The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-11-26
Ring VS.. Anti.Ring.


cratic party are sanguine of securing
control of the two houses. The lead
ers of the anti-ring forces conscious
of the influence which their supper
tiers can exert as a balance of power,
are confident that the Democrats in
the ring camp must succumb under
a union of anti-ring members Of both
parties, and that the only way by
which the ring can prevent 1t, Is to
tender a'cempremise to the men who
are waging the war against bossism.
The confidence of the ring managers
Is based on the numerical strength of
its adherents and in its majority in
the caucus. King Caucus is the source
Of the rings influence, and it relies
on the allegiance Of the Democratic
members to the dictates of that secret
conclave for a retention OF its power.
1t does not believe that any Demo-
crat can be so independent of party
discipline as to decline going into
caucus, and to refuse to be bound by
its decIsions. The anti-ring men,
however. threaten that they will
have nothing to do with it. 1.-THE
simplest way to settle it," said an
anti-ring leader yesterday, sis to de-
termine beforehand that caucus is
entirely superAuous, and that the
election of the officers of the two
houses, as well as that of the state
streasurer and police commissioner,
can take place in open session. If
any nuraber of Democrats wish to 60
into caucus of their own they may
do it. but it will have no binding
force on anybody. This will be the
easiest way to cut the Gordian knot,
and Democrats will be free to vote
and act as they please, without the
Intervention of self constituted lead
ers and Bosses" The sentiment seems
to be universal among independent
Democrats that no caucuses should
be held for the nomination Of officers,
and that the surest way in which the
best men can be selected is for the
election to take place at the time fixed
by Nv. thout my previous caucus
action. Governor Hamilton is very
careful about committing himself on
the subject in public. During his
visit to the city last week he called
on number of political friends, with
whom he freely discussed the situa-
ton. The Governor expressed him.
self as anxious as ever to crush the
ring, or, if that cannot be accomp-
lished at once, to narrow its influence
to AS limited circle as possible. He
thinks that with the anti-ring men,
bers of the legislature he will be able
to secure the object he has so long
sought. He is quite earnest in his
desire to wrest the Board of Public
Works from the ring, and it is I'M
derstood that he believes that with
the assistance of the independent
members treasurer can be elected
who will be in sympathy with the
anti'ring sentiment.
Coy. Hamilton called on Mayor
Whyte at the City Hall last week
when politics were alluded to-in-
cidentalIy. of course. The Mayor
found the Governor in buoyant spirits
and hopeful of the success Of all his
plans at the next session. The Gov.
found Mayor Whyte to be as de-
termined as ever in combating ring
influences and the power of bossism.
out at the same time Mayor Whyte
stated that he cared more for meas
ures than men that he is much more
concerned in the passage of good re-
form legislation than in the election
or defeat Of any particular individual:
ne cared more for the passage of a
good and efectual registration law
and police law than for the election
of treasurer. However, it is not be-
lieved that this would prevent COM
bination in the next legislature of the
supporters of the two ex-Senators. If
such action is found effective and
practicable. The anti-ring men know
they have the power to dictate terms
to the ring If they take concerted
action and demonstrate to the man
ayers that they are in earnest in de-
Ginning to 90 into caucus, and that
they mean to form a coalition with
Republicans.
A well-known anti-ring Democrat
presented the matter plainly t" Gov.
Hamilton last week. "Why mani
fest such a horror at coalition with
Republicans ?" said this Democrat IN
the Governor. "We Democrats had
to do something worse than that in
our time. Didn't we have to make
q bargain with Governor Swami in
1865, and promise to elect him to the
United States? And were we not
justified in doing it? Did ANYBODY
in our ranks disapprove of it at the
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