New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-24

MCOMAss FRIENDS CONFIDENT OF HIS
ELECTION AS SENATOR
THE PRESIDENT UNDERSTOOD TO FAVOR HIM
CAUCUS LIKELY TO BE HELD TONIGHT
DEMOCRATS NAY UNITE WITH
SHAW REPt'ELICANs.
SHAW REPrELICANs.
'BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.

fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrDUNEl
Baltimore. Jan. o3-The bitter fight for
United States Senator is apparently nearing
the end. and tonight the friends OF Judge
Louis F.. McComas predict that he VIII BE-
elected tomorrow or on Tuesday. The Judge
came to Baltimore last night and conferred
with representatives Of the rival factions with
a view to Cancellation. Postmaster-Genera
Gary Is also reported 10 have brought his
strongest influence to bear upon the Eastern
shore members who have been supporting Ma
jor Shaw. the city candidate
The state capital was deserted after the Leg
islature adjourned yesterday. and many Of the
members and politicians came to Baltimore to
talk matters over Great pressure has been
brought to bear on Speaker Schaefer and the
ten other city members who refused 20 go into
caucus. ard the McComas managers affirm that
several OF them have begun 10 weaken. VINO
the several cannot be ascertained, as all Of
the eleven say they are bound together in the
single purpose Of elecing a Baltimore CITY
candidate
As n result Of recent conferences at the White
House between the President and Judge Nc
Cowas Congressman Barber. Postmas;er-Gea-
eral Gary and others representing opposing ele-
ments the supporters Of Major Shaw have been
informed that the President. while not openly
expressing 4 preference is dosirOus OF seeing
Judge McComas elected. because as the friends
Of the Judge put it. he has the supper.
Of al. the State leaders in the party and the
votes Of two-thirds Of the Republican members
Of the General Assembly.
Mayor Master has been holding the city
eleven in line against the State organization,
but the organization leaders declare that he is
losing his grip on them. The city mems con-
tenton has been supported by the leading Re-
publican newspapers Of the State. The two
Democratic newspapers Of this city arc urging
the claims Of the McComas managers. All the
leading Independent. CT anti-Gorman. Demo
Gratis favor the. LOWndes- Wei ington- AIcCOmas
combination. for the reason that the Democratic
members Of the Legislature. under the dlrec-
ton Of Senator Germans lieutenants voted with
the city eleven to elect one Of their number
Speaker. and are willing TO assist them IN
dcadlOcklng the General Assembly 70 The eX-
tent Of preventing the election Of Republican
Senator
The Democrats still say that they will do
everything in their power to prevent the election
II McComas as they believe him to be the
choice Of JOHN * Cowan and other leading inde-
pendent Democrats They have been contend
ing all along that they would not interfere with
the election Of a Baltimore City Republican.
provided he not the selection OF anti-Gor-
man Democrats.
on the other hand the Republicans argue
that the Judge has always been an uncCmpro-
msingly loyal Republican and a straight party
man. Even his Republican opponents admit this
The underlying reason Of the Democratic oppo-
sitlOn is TO prevent an election. in order 10 give
German another chance two years hence. This
fact has been forcibly impressed on the recall
citrant members to-day by not only the friends
e Judge McCOmas. but 10y those who have con-
ferred with the President and the Postmaster
General II is un lcrStOOd that three or four
Of the Master eleven are willing TO compromise
on General Shryock or Mr. Gary. but the Nc
Comas managers Will not as yet listen to any
such proposition.
Chairman Scott Of the Republican State Com
mttee. says that a caucus will certainly be hold
tomorrow night. If It is then necessary and that
every Republican member from the counties
with the exception of Senator Westcou and pos
sibly one or two other Eastern Shore men. will
declare McComas the partys nominee II IS
also asserted that five or SIX OF the city mem
bers outside OF the Master eleven Will be gov
erned by the decision Of the caucus.
II McCOmas falls OF election tomorrow. hut
should on the first ballot after the caucus secure
the votes Of all the members in the city counties
outside Of the eleven original Shaw men. ne
would have j6 votes and still need two more
20 elect These two would have T. come from
the eleven For this reason. in spite OF al the
claims of the McComas men and the tremendous
influence at work in his favor. the eleven still
hold the key to the deadlock and tonight many
Of the politicians predict that both McComas
and Shaw will have TO give way To a comDro-
mise candidate.
The eleven members Of the city delegation
who are eunporting Majlr Shaw stated posi-
that Judge McComas Will not he elected by any
Of their votes This controverts Tho statements
e the McConas MANAGERS. rs they must have
two or three ~ Mayor Masters so-called faith
ful eleven t. elect the Judge. If the Democrats
continue 70 vote as a unit for German
Late tonight the managers FOR Major Shaw
and several = tho Democratic leaders stated
that the Democratic members II the Legislature
would tomorrow or on Tuesday change their
votes from Senator German 10 the Baltimore
City Republican candidate II all the forty
he \ VINO
have been voting for German will enter the
combine with the eleven city Republicans they
will have the ffty-eight votes required 70 elect
One Washington County Democratic member
has declared that he would nor vote FOR ke-
publican should he and two or three other
Democratic members refuse 70 follow the party
leaders the shaw Republicans would have 70
hold enough Of the Eastern Shore votes or win
over 70 the combine the present supporters or
Corarol chryock and Mr. Findlay the other
CITY candidates who on the last ballot had two
votes each This is the combination that the
NcCor7as men have been fearing all along. but
thev saw tonight that the Democrats cannot