The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1896-12-11
GOSSIP OF POLITICS.

Those persons who have seen Senator
German recently agree that III spite OF
the two sccessive defeat of the party when
he assumed personal charge OF the
capaign, the senior senator shows no
signs of discoura cement, but on the con-
trary announces his candidacy for reelec
ton to the Senate to succeed himself, as
though victory had never deserted his
banner.
SENATOR German has recognized the
situation in our state for some time past,
said an intimate friend recently
You NAV remember that The American
printed an interview with him last fall
Just after the election of Governor
Lowndes in which MIR. German ascribed
the defeat of the Democratic party to the
simple fact that there were more Re-
publicans in Maryland than there were
Democrats. The truth is, Maryland has
been gradually becoming a Republican
state and on the cardinal issue of Republi-
canism protection to American industries,
it can always be held in the Republican
column. Look at the recent changes. In
1892, when Mr.. Cleveland was elected
president, Maryland had solid Democratic
delegation in Congress, six representatives
in the House and two senators. Two wears
later, solid delegation was reduced by half
and in the two city district the old MAORI
ties that formerly numbered thousand were
cut downeven in the official returns to a
few paltry hundreds. In the Fourth dis
trict where Mr.. Cowen made straight
fight on the tariff issue the majority was
so small that one doubts what would have
been the result had there been such an
unimpeachable re glstration and count as
now exists. There is no better evidence
fI.n 1x, l,
sediment in Maryland than was shown by
the falling off of the old majorities in the
Fourth district. Mr.. Rayner carried the
district in '92 by some 1000, but when Mr.
Cowen preached free trade in that district
two years later, he barely squeezed through
by thousand, indicating revolution in
sentiment amongthe voters of that district
when the issue of Democratic free trade
and Republican protection was fairly set
before them And, | say, had there
been registration totally free from sus-
picion, there is grave question if even
that plurality could have been won.
This year we see how Maryland stands,
when instead of eight representatives in
both branches of Congress-all Democrats
there remains only Senator German, and
he, because he was elected four years ago,
before the avalanche was fairly started.
As matter of fact Mr.. German has not
agreed with the hitherto accepted leaders
of the Democratic party for years on the
question of the tariff. He has never
favored that so-called tariff REFORM
which was only free trade thinly disguis-
ed. He has always believed in ample
protection for the industries and the
workingmen of Maryland, and the gradual
evolution of Maryland into a Republican
protective tariff state, is not surprising to
lin He has always believed that his
constituents were not frce-traders, in spite
of the noisy clamor of some of self-ap-
pointed leaders.
LAS for the future it is hard to venture
suggestion. Party lines are weakening
in Maryland, and new aligments are
imperative. Before the next election is
held in our state, the tariff will have again
occupied public attention, brcause tariff
bill will have been passed by the next
Congress in extra session. Ample OPP
portunity will be given Mr.. German to
make an explicit statement Of where he
stands when the industries of his state are
affected, and will not be surprised if
durin gthe de bate he m a k c
speech in which he will plainly set forth
his past record and on the tariff and his
determination to shield Marylands interest
in the furture even at the risk of being
STYLED an assistant Republican,, and
taking that frank statement as a platform
in the coming campaign to appea! for
support to all voters in Maryland who
believe in protection, conservative protec-
ton, whether advocated by a Democrat
or a Republican. Sunday american.