Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-04-23
MIGHT BE GOVERNOR
Candidates for the Democratic Nom
nation in Maryland.
THE POINT LOCKOUT LINE AFFAIRS.
Departure of a Scientific Expe-
dition From Baltimore.
SHOTS IN THE COKE REGION.
MARYLAND POLITICS.

Y
A Glance At the Candidates for the Guber-
Material Nomination.
| Special Dispatch to Tho Evening Star
BALTIMORE, April 23.--Before the congress
sional elections of 1890 were over the skirmish
lines Of the rival candidates for the Maryland
| state campaign Of 1891 were formed. The
political volcano in Maryland is always in a
state Of active eruption, but no time can be
| recalled when campaign has begun as early
IS this one, and none when more important
ing results promised.
Two United States Senators, governor, legis-
lature. three judges, clerk Of the court Of APP
peals and mayor Of Baltimore city.
these are the capital prizes in the Maryland
political lottery for 1891.
Then there are a whole host Of smaller prizes,
such as clerks Of the various county courts
county treasurers, sheriffs and city offices, in
the language of a good old Baltimore auc-
tioneer. now gone to his long rest, too enum-
crate to mention"
With such an aggregation what a scramble
there will be for first place when the gong
sounds for the final heat.
lime will develop candidates manifold for all
these places and the whirligig as it goes around
and around, mindful Of no mans wishes and
ambitions. will send many promising boom,
now carefully nursed, to the demnitiOn bow
vows.
THE oUBERSAToRIAL NOMINATION
Present interest is almost wholly absorbed in
the governorship. For some time after the
last elections there was man in almost every
county who wanted to be governor and in some
Of them two or three. Presumably they are there
yet, but at this time there are but four names
heard. These are ex-Postmaster Frank Brown.
ex-Mayor James Hodges, Col. Spencer c. Jones,
clerk of the court of appeals, and Comptroller
L. Victor Baughman. These are all in to the
finish. Mr.. Brown, though postmaster of this
city during the Cleveland administration, is a
resident Of Carroll county; Mr. Hodges is the
candidate from Baltimore city, Col. Jones is a
son Of Montgomery county and Col. Baughman
belongs to Frederick.
The trend Of popular sentiment is almost
Overwhelmingly for Frank Brown but the man
ayers prefer either Hodges or Jones. No can
didate for the governorship since the time of
Gov. Hamilton has SO frankly come before the
people and declared his ambition as Mr.
Brown. Nor is it a thing of recent growth.
He was candidate in the state convention of
1887 which nominsted Gov. Jackson and came
very near getting the nomination. Then he
had not been appointed postmaster, and the ad-
mirable administrative ability which he dis
played in that office has brought
him more prominently before the public
and given him greatly increased popularity.
Last May he went to Europe, leaving behind
him the distinct declaration that when he came
back in the fall he would begin a canvass that
would make it warm for somebody. He has
made good his word. His canvass has been
thorough and systematic in every part of the
state and today he has so long lead on all of
his opponents that it is doubtful whether any
amount Of political jockeying can take it from
him.
CLAIMS OF THE HODGES PARTY.
The Hodges people admit that Brown will
divide the vote in Baltimore city, but claim
that they will carry at least twelve of the
twenty-five wards and that the political COM
binations they will be able to make
viii be more than Brown can over
come com ,,. The Brown people a., are confident
say the vote will be unusually large at the
primaries, as midsummer will find the
people worked up to an advanced state Of
activity both on the gubernatorial and the
ties is certainly underestimate by the opposi-
ton to him. As farmer from his boyhood
and still in the active management Of one of
the finest farms in Maryland, he is attracting
to him the strength Of the farming element,
which this year will be for the first time factor
in Maryland politics.
The Farmers Alliance has a strong organiza-
ton N this state, and while there have been
nothing beyond individual expressions of opin-
ion by its members these have been frequent,
and 1t is believed will be followed up at the
right time by some official &C lion indicating a
preference for him.
The Hodges men claim several of the eastern
shore counties, with good fighting chance in
southern Maryland. bat make little or no claim
to western Maryland. But there are some peo-
pie on the eastern shore who remember that
when Mr.. Hodges was mayor of Baltimore he
vetoed an ordinance which passed both
branches OF the city council authorizing the
city to indorse the bonds of the Baltimore and
Eastern Shore railroad for $500 600. As mat
ter Of fact, Mr.. Hodges did just what he should
have done, but ii did not appear that way to
the people who wanted the railroad nor has
time changed their way of looking at it. His
claim to southern Maryland does not seem to
be borne out by the facts. Gentlemen well
versed m the political ms and outs of that
section have said repeatedly that the sentiment
there Is for Brown.
Col Jones is regarded by very many people
the man who will draw this one OF the cap
ital prizes He claims that he will come to the
convention with the solid delegations of all the
western Maryland counties, composing the
sixth congressional district, Garrett, Allegany,
Washington, Frederick and Montgomery, but
in the first three he will find q strong contest
ant In Brown.
Col. Baughman will have his own county,
Frederick, but while his friends will make q
gallant night for him there are no present indi-
cations that his candidacy viii be formida-
bic one.
TIE sESAToRsHIP.
As 10 the two United States senstorships,
everybody comedies Mr.. Germans reelection
without opposition. The other senatorship,
which belongs to the Eastern Shore, is a sort of
catch-as-catch-can business, with Gov. jackson
n self-announced candidate and by some be-
lieved most likely to win.