New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-08-28
GOOD SENSE on Tor ~ MARYLAND.

GOOD SENSE on Tor ~ MARYLAND
The Maryland Republicans showed both WIS
dom and moderation M their State Convention
at Ocean City on Thursday. when they uIsrf
The rulcor-rllin programme Of Mr.. Wellington
and paved tie way for party harmony ana
victory this fall 10y referring back to the
voters OF Baltimore for settlement the ugly
issues which have recently led 10 an open
schsm in that city in the Republican ranks.
The situation which the convention had 10 face
was Ibis: \ long and bitter contest for the
Mavoralty nomination in Baltimore had ended
in an absolute cleavage of the party orSaiiiza-
ton primary election Ia choose delegates
10 a city convention had been fixed for Mon
dav. August % \ few days earlier an order
was sought in the courts 10y one of the CON
tending factions 10 compel the other. which
had control Of the local party machinery. To
offer certain guarantees Of fair treatment al
the polls The court denied the order on the
ground that il had no right To regulate III"
conduct of primary elections. and the faction
making The appeal thercupon declined Ia enter
the organization booths and set up polling
places of its own.
Each side tried 10 make as formidabl" II
shaving rs pos>ibl" on election day. and when
the polls closed il was found that the regular
organization had got Out 14:ti2 voters. while
the protesting organization had mustered Il
following Of 1Sl43 In addition. the Maycralty
candidate of the seeding organization was
found 10 have received a scattering support at
the regular polling places. carrying two
wards out Of Twenty-Five against both the
regular candidates for The Republican nomi-
nation. Each faction subsequently, held city
convention and nominated a local ticket. and
each chose a full delegation 10 represent il in
the approaching State convention AZ Ocean
City.
Naturally the Republican leaders in Mary
land were seriously pcrpeXch and alarmed N
the outbreak Of these violent factional divl-
sions in Baltimore. the acknowledged key To-
the politics of the entire State. For two years
the party had been floating on a wave of rare
good fortune Conditions had combined in 1899
and 1896 to make Republican success incvita-
bic and from n position Of long AMI almost
hopeless opposition the party had suddenly
been lifted 10 the enjoyment Of unchecked po-
lircal power That trrlnphs easily and
quickly won should have had The effect of
partially dcmoralizng Republican leadership
is not to be wondered at. and candor comprs
the admission that the fractional disScnSlons
!
popular dissatisfaction throughout HE Stare
with the attitude. methods and policy of the
managers who during the last year or eighteen
months had exercised controlling voice IN
Republican COUNCILS in Maryland This dis
content had more than cloldcd ihc once excel
lent prospect of Republican asccndancy in the
Legislature. which is Ia fill next January the
seat in the United States Senate to be- made
IT.,
Mr. Germans present term. For. although the
divisions in the Democratic party which lost
i, the state in 1890 and 1896 continue I'M
bridged. they have hitherto scarcely been con
sdcred a sufficient offset to the alarming fac
tional schism which has threatened. and now
threatens. to spill, the Republican organization
in Baltimore practically in two.
To close the fatal breach between the two
rival elements in the Monumental City was the
problem TO which the Ocean City Convention
addressed itself, and the conclusion reached
seems to establish amply the impartial and
sober Judgment OF the delegates For in spite
Of the urgent appeals Of Senator Wellington,
who seemed bent on inviting disaster by re.
fuslng the eighteen thousand Master Repub-
leans in Baltimore any recognition whatever.
they resolved with virtual unanimlty that the
whole question CT regularity and representa-
tive authority should be referred back 10 the
Baltimore voters themselves \ new primary
election was ordered 10 be held. with all the
safeguards demanded 10y the protesting ele
mcnt ana the convention then adjourned To re-
assemble after the second trial of strength in
Baltimore has taken place The sagacIty and
prudence Of the conventions action are ~ be
unqualiiiedly commended, and II Is to bc hoped
that they will bear useful fruit. With united
party and self-contaiDed Republican leadership
Maryland can easily be kept this fall ia its new