The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-01-24
TALK BECOMES SERIOUS.
Democrats Believe Extra Session a
Certainty.
Governor Smith Returns to Baltimore
After Visit to Frederick. Baugh-
man Has Boom.

Mondays Baltimore News.
In Democratic circles the talk of an
extra session of the Legislature has
settled down into strong belief that
Governor Smith will very soon issue
a formal call for the lawmakers to
meet at Annapolis. This conviction
is so strong that many of the camp
followers who are always on the look
out for places are figuring on the pos
sibility of securing a committee clerk
ship or position as doorkeeper or
folder Those who held similar posi-
tiOns last winter are hoping that they
will be retained. and the outs are
trusting that there may be new or
ganizatiOn, with new employees.
Governor Smith had not visited his
local Office today, although he has
reported in town. As the guest of l..
Victor Baughman at Frederick on
Saturday the Governor had an oppor-
tunity to hear the views of a number
of Western Maryland Democrats. A
dispatch from Frederick to The News
today says:
Governor John Walter Smith, who
for the past two days has been the
guest of Gen. l.. Victor Baughmau at
Poplar Terrace, near Frederick, left
late yesterday afternoon for Balti-
more.
During his visit Governor Smith
found the party leaders of this county
absolutely in harmony with any de-
sire that General Baughman may en-
terrain in regard to the calling of an
extra session of the Maryland General
Assembly. The Governor carefully
RETAINED from expressing himself
upon the subject of an extra session,
and while General Baughman has
likewise been reticent upon that mat
ter, it is generally understood that he
is anxious for a change in the present
ballot system.
The fact that the party is entirely
harmonious in this county under the
leadership of General Baughman, to-
gether with the recent visit of Cover
nor Smith, has had the effect of
launching big boom for him as the
next Democratic nominee for Cover
nor. Party leaders do not hesitate to
say that General Baughman will have
the earnest support of Governor
Smith in his fight for the nomination.
Governor Smith will meet the re-
Gently appointed members of his
staff, including General Baughman,
at his local Office tomorrow to make
arrangements for attending the in
auguration of President Mckinley,
and it is thought important develop
ments concerning the extra session of
the Legislature may occur.
Republicans generally are keeping
very quiet on the subject of the extra
session. The position they assume is
that they are not looking for trouble,
but if it comes their way they will be
ready for it. Should the Democrats
decide to put the extra session
through. it is said that Messrs. Colds
borough, McComas, Mudd and Mason
will camp out in Annapolis until the
fight is through, and the best check
erboard fight possible will be put up
by these and the State and city lead
ers they will summon to their assist
ance. The Democrats can count on
getting good run for their money at
any rate, if good parliamentary
knowledge and resourceful tactics
will amount to anything. A promi-
nent Republican, in speaking about
the matter today, said:
Il can hardly believe that Governor
Smith will call an extra session of the
Legislature. From all can learn, he
is the man who has most to lose by
the scheme. Even supposing that
the Massachusetts law or some such
law is passed there is not man in
this state who can fortell the outcome
of the experiment and notwithstand-
ing the many assurances which the
Governor has received that it will
come out all right, am informed that
he is still dubious on the question,
and strictly from party standpoint.
The Democrats can make an awful
mess out of this matter and the Gov
ernor knows 1t as well as any other
man in the State.
Mr.. German might go in and clean
up the Senatorship in the first year,
but just where the party would stand
in 1908 is not as plain. The trouble
with the whole matter is that the
number of illiterates, as returned by
the election supervisors throughout
the State is by no means correct.
Many a man who can sign his name
to receipt will make oath that he
can read and write, when in point of
fact the reading and writing of his
own signature is about the extent of
his education.
White men particularly object to
having it known that they cannot