Evening star., 1899-04-01
BIG FIGHT NOW ON
Mayoralty Contest in Baltimore Pre-
sents Some Original Features.
INFLUENCE ON STATE POLITICS
Nominees Are the Undoubted Fa-
vorites of Their Parties.
NJ A L S T E r A n D II A Y E S
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

BALTIMORE. March 80, 1899.
The spring campaign is now on in earn
est and the two political parties of Balti-
more are engaged for the first time in the
history of the city in a red-hot contest
early in the spring instead of late in the
summer and fall, as has been the custom
in former years.
Both parties have made their nomina-
tfons, and, while this fact has intensified
the fight which has been going on for sew
erai weeks, it has scarcely changed its
character, for the probable candidates had
been known for several weeks. The nomi-
nations of Mr.. Malster as the republican
candidate and Mr.. Hayes as his democrat
ic opponent surprised no one at all famii-
lar with the situation. Both nominations
had been a foregone conclusion for nearly
a month. 1t is true primary contests took
place over the nominations, but weak
ard farcical was the opposition in their
respective parties to Messrs. Hayes and
Malster that any one with the slightest
knowledge of the situation could make
mistake to the outcome.
Muister Popular Favorite.
Mayor Masters denomination by a vote
nearly six times as large as that received
by his opponent, ex-Mayor Hooper, was a
clear and distinct notice to the state lead
ers who were at the head of the movement
against him that he is still the popular
favorite in Baltimore, and that any polit-
ical deal which does not take him into ac-
count is useless. The large vote polled
must also be taken into consideration as
evidence that his own party still believes in
him and indorses his administration, no
matter what may be said against him by
his foes both within and without the re-
publican party. There is doubt that
those republicans who opposed his renomi-
nation made a great mistake, from a party
standpoint, when they undertook to COM
pass his defeat by yituperation and abuse.
The material on which the democrats are
largely relying in the campaign is made up
of statements against Mr.. Malster and his
administration which We're put forth by
members of his own party in the heat of
the primary contest, which has just closed.
Those who are most familiar with the
state of affairs in the city hall know that
these accusations are mainly false and alb
surd, and were only made for factionai
purposes. No one has ever dared accuse
the mayor of personal Wrongdoing or in
efficiency but all sorts of vague, general
hints about dreadful state of corruption
have been thrown broadcast, none of which
have turned out to be more than
mere rumors, based upon statements of
disappointed officeseekers persons dis
charged from the municipal employment
because they had been too long there for
their own the public good. With all
the racket and mud-slinging of the past
three months, not one serious or important
charge has been brought against the mayor
and his administration.
Reaction Came as Result.
When this was found out, as it was be-
fore the primaries were held, the reaction
was decidedly favorable to Mr.. Master
His opponent, Mr.. Hooper, obtained in
round numbers about 1000 votes while the
mayor received over 25.00o, and about 1000
were cast for an unpedged ticket which
W MOI a
Mr.. Hayes nomination by the democrats
was the outcome OF an entirely dlHefent
situation. The vote at the primaries was
phenomenalIy large, but that was brought
about by the spirited contests in nearly
all the wards for nominations for seats in
the city council, and had very little to do
with the candidate for the head of the
ticket, who was backed by all elements
of the party, Notwithstanding the candida
cy of eX-Mayor Ferdinand c. Latrobe
whose desire for the honor was never taken
seriously by any one. On the contrary Mr..
Hayes had at his back all the old leaders
OF the party, from Mr.. Rasin down to the
huurblest ward boss. The old machine was
resuscitated and put into thorough repair
for use, and no one else but Mr.. Hayes
would have had the slightest chance of sue
cess after that was done. Ex-Governor
Browns financial organization furnished
the necessary grease" and the old crowd
did the rest Nothing ever worked more
beautifully, and 1t quite reminded one of old
times in Baltimore to see Mr. Rasin's
boys at work once more in their old
haunts, and at their old trade 1t is true
many of them looked thin and seedy, owing
to their enforced absence from the feed
at the public crib where they fatened so
long. but they displayed all their energy,
buoyed up by the hope that should Mr..
Hayes go into the city hall as charter may
or, they will surely all go there with him.
Significance to Republican,.
Republicans in the state and county gen.
orally may well realize that their party
supremacy in Maryland to large extent,
depends on the result of this election
Should the democrats win, no one who is