Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-07-04

active work at once and they would help him
feel the public pulse Hodges saw that to hesi-
tate was to be lost, and he announced that he
would begin his active canvass on the day Of
the talbot county primaries. But it was a
most unpropltious opening. That day was
seiected with purpose. Brown had led
on by capturing the Cecil county delegation.
The Talbot primaries and convention were the
next to be held and Hodges was certain the
delegates TO the state convention would be for
him. This was the way in which he would
| open his fight and even up with Brown. Ex-
Controller J. Frank Turner led his tight and
the delegation was to be for Hodges for gov
ernor and Turner for controller. 1t was such
hight as had not been seen in Talbot county
Tor many a day. and Brown spiked the Hodges
gun before 1t was fired and added the four
votes OF Talbot to those of Cecil 1t was q rude
awakening for Hodges and Turner. Hodges
| and his immediate followers are now making
desperate efforts to stir up an interest in his
| canvass among the business people and have
resorted to publishing paid matter in the news
papers in the way Of interviews. His more
far-seeing friends, who do not honestly believe
that he can possibly get the nomination. rue
fully admit that this is an evident confession Of
weakness on his part.
Ex-coyGREssMAN arBsoNs FIGHT.
While the filling of the state and city Offices
Is engrossing the attention Of most Of the
Maryland politicians ex-Congressman Gibson
and his immediate personal friends are engaged
upon a weighty mathematical problem.
The sum presented to them is this: There
will be in the House Of Representatives when
1t organizes in December 237 democrats,
and in the party caucus. which will determine
the officers Of the House, a majority Of that
number, or 1l9 votes, are necessary to secure
the cierkship to the handsome Eastern Shore
man. With the solid support Of this state he
il still lib votes short, and where they are to
come from and how they are to be obtained is
the problem to be figured out
The great fight is Of course that for the
speakership. and the other offices will 20 ~ the
result OF combinations to be made. Amid all
the proposed deals to be able to pick out the
winning alliance Is no easy matter and yet this
is what must be done to be the successor of
Edward Mcpherson. For the first time since
the war the democrats outside of the ex-save
states have majority in the caucus with their
III members. and OF course if they pulled to-
gether would win. But their union seems an
lmpossibility for any candidate for the gavel
thus far suggested
The element that is for absolute free trade
have logically and consistently given their ad-
hesion to Mills and few of them, like Tom
Johnson, the Henry Georgeite from Cleveland,
have openly proclaimed their position. Others,
free traders at heart, but more polite. reaiiz-
ing that such open avOwal would dissipate
whatever chances there may be for the party
In 1892, are saying nothing, but giving a quiet
encouragement to the campaign of Mr.. Crisp.
Personal considerations or individual admire
ton will also bring some votes to McMillin,
Wilson and Springer. The northern demo-
cratic vote is thus divided, while the southern
Is scarcely less SO, with the majority of the
candidates from that section, each, of course,
with at least personal following.
The task Of MIR. Gibson, therefore, to pick a
winning combination is one that may well puz-
zle him. Six does not form a very potent fac
tor In l19, yet it might happen when the race
for first honors had narrowed closely down that
thesix votes from Maryland might turn the scale
and dictate terms which should be the realiZa-
ton of our ex-member's ambition. But here
again there is a stumbling block The Mary
land vote united might command concessions
from even the larger number, but if divided
among the candidates for the speakership
would become too insignificant an element to
accomplish anything. or the six Representa-
tives from Maryland four can be reasonably re-
he'd upon to play the game for all the politics
there Is In 1t. THESE are Page, Stump, Rusk
and Compton. The other two, Raynor and
Mckaig, do not feel themselves under any obli-
cations to the party managers since they were
called on to make and did make their fight with
but little aid from the party. They are there
FORE In a more independent position and can
AFFORD to play to some extent personal politics
and cast their vote for Speaker as may promise
best results in assignment to desirable commit
tees. This condition therefore practically
spoils any possibility for making q com bination
There Is of course, the accomplishment of
such an ambition as Mr.. Gibson Is chershing
by the personal popularity of the individuai
but here again the path to honors is beset with
difficulties. Mr.. Gibson is liked personally by
those who have served with him in Congress.
but he has no national reputation on which to
gain the votes of men new to the congressional
halls, and there are 107 Of these in the House to
be organized Strangers in person and new to
congressional life. all keen for the meaper
patronage which is afforded in the organiza-
ton OF the House, they will care far more uDder
the tutelage OF some obliging fellow member of
more experience to make "a messenger or a
page or clerk in the engrossiug room for
faithful constituent than to cast q vote for a
man they know but little Of, even though he is
a good fellow, with all that expression carries
with it.
ANOTHER OFFICE FOR Mr.. GIBSON.
Such is the situation at present, as Mr.. Glib
sons friends feel forced to admit. and it lacks
that roseate tint which they would be glad to
discover. As silence is often mistaken for pro-
found wisdom, and fearful Of taking step that
should prove damaging, this boom il for the
present likely to rest quiescent in the hope that
| some favoring breeze may in the autumn DAYS
instil it with life. Meanwhile it is well known
that the selection of Mr.. Gibson to fill out the
term Of the late Senator Wilson would not be
refused if the salver on which it was rendered
was only silver plate instead of the pure metal
The Eastern Shore is fertile in ambitious
statesmen and has several upon whom. in their
O"h cotiiuatOH thiS WOulu Idll only TO
gain new luster. With greater modesty than
some the friends of Mr.. Gibson point with n
proper pride to the material service which he
rendered the state while in the House. and in
sist that therein is his sufficient warranty for
the bestowal of higher honors. While the claim
OF faithful work in the past is well founded that
is a small consideration when a political slate
is to be made up. To the politician there is
only the future and Mr.. Gibsons achievements
or his shortcomings will cut but a small figure
at Annapolis when the legislature meets next
winter, save as an excuse behind which to take
shelter for some member whose courage il of
the Bob Acres order.
After all, it would not be surprising if the
senatorship and not the clerkship should 90 to
Gibson. 1t is known of all that he was in
tended for another term in the House and mar
rOwly missed it at the critical moment by his
own bad management Of his canvass more than
anything else.
German and Gibson would be euphonious
and congenim.
HOW THE CONTEST APPEARS
The contest is still, to all appearances, be-
tween Governor Jackson and State Senator
John Walter Smith of Worcester county.
Smith is doing the hustling and Jackson is on
still hunt. His friends profess to believe his
chances better than Smiths, but candor COM
pels the conclusion that at this time thew are
very microscopical indeed.
The Worcester county convention, Smiths
county, has declared for German and Smith for
| the United States Senate.
Although the party leaders have made M