Birmingham state herald., 1896-01-14
MIXED IN MARYLAND.
The Situation as to Who Will Succeed Sen-
 ator Gibson.

Annapolis, Md, Jan. 13.-The question as to who will become heir to the seat in the United States senate now occupied by Charles H. Gibson Is far from being settled. although the legislature will be- gin balloting tomorrow.
 All efforts to bring about a republican caucus, however, failed and the situation is as badly mixed as it was month ago. If each of the different aspirants for senatorial honors has properly diagnosed his chances, there will be at least six Maryland statesmen occupying MT. Gib- sons seat when that gentleman's term has expired. Again, on the other hand, If the legislators who will do the voting are to be believed. not one of the cand- dates has reason to believe that he will be the winner. Only one point Is clear, and that is that every man who has a vote on the republican side wants to be with the winner. They have an abiding faith that the next president will be the nominee of their party, and they all real ize the importance of standing in" with the republican 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 senatorial contest Is talked of There is an absolute lack of bossism; there is not even party management. It is a wild race, free for all.
 There is great deal of talk about the so-ca1led eastern shore law and the sa- cred obligation which the officeholders claim rests upon every legislator to ob- serve 1t. This law provides that one of Maryland's representatives in the United States senate shall be a resident of the eastern portion of the state. There has been a growing disposition within recent years to ignore the law, the claim being that 1t is unconstitutional to begin with, and secondly, as the eastern section of the state has but 20 per cent of the states population, 1t is not entitled to equal rep resentation with the western shore.
 Congressman George l.. Wellington of the Sixth Maryland district, who en- gineed Lloyd Lowndes' campaign, land- ing him in the gubernatorial chair, is the leader in the senatorial race and is anx- ious to smash the eastern shore legacy. He is making fight against the field. The main fight of the anti Wellington forces has been to prevent the holding of a republican caucus. MT. Wellington and his friends confidently assert that a caucus will be held late tonight or tomor- row night. No one can foretell what will be the outcome. MT. Glbson's successor may be chosen Wednesday, but the chances favor prolonged and bitter contest. Some of the enthusiastic ad- mirers of Governor Lowndes hope the senatorship will go to the eastern shore on his account, as they want to send him to the senate to succeed MT. German two
 
 candidate now for various reasons, the chief one being that his resignation would make Bruce, the democratic pres ident of the senate, governor The next senate of Maryland will almost certainly be republican, made so by hold-over re- publican senators from democratic coun- ties. There will be then republican to succeed MT. Lowndes should he resign two years hence. Republicans are count ing on the legislature of 1898 to be in their favor on joint ballot. Up to the present time practically nothing has been done by the legislature except to install the new governor into office. While several important bills have been introduced, it is not expected that much real legislative work will be done until the senatorial question is settled
 !. Tomorrow at noon the balloting for senator will begin and will be kept up from day to day unless an election re- suits. On Wednesday the two houses will meet in joint convention and if no held each successive day thereafter and at least one vote taken until MT. Gibson's least one vote taken until MT. Gibson's successor is chosen.