOMAS J. SHRYOCK, (Republican,) of
Baltimore city.

Thomas Shryock was born in Baltimore in 1851. His
parents came from Virginia. Mr. Shryock was educated
in the public schools and the Light Street Institute. At
the age of sixteen he entered the lumber business with a
brother, and at the age of twenty-one he became sole pro-
prietor of the business. He is at present extensively
engaged in the lumber business in Baltimore City and in
Washington, D. C. Mr. Shryock is a distinguished Free
Mason, and has for some years past been Grand Master of
Masons of Man-land. He was elected State Treasurer by
the Legislature in 1896, and was re-elected in 1898.

Attorney-General: GEOKSS H. GAITHER, JK., (Republican,)
of Baltimore city.

Mr. Gaither was born in Howard county, Maryland,
on February 28, 18a8. He began his education in the
private schools of Baltimore, and then entered Princeton,
graduating in 1878, with the degree of B. A. He subse-
queutlj' received the degree of M. A. from his Alma
Mater. He studied law in the University of Maryland and
graduated in 1880, and was admitted to the bar of Balti-
more immediately afterward. Since then he has been in
the active practice of his profession. He was a member
of the New Charter Commission that framed the charter
of Baltimore that was enacted by the Legislature of 1898,
and was, in November, 1897, appointed by Mayor Malster
as one of the Commissioners 01: the part of Maryland to
the Conference for Promoting Uniformity of Legislation
amongst the several States. Mr. Gaither was appointed