Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-08

that the efforts of the old ring element to
deceive them will react, seriously, too, when
the ticket Is nominated. should the German
plans be carried out by the state conven-
ton.
what Rayner's Selection Would Mean
Ex-Representative Rayner has many sup
porters throughout the city and state, but,
UP to the present time, they have been I'M
able to persuade him to make an active can
vass for the nomination, although it is well
understood that he would like the honor.
The objections urged against Judge Fisher
by the Old Bourbon element of the party,
because he has not always been regular,
do not apply to Mr.. Rayner, whose nominal
ton would be acceptable to the regulars
and independents alike, and a large num-
her Of the best people in the party say that
his nomination would 60 more to harmonic
the conflicting factions than anything else.
But the German contingent of the party is
believed to be as hostile to Mr.. Rayner
now, as it was in 1898, when his withdrawal
from the contest before the convention re-
suited in bringing about the complications
which eventually led to the nomination of
Mr.. John E. Hurst, and the subsequent de-
feat OF the whole ticket Not few people
do not hesitate to predict that the same ele-
ments Will control the democratic conven-
ton this year that controlled it in 1895, and
that, failing TO profit by the lessons of that
time, they will engulf the party in defeat
again, Notwithstanding the fact that the
can ranks, and the victory in the recent city
election. have filled them with hope of
return to power in the state this year.
Dissensions Are Likely.
But the indications are not wanting that
democratic dissensions are likely to break
out which will more than Offset the fac
tional quarrels among the republicans. The
peculiar conditions which united the demo-
Gratis in the city campaign prior TO the May
election may not exist after the state con-
vention in August, and should such be the
case the victory of that party in the mu
nicipal fight is not likely to prove har-
binger of triumph in the state in November
next. The republicans in this state have a
fashion of quarTeling among themselves
like cats and dogs, and thus encouraging
their opponents, but often, to the great
chagrin of their enemies, who expected
them to continue their quarrelS until after
the election, they get together after the
primaries, harmonic or overlook their diff
ferenceS and present united front at the
polls. AS Mr.. Rasin, the old-tme demo-
cratic leader, says, 1t will not be safe for his
party Ito base Their hopes of success on
apparent divisions in the ranks of the re-
publicans. They have a most uncomfort-
able way of making up before they vote
denomination of Gov. LOwndes.
The condition of the republican party at
the present time is not at all as serious as
some of the republicans would like to make
people imagine it to be. 1t is true, there is
some opposition among the Master leaders
in the city to the denomination of Gov.
Lowndes. but the weakness of that opposi-
ton is made manifest from day to day by
the fact that no one can be induced to enter
the field for the nomination against the
governor who will probably be named by
his party at the state convention by d
unanimous vote
The governor has enemies, it is true. who
n q
the contest, but his strength is so great
that all the hostility to him has failed up to
the present time to have any effect. He is
the one man in his party who will be reas-
onably sure to have the support OF the
larger part of the Independents and the in
dependent press against any democrat that
may be nominated except perhaps Judge
Fisher or Mr.. Rayner.
Former Hostiles Now Friendly.
There Is not as much opposition to him
in his own party now as there was in 1913,
and many of the leaders who were hostile
to him then favor him now. He has COM
mended his administration to the people
of the state in almost every particular. He
has made some mistakes, but they have
mostly been in the way of appointments
to office. and he has quickly rectified them
by changes before any great amount of
harm could be done. He has been highly
commended by the independent newspapers
for his course in many particulars, and the
very matters which have made him the
few enemies he has in his own party lave
added greatly to his strength as a vote
getter among those elements of the people
whose election election day does more
to settle the contest than all other things
combined.
Approval of His Administration.
He was strong in 1898. and after nearly
four years in office he has back of him the
same people and the same active forces for
good government that he had at that time,
and it is surprisingly true close exam
nation of his official career at Annapolis
discloses very few mistakes of any sort.
His administration has pleased and graft
fed his friends and the friends of good
government beyond measure. and as a con-
sequence has proved the contrary to his
opponents. II the republican party cannot