Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-13
THE REPUBLICANS DIVIDED
Fight Of Maryland Factions Likely to Dis
rupt the Party.
Three Southern Counties, Usually Re-
publican, Apparently Drifting Into
the Hands of the Opposition.
pecial Correspondence of The Evening Star.

Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
LAUREL, Md, August IS, 1897.
The republican situation in southern
Maryland is more interesting just now than
for many years past. The fight for the
control of the southern counties between
Representative Sidney E. Mudd of Charles,
who is an aspirant for the seat of Senator
German. and ex-Representative Charles Z.
Coffin. who wants to get back the prestige
which Mrdd took away from him two
years ago, is what will probably split the
party in twain.
In three Of the four southern Maryland
counties the primaries and county conven-
items have been held. The only county
which has not vet taken action is st.
Mary's. In Charles county the Mudd fac
ton won and delegates were sent to the
judicial convention instructed for Posey
and Merrick for The judgeships. Calvert
county was carried by the Parran element.
The delegates were not instructed, nor are
they pledged to any candidate for Judge or
senator. But they will vote at the state
and judicial conventions and In the legis-
lature, If elected, as Parran directs.
Unexpected Opposition.
Mr. Parran has, however, met With I'M
convention was held several weeks ago.
| VIXEN It was stated that everything was
harmonious. But Monday another republi-
can convention was held at the county seat,
Prince Eredercktown, and full county
| ticket was pat in the field. 1t was an anti
Parran convention the "bossism' of the
young Calvert leader being denounced. The
ticket selected was DIR. Samuel X. Bird, a
member of the house of delegates, for state
senator; County Commissioner Hall and
Assistant County Treasurer Lusby for the
house of delegates: eX-State Senator Ed
ward III. Ireland for clerk of the court;
eX-Sheriff Elijah Bowen for register of
wills. and James w. Rawlings for sheriff.
With two tickets i'm The field the situation
In Calvert is the same as in this county
Prince Georges.
Result of the Bolt.
The tangle in Prince Georges, the result
of the bolt of the Coffin-Hil men from
the Mudd convention, is as far from being
Strengthened out as it was the day after
the conventions. The first efforts toward
settlement of the trouble will be made
at the state convention, when the question
of seating the Prince Georges delegates
will be taken UP. If the delegates of the
Coffin faction are given no consideration
whatever it Will only tend to intensity their
desire to run a separate county and legis-
lative ticket. If, however, they are given
some consideration, such as being allowed
a half vote each, it may likely lead to "a
compromise.
1t is said a movement is on foot to have
the Prince Georges primaries Investigated
by the state convention, and new pri-
marIes held under the direction of an i'm
partial commission, 20 be selected by the
chairman of the state convention. This
may be done also with respect to Calvert
where there are als) Two republican tick
etc. The plan is to have both the tickets
now in the field in Prince Georges with
drawn and a primary held in such manner
that there can be no doubt as to its fair
ness. This movement is believed to en-
anate entirely from the Coffin faction.
Mr.. Collins Charges.
With reference to the recent primaries in
Prince Georges Nj. Coffin is quoted as
saying:
Language fails to characterize the out
RACES perpetrated by the followers of Mudd
in our primaries, and am suresthat | am
safe in saying that they We're the most
disSraceful ever held in any section If the
state. There was no fairness or decency
or common honesty manifested by them in
any district in the county. In my own dis
trict they voted democrats who were we'll
known to be such; they voted men who
| were neither residents Of the county Lor of
the state; they openly stuffed the ballot
boxes, and, 10 make things sure. they put
in a lot of pudding tickets. In fact, they
stopped at no crime to attain their ends.
mo party can stand such performances
as those instituted and carried out by
Mudd. In all sections of southern Mary
land the best elements of the republican
party are in open revolt against Linn, and
the state convention should take some
definite action to put stop 20 such dis
graceful farces. / have every hope that
the state convention will once and for all
sit down on the whole business and give
the ticket favored by a majority of the re-
publican voters of the county the proper
recognition Ind
heavy for any party to carry, and look to
see him turned down when the time comes
for definite action"
The RejOfnder.
Representative Mudd denies these
charges. He says:
THE primaries were conducted fairly,
and were regularly called, and all talk to
the contrary is buncombe. The state con-
vention will settle the matter by recogniz-
ing those primaries having been legally
conducted, and the county convention held
by the delegates elected at the primaries
as the legal convention, and its acts valid
L have seen it stated that / have a fight
on hand in st. Mary's county. If that be
true II is news TO me- / have never heard
that there was any fight between Senator
Wilkinson and myself
Il don't think that there will be any Sc
rious opposition to Mr.. Merrick though ex-
Collector of Internal Revenue Hill of Prince
confident that Judge Merrick will succeed
himself"
Fight I'm ST. Mnry's.
The attention of southern Maryland is
now directed to the contest in ST. Mary's
county. The date of the primaries has not
yet been set. The anti-Mudd forces are be-
ing led by State Senator Wash. Wilkinson,
who seeks a reelection. The Mudd cam
paign is in charge of Mr.. Joseph Ching a
young member of the st. Mary's bar, who
desires the nomination for the state senate.
The Mudd men are said to be making the
same kind of a fight in ST. Mary's that
they made in Prince Georges. Senator
Wilkinson admits that he has the fight of
his life on his hands and is preparing 10
meet it. With fair primaries he believes
he can carry the county.
The contention of the factions, unless
peace be restored prior to the election, is
likely to supplement republican disaster
elsewhere. and give to the German element
three of the southern Maryland counties,
all of which are usually republican. The
Inture, therefore, is not a bright or hope
fun one for the republicans in southern
Maryland.
MAILS IN MARTINIQUE.