Evening star., 1896-10-29
THE WEAK POINT
Danger to Mckinley in Baltimore
City Fight.
REPUBLICANS WANT TEE COUNCIL
The Polls of Both Sides Are De-
fective.
MONEY NOT LACKING
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.

Specil Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
BALTIMORE, Nd, October %. 1896.
1t is generally conceded that the vote
in Baltimore city will determine in which
column the state will be enrolled on cleo
ton day. Earlier In the campaign the
city council fight was rarely mentioned
in political circles, but recently 1t has
been the subject of much discussion among
those who are in a position to know what
is going on. and intimacions are not lack
ing to the effect that certain city politi-
clans value the possession Of the city
hall above a majority in Baltimore for
Mckinley and Hobart. and are quite pre-
pared to furnish Bryan votes in return for
ballots favoring their councilmanic nomi-
nees. In some wards, and notably the
seventeenth. 1t is rumored that deal of
this character has been already effected.
and while the leaders at the state head
quarters are unwilling to admit that such
Is the case, they are entirely alive to the
possibility Of such an arrangement being
undertaken, and say that vigorous efforts
will be made to suppress any schemes OF
this character as soon rs they are at
tempted.
The value Of the city hall and Its stores
Of patronage to the local republican or
ganization Is at once apparent, and their
desire TO nave the COmDlno returned IS
augmented by their eXpectatton-the popu-
lar opinion-that the court Of appeals will
indorse the opinion of The lower court as
to the legality Of the ordinance passed
by the council last winter whereby the
power of appointment s taken from the
mayor and placed in it's hands.
The result of the reelection Of the COM
bine who carried this ordinance through
with It's 1000 offices entiraly IN the power
of the local republican organization. II
will then control the giving out of con-
tracts and the disbursement of the city's
moneys. and will be so strongly intrenched
behind q bulwark of spoils that it VIII be
next to impossible to overthrow 1t.
Bent ON the Trade.
Were 1t not for the presidential election.
1t Is likely that a non-partisan effort would
be made to prevent the return Of the COM
bine, and in a number Of wards there will
be considerable scratching but the city
politicians are bent on carrying out their
end, and the assumption that they are pre-
pared to trade votes for Bryan to attain
tt cir purpose does not seem unwarrant-
able
The ordinance referred to was passed by a
majority Of the republican members Of the
council when they found that Mayor Hoop
er intended to carry out his ante-election
promises OF reform to the letter. 1t pro-
vided that all appointments in the city hall,
save only the mayors clerk and one or two
minor officers Immediately associated with
the mayor. should be chosen by the council.
The announcement of the intention to make
such radical change In the city govern
Dent created a sensation here. and efforts
were made-notably at large mass meet
Ing at Music HalEto prevent it's being car
ried out The councilmen persisted, how
ever. and the ordinance was passed over
the mayors veto, all the councilmen but
three voting for It's passage. The three
who sustained the mayor were not favored
at folI
quently. the republican combine or ring
will have absolute power over municipal
affairs should their nominees for council
or majority Of them receive majority at
the polls next Tuesday. In fact. the whole
power Of the city government, the appoint
ments to office as we'll as the public funds
depends on the council to be chosen next
week and the average city politician is
more interested In the choice of council
men than he is In the success of the Nc
klnley and Hobart electors and the nomi-
nees for Congress. 1t will thus be seen
what an important part the council contest
may play on Tuesday next in this CITY, and
should the vote be close, it may prove the
determining factor. The further fact that
all the sound money democrats who are
supporting Mckinley, as we'll as the Sun
and the News, are opposing the republican
council ticket has only added to the COM
plicatfons OF the situation, and If Mary-
land should decide in favor of Bryan, the
chances are that the local contest for tne
offices will have more to do with that do.
c1sion than any other one cause.
Hot Work.
In the meantime the campaign is liter
ally boiling hot this last week. In every
section Of the city and state large meet
ings are being held by the adherents OF
both parties, and all these meetings ere
being attended by enormous crowds. Sena-
tor German Is here every day. and is
speaking nearly every night, and Senator
elect Wellington Is also working night
and day for his cause. Every night the
city Is literally ablaze with enthusiasm
from one end to the other, AMI both par
ties from the highest official to the hum
blest subaltern are enthusiastically at
work. Both sides are we'll supplied with
funds and are using them without stint
and are preparing to make further use
of such means on election day. Until the
present week, the free silver people have
had but limited means to carry on their
and to spare. From some source Senator
German has secured plenty Of cash. and
his headquarters have put on new ap-
pearance In consequence thereof. People
are at work now who were idle a few
days ago. and were then taking uo In
terest in the campaign.
DeAnite Misinformatfon,
No matter what claims may be put forth
hy either side. the best judges here are con-
WINGED that Maryland is still doubtful, and
the betting indicates that. In fact, there
are very few bets being made. and what
there are are even. No republican, now
ever much he may claim, will give any
edds in this state in favor Of Mckinley.
Both parties claim to have made polls Of
certain sections, but no one believes in
their accuracy. The Star correspondent
was allowed to examine a republican poll
that was made in part Of the city with
the voters of which he Is well acquainted,
and he found 1t full of glaripg errors on
both sides. Men were put down for Bryan
who are for Mckinley. and, On the other
hand. men were put down for Mckinley
who are for Bryan. The whole poll was
made In such way that 1t is not consid-
cred Of any value by those who had it
made. The same statement can be made
of the polls that have been taken by the
Bryan people.
The truth is both sides here are at sea
as to what the outcome will be next Tues
day. and are fighting like fiends to win.
The chances appear to favor Mckinley,
but there is no certainty as to the result
Chairman Hanna Claims Tennessee,
Chairman Hanna Of the republican exec