The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1901-05-10
THE BALTIMORE ELECTION.

THE BALTIMORE ELECTION.
At the municipal election held in
Baltimore on Tuesday, the Republi-
cans elected seventeen out of twenty
four members of the first branch of
city council and all four members of
the second branch In the latter the
Democrats still have the president
and four hold-over members, which
will give them majority. The total
vote shows that the Republicans car
ried the entire city by a little
over 1000 majority. The vote
cast was an exceedingly light one,
being about $1,000 out of 121, 900
registered. The Democratic candi-
dates received 32,O21 votes and the
Republicans 1929. Contrasted
with the vote of two years ago the
result is very striking. Then Mr..
Hayes received 81, 661 and Mr.. Mails
ter 40, 92S. This plainly indicates the
apathy shown on both sides. Very
few negroes voted. Of course the
reason for this is problematical.
Whether it was the fear of the new
ballot law or because there were so
few Master men on the ticket is
matter of conjecture.
This election was not in any man.
ner test of the new election law, as
the form of ballot was exceedingly
simple and should not have confused
any one. According to the Republi-
can count there are about 5000
illiterates. Compared with the vote
of two years ago the Republican vote
was about $4,000 short. If all the
illiterates failed to vote it would not
account for this shortage any more
than the absence of 2, $50 white DEM
ocrat illiterates could account for the
shortage of %, 900 in the Democratic
vote compared with 1899.
OF course, after every election vari-
Gus causes are advanced as to the
reason for the result shown by the
returns. In this case, however, it is
very easily traced. A large portion
of the troubles the arrogant attitude
assumed by Mayor Hayes and his
subordinates. The Democrats had
become greatly Disguised and either
stayed away from the polls or voted
the Republican ticket in its entirety.
To show how intense the feeling is
against the Mayor it is only neces-
sary to take his own ward, the
twelfth. The Democratic candidate
was Mr.. w. Starr Gephart. He was
not only obnoxious to His Honor in
the primaries but was publicly criti-
cised by Mr.. Hayes in an interview
after the convention had placed him
in nomination. Yet on Tuesday Mr..
Gebhart was one of the few Demo-
Gratis elected. 1t is freely asserted
that the cause of Mr.. Morrison's de-
feat at the primaries-he was the
present councilman's opponant-was
the milestone thrown around his neck
by the support of Mayor Hayes and
Warden Doyle, who is the personal
representative of the latter in all
small matters.
Another cause of defeat is said to be
the fact that many persons fear that
Rasin is again in control. Whether
this be true or not is small matter
unless the Democrats can get rid of
this public impression. The people
are sick and tired both of him and his
methods. No doubt he was largely
the cause Of the landslide N 1895,
and if the Democratic party wishes to
hold the temporary control that it |
has recently acquired, it will have
to either seek a new leader or else be
prepared to accept the defeat that
now stares it in the face Almost |
any political boss has some little re-
deeming feature, but in the case of
this man, so far as we can know or
tell, he is simply in the saddle because
no one will dare to unhorse him
within party lines.
1t might be said that this is a local
affair that the suburban press has
no right to discussit, but we claim to
have the privilege of expressing an
opinion when the dislike to any one
man is so far reaching as to extend to
matters that affect even national
issues. Hartford, along with other
counties, isextremely anxious to have
a Democratic Legislature at the ses-
sion of 1902, and Baltimore is ex-
pected to furnish her share of the
of this politicalfaith. What
we fear is that if the people are not
to have control of the prim-
aries, the Republicans will again be
successful, thus insuring Congress
men Sydney E. Mudd as the successor
Of Senator Wellington. 1t is mat
ter of State interest that the discard
I'd leader of 1895 should take a good
ongtrip for his health. Wewould sug-