Evening star., 1898-12-22
The Proposition Stirs Up the Politi-
clans in Maryland.
REGARDED AS A BAD MOVE
Mayor Master an Avowed Candi-
date for Reelection.
HAS STRONG OPPOSITION
special Correspondence Of The Evening s,,r.


BALTIMORE. December ii 1N:,S
The offer of the state administrator, ra
soll the Chesapeake and Ohio canal has
been the occasion OF more discussion iu
Maryland political and business ,fr,l.s
! than any incident of receut occurrence.
and general interest in the subject remains
At the SAM tension.
lntimations are not lacking that th, holrl
oi public works is reconsidcriuE tn. pr,,n1-
sition to knock the property down To- th,
highest bidder becaus" uf Tho ,I,,t ills dis
position might Eav, upon the political sff-
uation next year. The part tn, canal has
played in politics in the pas: is yr course,
proverhial and the vital interest taken in
its existence by the residents uI th, w.~t-
arn Maryland counties is also well known.
They are almost unanimously opposed 10
allowing it To get out al the states hands.
Ihey fear a transfer might mean it's nblIt-
Grafton as a waterway and the .,sstnle
substitution Of railroad, aud The "gaiuil-
istrauon' leaders have received many
warnings against going further in The mat
ter.
In fact, in spite of the normally >arr L.
publican complexion of Allcgauy Fred
crick and Washington counties tE. party
managers in that section believe that the
sale oi the canal would mean inquest .uf.,d
democratic supremacy next fal, and. in
deed. some of them fear that tha more aei-
taIiou of the question may suow Ju ,,II
result IN the next vote Tor governor IA
that part of the state
The anxiety OF Governor LoWud,S to slrs-
ceed himself is, OF course. no secret. While
he is not an avowcd candidate for r,uum-
| ination. work is already going on in quiet
way toward the end OF capturing Int U'At
republican convention Tor the executive.
lie and his friends realize that IN Ni"W pf
the factional breach in the party rousidpra-
ble difficulty, even under the haptd,st -si-
cumStanccS, must bc Overcome to accom-
plish this end, aud accordingly they do ttnt
propose to allow anything to occur which
may render the "cNpedicncy' of his re-
nomination questionable
Mayor MaI~ter'~ Return.
The return Of Mayor Malster ;o the ely
hall after Il sojourn in Florida aud tle
simultaneous announcement of his uauI!-
dacy foT next springs republican mayoral-
iy contest have set the local political pot
hummins briskly in a way that insurrs
plenty OF excitement for the faithful. of
course. nobody looked for Mr.. Masters
voluntary retirement at thr end of his pres
ent term, but his hurried return TO Balti-
more and the Veritable parade that his
| trinedS have made OF their loyalty to him.
as well a. his own admissions, are siguI,i-
cant of what the faction he heads pro-
poses TO do. The city administration VIII
be upon its best behavior from now ON. with
Il NltM OF tSidgtl-llllG rs flfNl hffIfl
possible on the independent voter is arm
will be to oVerShadOw the too ''pr.'ctic.,l-'
SIDE of its carly career and TO make amends
for some of its criticised appointments. The
enforced resignation Of City cumWi~Sipuer
Lewis is an instance of the disposition lu
suuarc itself before the public.
The MalstcT men are determined that the
mayor shall he the nominee. They control
| the organization in the city and viii brook
no opposition from the "Lowndes-N-i.ip=-
ton faction. They point out the fact ,GJt
their champions personal popularity Is
ETcater among the rank and Blr rt the
party lhan that Of any other prominent
clty leader. He is especially strong among
the co!nred voters, and, Of course. his ruu-
troll of the patronage of the city hall gives
him powerful hold upon the floating vote.
To be in with the new charter in force
appeals II them with Irresistible charm. ami
the Malsterites, while they mag hr cau-
tiouS as to the style of their campaign,
| have no intention OF Withdrawing.
The Administration wing
That the administration wing Of the party
regrets the inteltion Of Mr.. Malst,r to cap
ture the denomination Of course goes with
out saying. Its members had no real hope II
his retirement, but they scarce.y expected a
flat-footed announcement of his candidacy
at this time, and il is especially uupalatab!c
coming 50 hard upon the party setback IN
the city at the recent election.
on the democratic siGe general hnus'-
cleaning and reorganization process is un-
Ger way. New ward executives hay, hr.n
chosen in all the wards and Delegates have
been selected to the city convention, which
Chairman NandeVcr of the state central
committee Is TO cali Tor the 1prp"S" pt
choosing a new city committee. Ia the
main the men elected have proved salts
factory to those having the best interests
of the party at heart There has been
a reasonable infusion cf new blood" and
Mr.. Rasin and his confrereS of the Old
ring have been very much in the back
ground. But that Senator German and
his hackers will have large majority in
the new democratic organization is as
sured when the names of the delegates are
examined with care, and that Mr.. Cor
mans grip on the democratic machin. in
Baltimore has not been relaxed in the least
degree is also certainty.