Evening star., 1897-01-12
BOOMING M'COMAS
Proposition to Bring Him Forward as
aSenatorial Candidate.
MOVEMENTS IN MARYLAND POLITICS
Criticism Upon Mayor Hooper's
New School Board.
MOTIVES FOR THE CHANGE
of The Evening Star.

Correspondence of The Evening Star
BALTIMORE. January II, 1897.
There has been a great deal of quiet talk
of late among certain Maryland republicans
Of bringing forward Judge Lewis E. Nc
Comas, who for twelve years represented
the sixth Maryland district in Congress, as
a candidate to succeed Mr.. German in the
United States Senate. 1t is stated that a
movement is on foot among the members
of the old McComas faction in the state to
insure the nomination Of legislators in the
several counties who would be favorable to
his election. Two of the hold-over state
senator's, Messrs. Norman B. Scott Of
Washington and Frank Norwood of Fred
erick, are known to be favorable to his
election, and those who advocate such a
movement hope to have a compact body Of
McComas men to form a nucleus when the
general assembly Is prepared to ballot for
the next senator. While considerable sur
prise has been expressed that, under the
circumstances, effort to elect a second
western Marylander as senator should be
ever contemplated. McComas' advocates all
over the state are inclined to welcome any
attempt to send the judge to the upper
house of Congress. 1t is argued that the
republican party in Maryland, taking it's
success at the polls ELxt November for
granted, and the vast majority of republi-
cans never think of prefacing their express
SONS with a proviso, can do no better than
to honor the man who was by far the most
conspicuous member of the organization
during It's years of defeat.
The latter's intimacy with the President
elect is another element in his favor ac-
cordlng to his friends, and many cCmpari-
sons favorable to him are made when
Speaker Mudd and other aspirants are
mentioned Judge McComas has not ex-
pressed himself on this movement as yet
but 1t is believed that at the proper time
he will sanction the efforts of his friends
and enter actively into the fight. At any
rate he Is being doomed by many promi-
nent men in Baltimore at the present time
Mayor Hooper's School Board
Mayor Hooper's new school board and the
sensational method Of its creation is still
the dominant topic in local political circles.
and this latest exhibition of the reform
mayors Independent character IS being
criticized from every available standpoint.
While the majority Of representative re-
publicans and democrats, as well as the
more conservative reformers. agree as to
tHe excellence OF the general personnel of
tpe new board, especially when compared
to many of the old boards, there is a grea,
deal Of difference of opinion as to the legal
lty OF the mayors action, and even those
from politics at all hazards scarcely expect
70 see Mr. Hooper sustained by the courts
More than falf the lawyers in town agree
Win Coi. Charies Marshall, who has been
retained as counsel by the old board, in
ms contention that the mayor has exceeded
MS powers in attempting to overturn the
precedent or seventy-five years, and in try
ing 10 extend the decision in the recent
Hooper-Creager case to cover the point AT
issue. They assert that the government of
me me punnc schools is specifically provided
1or 1Src IN an act OF the general assembly ef
Is6s, and that the general decision of tht.
Creager case cannot be applied here
AS TO Wfether or not the courts decision
IN tnat particular case can be regarded as
stance is a question which can be onlv do
clded by a recourse to law, and the gen.
eral belief Is that the matter Will be fomeht
out In the courts.
Contcctures as to His Motive.
various conJectures as to what prompted
MI. Hooper to astonish Baltimoreans I'm
TINS manner, are in circulation, and many
olnerent motives are. ascribed to him.
his admirers declare that he has taken
the step solely with an eye to the public
good, and that the desire to cleanse the
school board from political association is
praiseworthy one which is characters
tie OF the man.
Old ring democrats who have enjoyed
Mr.. Hoopers tenure of the Office with a
relish which is little short of the com
piacency OF the mugwumps, because they
DeieVe that 1t Will practically disorganize
the republican party in the city. saw thai
the appointment of the new board Is sim
ply challenge for new trial of strength
from the mayor to the council, and is the
natural outcome of the elation his honor
feels at his victory in the Creager case
Others believe that behind 1t all is a hid
Tor denomination, and the action of the
council In confirming or rejecting these
trf onfS 10 hafv
Should the mayors late antagonists IN
that body confirm the members of the new
board their action will be taken as siy-
nlfying that they are prepared to acquiesce
maneuver than to have him nominated by
an independent convention and indorsed
by the democracy. In case the appoint
ments are rejected it will indicate that
the patience Of the councimen, whose en-
thusiasm for reform has been pitched In a
notably lower key than the mayors. has
been tried beyond endurance. and they
have determined to throw OF the yoke of
Hooper,, come what may.
His Confidential Adviser.
Many republicans even those who have
heretofore stood near the mayor, complain
Of the fact that he has taken ex-State
Senator Thomas G. Hayes, whom he has
reappointed as city counsellor, into his
confidence In all questions Of Importance
to the practical exclusion of his friends
and admirers in his own party. They say
that things have come to a pretty pass
when the first republican mayor elected in
years constantly turns to an old ring demo-
crat and former ally of Senator German
for advice, and as regularly snubs his own
party associates.
Mr.. Hayes is the mayors adviser in the
present school board embroglio. and has
been In close consultation with him in
nearly every crisis Of his official career.
An Unarmed Expedition Attacked as