The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-10-20
The Political Situation in Baltimore.
What Both Sides claim---Predictions and
Speculatons.


The election for Mayor aud members Of
both branches Of the City Council takes place
on the 4th instant, one week from to-day.
Both sides are now thoroughly aroused, and
the canvass for the next six or seven days
will be very active. A representative of the
EreniRg Bulletin has recently conyersed with
many of the prominent men in both the Work
ingmen's and Democratic parties, TO ascertain
from each their views Of the probable result.
WHAT THE woRKlNGMES ExPEcE
The Workingmen seem very sanguine of
success. They measure their chances solely
by the enthusiasm displayed at their meet,
ings. As to the numbers attending them,
they have been generally about as large, es-
pecslly their open'air meetings, as the Dem
ocratic meetings, and every ward OF the city
has been organized and canvassed The
movement, they admit, lacks the advantage
Of having experienced managers to direct it,
but this they assert is compensated for by the
fact that every workingman is alive to the i'm.
portance Of being at the polls on election day
and need no urging TO vote.
The lyceuns in the twenty wards Of the city
are said to have enrolled about 5000 names.
Every one Of these FIVE thousand is counted
upon TO be at work at the polls, and each one
is expected to influence one or more votes be-
sides his own. The wards in which they
claim to be strongest are the First, Fifth,
Sixth, Seventh, Fifteenth, Sixteenth, Eigh
teenth, Nineteenth and Twentieth, with fair
showing in the Third, Tenth and fifteenth.
In the first mentioned nine wards, they
profess to be confident of electing the coun.
cilmen, and are very hopeful Of the other
three. For the Second Branch, they are
sanguine ofsuccess in the First and Second
wards, Fifth aud Sixth, Seventh and Eighth,
Fifteenth, and Nineteenth and Twentieth.
Mr.. Thompson, they think, will carry all the
wards in which they can elect a counclmaU,
and they rely upon his popularity TO run ahead
of the Council ticket in others.
PROSPECTS OF THE DEMOCRACY.
Leading Democrats say the Workingmen
will not carry ward in the city. The old
hands who have been in politics for years and
are well acquainted with the voters of the
wards, say that with the exception Of the
/ Twentieth ward, where there is some trouble
| about the candidate for the First Branch, ey.
cry ward will be carried by the Democrats
for that Branch, and that they will elect
all their candidates for the Second Branch.
1t is claimed that Colonel Kane will carry
every ward in the city, and will be elected by
from ten to fifteen thousand majority.
This claim is based upon the following con,
sideratiOns, Viz:-First, that he will secure,
with few exceptions, the entire Democratic
vote of the city, including nearly all Of that
element in the party which supported the
Reform movement two years ago; secondly,
that in consequence ofthe antipathy shown by
the wOrkingmen to the colored men and the
exclusion Of the latter from the lyceums, this
vote will largely be cast for Colonel Kane
while many cOlored men, who would vote for
straight. out Republicans if there were caudi.
dates in the field, will not vote at ALL thirdly,
that large number Of substantial. x.paying
and conservative Republicans will vote for
Colonel Kane, who might have voted for Mr.
Thompson but for tho Reohabite Hall plat.
| form.
Their argument is that if the Workingmen,
with their ayowed principles, get control OF
the city government, and their platform is
carried out, the property of the city would be
heavily taxed, aud would be greatly deprecia.
ted thereby. Lastly, the Democrats are cou.
hdent OF having superior party discipline, aud
/ OF bringing out every vote for their ticket
which was cast for Tilden and Hendricks in
! 1876. The WOrkingmen rely TO a great eN.
| tent upon the Republicans to aid them in the
/ State election.
The Republican strength they say, will be
in large measure brought out by the State
ticket, and on the day Of election, many vo.
tiers, white and colored, who do not now take
any interest in the success of the Working
mems movement, and who may not vote at all
at the municipal election, will vote Working.
mems Legislative tickets, headed with the
Republican State candidates, and in this way,
they believe, a large part of the Republican
vote will be secured for the Workingmens
candidates.
How far these speculations will be realized,
however, will naturally depend very much
upon the result of the municipal election. If
Colonel Kane should be elected BY a large
majority the Republicans will probably be as
apathetc in regard to the State ticket as they
have shown themselves in reference to the
municipal affairs. The defeat of Mr.. Thomp.
SON. their best and strongest man, will also
greatly dampen the ardor of the workingmen,
and cause a considerable falling off in their
vote at the State election.