Evening star., 1897-03-25
PLANS OF DEMOCRATS
Preparing to Reorganize the Party in
Baltimore.
MORRISON PUT FORWARD AS LEADER
Fight Between the Supporters OF
Gorman and Rasin.
FORTS FOR HARMO y
Correspondence of The Evening Star.


BALTIMORE, March 24. 1897.
Mr. j Frank Morrison, who. a number Ot
years ago was one OF the triumvirate ot
democratic leaders who ruled Baltimore
city. Is coming to the front again, and q
movement is on foot among politicians tC
reorganize the party with Mr. Morrison as
the city leader. For many years prior tC
1Ssa the democratic party in this city was
under the absolute control of three men
who We're known as the big three" name
ly DIR. Robert Slater. who ruled the easter
wards: Mr. I. Freeman Rasin. who ruled
the southern and central wards, and Mr.
]. Frank Morrison. who was supreme in
the northwestern section of the town.
After the primary fights of 1885. Mr. Nor
rIson and Mr.. Rasin combined their forces
quarreled with Dr. Slater defeated him in
the city convention, and destroyed his po-
litical power and influence. They then re-
moved all his followers who We're in Office
and who would not desert their old leader
and since that time DR.. Slater has cut nc
figure in democratic affairs in this city.
Mr.. Morrison and Mr.. Rasin shared the
power between them for some years. but
all was not harmony. Differences of a Sc
Tious character frequently arose and
threatened to disrupt the alliance. but tenn
porary peace was usually brought about
division. from the constantly increasing
power of the republicans and their inie-
pendent democratic allies. In 1889. how
ever. the differences between Mr.. Rasin and
Mr.. Morrison and their followers becam me
so great as to be irreconcilable. and in the
open and fierce fight which occurred al the
primaries that year Mr.. Morrison was ig-
ANONYMOUSLY and overwhelmingly defeated,
and since that he has taken no part what
ever in city politics. and Mr.. Rasin has
reigned as supreme boss of the demoC IA tic
party organization here, no one ever Ven
turing to dispute his will in anything that
affected the organization until 1895. when
he suffered his great defeat at the polls.
and with him the democratic party went
down into the dust Since that time TIE
party Organiza tion has been in state of
chaos. without leadership. and torn BY in
ternal disSensions.
During the past week several conferences
have been held between prominent demo-
cratic ward politicians. at which Mr.. Nor
risOn the central figure. The condi-
tiOn of the party In the city was fully dis
cussed. and steps were taken to bring about
a reorganization, under the leadership of
Mr.. Morrison. Strange to say. considering
their relations Of past eight years, MIR.
EsaSin has earnestly advised mis- old follow
ers to do all in their power 20 aid in fur
the-ing this movement, and the most prom
i1ent men who have taken part in these
preliminary conferences have been AR Ra-
SIN : OiG-tInr iIeutenautS and nagerS.
Mr.. Rdsin says that he is not only willing
but anxious to have Some one else go to
the front and that he will take his place
In the ranks and DO what ne can to re-
gain the city and state for the democrats
in more humble position than that
which he has heretofore Occupied
Relations With German
The question is being asked on all sides.
What will be the relations which this new
combination will hold with Senator Cor
man in his fight for reelection TO the
United States Senate this year? Some pol
iticians assert that Mr.. German himself is
the prime mover in the whole scheme that
his fine political hand Is pulling the wires
which a-e bringing these people together
In this new alliance, preparatory TO the
contest with the republicans this year
All the Indications. however point the
other way. Mr.. Morrison and Senator Cor
man have been bitter foes ever since 1856.
when the senator refused TO give the fol-
lowers OF the new aspirant to leadership
any Of the patronage given out by the first
Cleveland adminis tratio In fact Mr. Nor
rison has often attributed his downfall in
1ss9 to the lack OF patronage. which he
had been able to dispose among his adher-
ents during the previous four years while
MIR. Kasin had had in his control all the
Offices in the customs and internal reve-
nue. service TO distribute among his per-
sOnal followers. Ever since that time Mr..
Morrison has not hesitated on all occa-
sions, wherever he might be, to denounce
the senior senator as the chief enemy TO
The democratic party in Maryland His
closest friends say he has in no way
changed his mind and that he even now
thinks that the only obstacle in the way
to democratic success is the prospective
candidacy of Mr. German for reelection.
Mr. German, therefore, apparently cannot
hope for any aid from the combination OF
which Mr.. Morrison IS the head The ques-
ticn then remains. what Will Mr. Rasin's
attitude be toward Mr. German If Mr.. Nor
rison Is hostile TO him.
There is every indication that Mr. Rasin
shares MIR MOrrisOn's views on this sub
ject- Ever since the domination of Mr..
John K CCwen for Congress in 1894 the
relations between Mr.. German and Mr..
Rasin have been very much strained. In
that year. despite the vigorous protests of
Mr.. German. Mr.. Rasin insisted on nomi-
mating Mr. Cowen for Congress in the
fourth district In that campaign. for the
first time for a quarter Of a century in
Maryland. Senator Gorman's voice was
silent He took part IN the contest; he
did not give the party leaders here the
benefit OF his advice: he made effort TO
get his personal followers in the city In
line for the democratic nominee. and hun
dreds of them openly fought the ticket,
thus jeOpSr rdizing the election of Mr.. Cowen
who only won by the skin of his teeth.
In 1895 Mr.. German and Mr.. Rasin again
disagreed. Mr.. German desired the noni-
nation OF Mr.. Thomas G. Hayes for gov
ernOr. while Mr. Rasin opposed 1t, and IN
f.
Hurst. Mr. Hurst was nominated and suf-
fered defeat.
again last year the senator and the city
boss disagreed Mr.. German was opposed
10 the STATE convention taking any def
mite stand on the money question IN view
of the fact that the democratic national
convention would probably pronounce in
favor Of free silver Mr.. Rasin insiste I
that the state convention should come ou;
II favcr of geld, and gained his point here
as he had done the year before.
German Men Blame Rasin.
That the differences between Mr.. German
and Mr.. Rasin, which have been increas-
ing for several years, have not been heal
ed becomes apparent 10 any one who talks
in turn with some OF the senator's follow
ers and some of the adherents Of NJ
Rasin- The German men. especially those
from the counties. as well as those Of H.
city politicians. who follow his Ieadersbin
throw the blame for the present condJ,son
OF the democratic party entirely on Mr.
Rasin and the city ring. They assert th,,
MT Rasins management of city affairs 90
diszusted the people OF the entire state as
70 lead to ;he disastrous defeat of Ists5
They insist that had Mr.. Germans advic.
been taken and Mr.. Hayes been nominated
Tor governor the entire ticket would have
been elected, but that Mr. Rasin's inter
ference with the state convention and his
insistence on the nomination OF Mr. Hurst