Evening star., 1898-10-24
LETHARGY AMONG VOTERS
Candidates Unable to Arouse Enthusiasm in
Maryland Campaign.
First District Conceded to Democrat ~
and Sixth to Republieans-Others
Are Doubtful.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star


BALTIMORE, October %, 1898.
The tamest political campaign that has
been fought in Maryland in many Il year is
rapidly approaching its conclusion, and an
even dozen congressional aspirants- ARE
moving up and down the state trying to
infuse some interest and energy among
the voting masses, who, apparently, are
strangely and persstenty Indifferent to the
prospects in the six congressional districts.
The fact that it is an "off year. of Itself
would scarcely be sufficient to account for
the widespread lethargy, but the secret of
the popular lack Of interest lies in the fact
that the two campaigns of next year-the
election of the first mayor of Baltimore
who will hold office under the new charter
and of the governor and general assem-
bly,, completely dwarf and overshadow the
present fight, and with the exception of
those personally interested in the outcome,
attention to affairs political is rather de-
voted to speculation as to the gubernatorial
and mayoralty candidates of 1899.
Latterly new element has been intro
duced in the fight in the effort on the part
OF the more extreme opponents of the old
Gorman-Raisin ring to arraign the gold
democratic vote solidly against the six
democratic candidates on the ground that
every additional member of that party in
the House at Washington renders the pros
pect Of currency agitation more probable.
successful, the strong gold sentiments eX
pressed by Candidates Richard b. Tippett
of the second district and james w. Denny
of the fourth will keep many gold men
who have also been radical anti-Gorman-
ties in line ard the attacks on the War
Department, which constitute the most
persiste MT and effective weapon the demo-
Gratis possess, are likely to more than make
up for any sound money disaffection
Outcome is Doubtful.
The very fact that little general interest
is felt in the election renders the outcome
doubtful, and conservative judges hesitate
to predict what the result will be.
1t is generally conceded, however, that
Colonel John Walter Smith, the democratic
nominee in the first district, will be elected
by substantial majority.
The situation in the second district, where
Congressman William B. Baker, repubi
can, hopes to be again elected to succeed
fimself, and where Mr.. Richard B. Tip
petit. democrat, hopes he will not is doubt
full, with the chances rather favoring the
republican. The district Is close always,
with nominally small democratic major
ity, and this year the indications are that
there will be light vote.
over in East Baltimore, the third district,
a spirited fight is on between DR.. John b.
Schwatka, the democratic nominee. and
Mr. Frank c. Wachter, republican. Here,
again, the situation is doubtful. Mr.. Wach-
tel mas lHe organization ana Will receive
Whatever benefit the fact that his party Is
in can confer upon candidate, and
moreover, he Is making hustling personal
campaign Dr.. schwatka's friends. how
ever, are genuinely sanguine of his cleo
tfon, and his adversaries concede that he
Will roll up big vote. He Is known to
nearly every resident in the district and
ms long service as an East Baltimore ply
siclan and official at the Baltimore Univer-
sity Hospital has stamped his personality
upon the poorer voters in way that is
likely to rebound very much to his benefit
on election day.
Representative McIntire's chances of cleo
ton In the fourth district are considered
rather better than those of Maj. James W.
Denny, his democratic opponent. He has
a large personal following among the dem
ocrats. some of whom will vote for him.
Major Denny will, without doubt, swing
many independent democrats back in line,
and his declarations for gold will keep 9TH
ers, who cut Bryan two years ago, behind
him.
In the Fifth and Sixth.
The democrats of the fifth district are
very much encouraged at the outlook and
believe that their candidate. Mr.. John 8.
Cummings. has a very fair chance of de-
feating Representative Sydney E. Mudd.
rhe downfall of the latter would be greeted
with considerable composure by the lead
ing republicans in Baltimore.
The sixth district Is so reliably republic
can that there is no reason to doubt the
outcome therein this fall. Both Col. George
A Pearre, republican, and Mr.. Thomas A.
Pofenberger, democrat, are hustling, and
the latter will probably make a better
showing than any democrat has done since
the second election of Representative Nc
kaig; but he Is not likely to repeat that
gentleman'S exploit.
Cheap Publicity.
For fifteen cents you can let every one in
Washington know by a Star want ad. that