The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-03-31

the pfecept of the bigger bosses. Cor
man declares that the city conven-
ton primaries shall be held before
May, to which the response comes
from the city bosses that they shan't
be held until next May, and they
forthwith settle the business by fix
ing the date, and, in a semi-defiant
attitude, ask the state bosses "What
are you going to do about it ?" Cor
man announces that unless his wish
is complied with and certain things
happen, he will take the primaries
in his wn hands. The indications
all point to a squabble between the
Whyte and German factions when
the time approaches for these prima-
ries. The machine is now In the
hands of the Whyte men, and they
don't propose to throw away such an
important lever by making any un-
due advances TO the other side. After
all the leaders have talked themselves
out on the subject of fairness in pri-
maries and the selection of first-class
Judges, &C., the primaries will be
held according to the wishes of those
who control the majority of the City
Convention, and the city machine
will remain in the hands of those
svho now hold possession. Then
German will step to the front and
announce that the primaries were not
held in accordance with the wishes
of the Democratic party, and that 1T
becomes the duty of the State Central
Committee to take charge of the leg
islative primaries. Senator German
has majority in the State Central
Committee, but only three out of the
nine of the city members of that COM
mittee are with him. The matter
will not, therefore, be left with the
city members. The city convention
and the city members of the State
Central Committee will protest
against this assumption of power, and
deny the right of the State committee
to interfere with local affairs. Conse-
quently, the city managers will also
call primaries. and the result will be
dual legislative conventions In each
of the city districts, with two sets of
legislative candidates. The question
has been raised by some of the city
managers whether Mr.. German is
really the chairman of the Democrat
lc State Central Committee. The APP
pOintment of this officer is in the
hands of the president of the Demo-
cratic State Convention. DIR. Opie
was the president of the last conven-
ton, and when that body adjourned,
in August, 1881, it was given out
that Mr.. German would not accept
the craftsmanship of the committee.
Mr.. German continued to act as chair
man, and it is asked whether the
Democratic committee has really a
legally appointed presiding officer.
the city managers ought to know.
however, that Mr.. German can,
without much difficulty, have him
self elected by the state committee, if
DIR. Opie forgot to appoint him.
Some of the county papers. notably
the Hagerstown Mail, are calling
upon Mr.. German to step down and
out as chairman OF the committee.
In the present uncertainty of DEM
ocratic politics the leaders are in no
hurry to announce themselves as cam
didates. The late James Gordon Benz
nett, when a candidate for minor
Office, said once: "If I'm elected. I'll
be candidate; if not, / will decline
on account of ill-health." There are
many distinguished Democrats who
find themselves in this predicament
just now. But there is unrest among
the people. They would like to- act
upon the Napoleonic doctrine, slack
asses and savans to the rear; troops
to the front !" but they know that
their political iackasses are bound to
stay in the front and do all the Kick
ing and damage possible to the troops
behind them. And the same may
be said of their Swans. They see
that the party must have leaders, and
that these leaders are so antagonistic
to each other that there is very little
prospect of harmony and victory.
They are now quietly awaiting cleo
ton day, dreading all the time
Waterloo.
The Democratic masses have no
confidence in their leaders. They
have seen enough to convince them
that the men who when out of place
and power pirate most about reform
became bosses as soon as they are in
stalled into offices to which the peo-
pie have elected them on the belief
that they would remedy the existing
state of affairs. The people will not
place their trust in German, the state
boss, But il must be admitted at the