The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-14
eIBSONS SEAT IN THE SENATE.
A WILD. FREE-FOR-ALL RACE
AMONG THE REPUBLICANS.

Party Management Entirely Lacking
and no Sign of BOssism Anywhere
in the RankS-IIaIf "a Dozen Candi-
dates Full of Hope-Congrcssman
George L. Wellington the Leader
in the Race.
Annapolis. Nd. Jan. l3-The question as
TO who will become heir to the seat in the
United States Senate now occupied by
Charles II. Gibson is far from being set
tied, although the legislature will begin
balloting tomorrow.
All efforts to bring about a republican
caucus have failed. and the situation is as
badly mixed as it was a month ago
II each of the different aspirants for
senatorial honors has properly diagnosed
his chances. there will be at least six
Maryland statesmen occupying Mr.. Glib
sons seat when that gentleman's term
has expired Again, on the other hand.
If the legislators who viii do the voting
are to be believed, not one of the candi-
dates has reason to believe that he will be
the winner.
Only one point is clear, and that is that
every man who has vote on the republi-
can side wants to be with the winner. They
have an abiding faith that the next Presi-
dent viii be the nominee of their party,
and they all realize the Importance of
standing in with the party, who for six
years, from March 4, 1897, Will represent
Maryland in the United States Senate.
Tonight the adherents Of the different
candidates are putting in their best work.
Nothing but the contest is talked of. There
IS an absolute lack of bOssism. There is
not even party management. 1t is wild
race, free for all.
There is a great deal of talk about the
so-called eastern shore law, and the
sacred obligations which the ofiice-hold-
erS claim rests upon c. cry legislator to
observe it. This law provides that one of
Marylands representatives in the United
States Senate shall be a resident of the
eastern portion of the state There has
been growing disposition within recent
years TO ignore the law, the claim being
made that II is unconstitutional to begin
with, and, secondly, as the eastern section
of the state has but % per cent. of the
states population, it 10 not entitled TO
equal representation with the western
shore.
Congressman George l.. Wellington of
the Sixth Maryland district, who engineer
ed Lloyd Lowndes' campaign, landing him
in the gubeg material chair last week, is
the leader in the senatorial race and is
anxious to smash the eastern shore leg
acy. Ne is making hight against the
field. The main fight of the anti-W cling
ton forces has been to prevent the hold
ing of a republican caucus. MIR. yelling
ton and his friends confidently assert that
a caucus Will be held late tonight or
tomorrow night No one can fore
tell what will be the outcome. Mr. Glib
sons successor may be quickly chosen,
but the chances favor long contest.
The general assembly convened tonight
for the third week of the session. Up to
the present time nothing has been done
by the legislature except TO install the
next governor in office. While several
bills have been introduced, IL is
not expected that much real leg
islatve work will be done until
the senatorial question is settled.
for senator will begin, and it will be kept
up from day to day until an election re
suits. On Wednesday the two houses will
is had a Joint session will be held each
succeeding day thereafter and at least
one ballot viii be taken until Mr.. Glib
sons successor is chosen.