New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-08-09
mr.. GORMANS RUMORED RETIRENEAT'

The vaguely authoritative announcement,
made from Washington day or two ago, that
Arthur Z. German had decided to retire TO pri
sate life on the expiration Of his present term
in the United States Senate, and would not seek
q reelection at Annapolis next winter, has re-
stirred the already clouded waters Of Maryland
politics from surface to bottom. AS might nave
been expected public opinion in the state Is
sharply divided ON the meaning and purpose
of Mr. Germans rumOred withdrawal HIS
actiye friends and supporters who point TO the
fact that the original statement of the Senator's
intention to abandon politics appeared in The
Washington Post'-a newspaper which reflects
Mr.. Germans views and policy more closely
perhaps than any publication within the borders
of MaryIand-are disposed 10 accept last thurs
dav's announcement at its face value and 10
insist upon its sincerity and finality. ON the
other hand his opponents, both within and With
out the party are inclined 10 dismiss the Sen
ntor's reported withdrawal as a mere stratagem
10 distract attention from the campaign for re-
election In which he Is now eagerly and aborl
ously involved.
II world not be safe, on the whole, to take
too seriously Mr.. Germans putative dsinclina
ton TO submit his candidacy for the Senate to
the next Legislature at Annapolis. 1t is true
that his health has suffered somewhat in the
last few years; and he has even given The
Posts" recent announcement the negative coun-
tenance Of declining to deny or qualify its eX-
plicit terms. Yet 1t is doubtful whether the
MARYLAND Senator has ever given closer per-
sonal attention 10 State and local politics than
during the two or three months preliminary
canvass which cleared the way for the Baltl-
more Convention OF July IS In that conven-
tion Mr.. German was the absolutely controlling
Agure. and his candidacy for reelection was
made apparently the party's sole political con-
Germ. He wrote and reported himself the ex-
traordinary "straddle'' on the silver question:
whose confessed purpose was the elimination
of the free-cOinage issue as far as possible from
the approaching legislative campaign. BY his
persuasye efforts the clamOr of the radical
silver men. who formed a majority OF the dele
gates was stilled, and Il nOn-cOmmittal plat
form. widely at variance with the financial doc
,rnes proclaimed at Chicago, was "railroaded
through the convention without protest or dis
sent Not a whisper was heard at Baltimore
two weeks ago of any intention ON Mr.. Germans
part to abandon his Senatorial candidacy; and
It Ia perhaps suggestive of the true meaning and
purpose of the withdrawal rumor that it has
come only on the heels Of very general demon
EtrntOn throughout Va
with the Baltimore "straddle" and Of personal
and fractional hostility to its too ingenious and
yenturesoms author.
II, indeed, the Maryland Senator Is serious
An seeking to retire now from the forefront in
the nght for control Of the next Legislature, his
decision Is most likely to be prompted. not by
iIlhealth or political ennu but by the not I'M
natural fear that his OutspOken personal can
didacy is, in the present condition OF Maryland
politics, q distinct peril to the success Of the
Democratic legislative ticket. No one who has
not been brought In intimate contact with Mary
land affairs can appreciate the intensity Of the
Democratic factional opposition In that State to
the senior United States Senator-an opposition
based wholly on personal and local grounds,
which Mr. Germans long, fruitful and distin-
guished party service at Washington seems still
,mpotent to dissipate or soften. That the Mary
land leader should now seek to shelter himself
partially from this renewed personal hre by
cautiously suggesting bis own indifference to
. reelection. would seem politically both legiti'
mate and prudent
But 1t Is to be hoped by every candid foe Of the