The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-08-06
Will RETIRE
AS A SENATOR
German of Maryland Has
the Presidential Bee
Buzzing.
Wants to Be the Democratic
Standard-Bearer Three
Years Hence.
Politicians In His Party Think He
Would Comm and the Southern
Following.

WASHINGTON d. c., Aug. 81 "Senator
German will not be a candidate for re-
election. He has determined to retire
from the United States Senate at the ex-
piration OF his present term"
This statement, says the Washington
Post to-day. comes from one of the most
prominent Democrats of Maryland. a man
who has held a high place in the party
councils for more than twenty years and
who is a devoted personal and political
friend of the Senator. He says the ITu tn
of his statement will be confirmed within
few days.
This is not sudden determination at
ALL" continued the Maryland Democrat,
"as a matter of fact is but the enforcement
of determination arrived at two years
ago by Senator German"
The Post has been the principa al friend
and defender of Senator German tor a
mum Der OF years since the press of his own
State the off his leadership, and it is the
opinion that the announcement it makes
to-day is authorized. The information is
nothing short of a revelation to the politi-
clans of both parties, who construed 0ena-
tor Germans presence ana activity at the
recent Baltimore convention as an avowal
of his candidacy for reelection to the
Senate.
The reason assigned for Senator Cor
mans retirement is that he is satisfied
with the honors he has already received
and desires rest from official life. There
is no doubt that he is master of the Demo-
cratic situation in Maryland and could
command a reelection if he desired it in
the event of his party being successful in
the State. But there is believed TO be a
motive back of his declination-that he
is to become candidate for the Demo-
cratic nomination for President in 1900 on
platform similar to the one adopted in
Maryland. This belief is justified by cir
cumstances of the Chicago convention of
1892, when Senator German stood ready
to become Presidential candidate when
ever il appeared possible to defeat Mr..
Cleveland.
William J. Bryan's chances for renom-
ination have received a number OF set
backs recently, but none it is thought
that compares with the prospects of Cor
mans candidacy for President. The de-
sertion of Debs' followers and the forma-
ton of ''social democracy" the disor-
Populist allies and the waning of the free
silver sentiment have all materially less
ened Mr.. Bryan's chances. If Senator
German should decide to become candi-
date it is the opinion of the leading poll
| tlcians that he would command almost
the entire following of the Southern
States, and the Eastern Democracy would
be forced to accept him as the only man
with whom to defeat Bryan.
There is undoubtedly a strong move
ment quietly among Democratic leaders
to bring about reconciliat ton of the tac-
tons of the party on more conservative
lines in order to promote success in 1900,
and Senator German is one of the in
struments to that end. By retiring from
the Senate he avoids factionaI fight in
Maryland, the outcome of which would
be doubtful, and by voluntarily retiring
plays an unseltish part before the masses
of Maryland's Democracy and at the same
time raises himself to higher plane than
the political public generally has accorded
him as leader of machine politics
purely.