The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1901-11-22
THOSE CHARGES OF FRAUD.

THOSE CHARGES OF FRAUD.
A prominent Malsterite, in recent
interview, stated that there were
Interior motives and hidden reasons
for the charge of fraud raised by the
Republican leaders since the recent
election and of the contest that they
propose to make. While the Master
people supported the ticket this fa!lin
Baltimore''they were practically elimi-
mated from all management of the
campaign and were entirely ignored
in the selection fthe candidates ofthe
city. 1t is openly charged by them
that the real reason of Senator Nc
Comas' charges of fraud and trickery
is not so much with the idea ofousting
Democratic county officials, to pile
up campaign material, or even to
contest Mr.. Germans seat in the
Senate, as it is to disarm criticism of
himself for losing a fight, which
national leaders of the Republican
party had every reason to expect
would be won. The real kernel in
the nut, the Master people claim is
that Mr.. McComas practically
promised President Roosevelt a Re-
publican Senator from Maryland to
succeed Mr.. Wellington. His failure
to accomplish this performance it is
urged, is calculated to shake the con-
fdence of the administration in his
ability as party leader and may
have its effect on the reappointment
of the Federal office holders in Mary
land. Therefore it is claimed Senator
McComas justifes himself in using
every effort to show fraud, and would
go so far as to bring the matter be-
fore the Senate itself.
Since President Rooseyelt's ascen-
sion to the Presidency, there has been
a feeling of insecurity, mainly on &C
count of their recollection of his de-
nunciation of Republican officials
some years ago, when he visited
4
Baltimore City as Civil Service Com
missioner. The officials that he criti-
cised then are still prominent in Re-
publican circles and some of them
hold Offices. A number of rumors
have been current that there will be
changes when the question ofFederal
appointments come up. 1t is said
that both sub-treasurer James w.
Sloan and Internal Revenue Collector
B. F. Parlett will have to go. The
knowing ones have said that Chair
man Goldsborough can have almost
any position that he desires and that
his preference would be the Naval
office, as the duties of this place are
of a light nature and would not in
terfere with his labors as chairman
of the State Central Committee.
Some Republicans allege that Sen.
ator McComas, in creating this pro-
test of fraud at this time, is attempt
ing to pile up campaign material for
the fight two years hence when his
own successor in the United States
Senate is to be elected. That he is
seeking reelection is absolutely GER
tain, and he may consider that any
data that he may be able to collect
by the proposed investigation would
be useful in making the next local
campaign when the legislature will
be elected, which is to choose his
successor.
Ofcourse two years is some little
time off, but if we may be allowed to
"read the stars" we think that the
future holds forth to the junior Sena-
tor from Maryland the prospect of
an early retirement to private life if
he seeks any office within the gift of
the voters of the State of Maryland.
He clearly demonstrated his own I'M
popularity by injecting his personal
ity into the past campaign. The
Democrats of this county feel under
lasting gratitude to him for the votes
that he made for their ticket. He
will have to select some new CAM
paign issue besides that of the ques-
ton of franchise. His record on the
force bill will never be forgotten and it
will take a rare combination of cir
cumstances to again clothe him with
the toga of United States Senator.