Evening star., 1901-10-28
= T15TssS1 Tsn ii "
Little Interestin gamEpaaiggn Esagn IN Section
Around Annapolis.
2, il. o. Il
GENERALLY REGARDED As OFF YEAR
The Booker Washington Dinner
viii Aid the Democrats.
ALL THE ISSUES PERSONAL
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

-
ANNAPOLIS, Md, October 81, 1901.
Z Were 1t not for occasional visits from
Baltimore politicians and the frequent trips
of some of our own prominent politicians Of
both parties to Baltimore we of Annapolis
would scarcely know that a. campaign is in
progress in this state.f- We have had con-
ventions and have made nominations, and
we know that upon the complexion Of the
legislature depends the politics of the United
States senator to succeed George L. Wei
lington. Still, the people are not enthused.
nor do they seem to care very much which
way the political tide turns. Never before
when senatorship was at stake was there
such sluggishness. In the political stream.
1t Is hard to explain, but the only theory
tenable Is that the people really do not care
who is elected to the legislature, or whether
a republican or democrat shall be elected to
the United States Senate. From time to
time there are rumors of political gather
ings in Baltimore, or conferences in this
or that locality but so far the results of
these meetings have not been reflected
among the people here. OF. stirred any in
terest among them. In fact, from this point
Of view there never was a campaign in
which the people seem almost indifferent to
what shall happen. al
Prospects of Democratic victory.
: What little talk Is heard here and
throughout the surrounding country indi-
Gates a belief that the democrats have the
best prospects The republicans In this part
of the state are not hopeful. They are not
doing anything, and the campaign thus far
has made little or no impression upon them.
In fact, 1T Is an soft year. with the repub-
licans, while it is believed the full demo-
cratic vote will be poled. It Is also true
that the election law will keep great many
Nj frn
efforts that have been made to teach them
the requirements of voters under the new
law. At first there was some resentment
felt against the democratic majority for
passing the law, but now 1t is very doubtful
whether the white men who have hereto
fore voted the democratic ticket care
enough about the diSfranchiSement to re-
buke it by voting against the party. In
fact, there Is general apathy exhibited
everywhere, and leading republicans feel
that this means little for them, as it Is only
in the warmly contested campaigns that
they make a good showing. Several promi-
nent republicans would mot allow their
names to be used in connection with legisia-
tive nominations, which ip itself means that
they have little hope of success.
The Booker Washington, Incident.
The dinner which Booker T. Washington
took with President Roosevelt is having po-
litical effect in this part Of Maryland. The
race prejudice exists here as 1t does in every
other southern and border: state The white
people Of Maryland are displeased and the
hope of securing the votes Of white demo-
Gratis in the place of disfranchised negroes
has gone glimnnering since the, famous din
ner was served. 1t has ensdiscussed more
than any other subject and with great
deal Of regret among white Eepubicans. AS
for the negro politicians, they did not,thave
much use for Washington before, and this
dinner has not raised shim in their estitna-
ton nor helped them. The democrats have
made the best of it, and have asserted that
republicans in Maryland, while getting all
the colored votes they could on election day.
would not dare go to the length which the
President did and dine with a colored man.
Speaking of the colored voter, prominent
republican who occasionally takes part in
politics said II sometimes make speeches
in campaign, but it Is very hard work.
Once carefully prepared speech to an
swer leading democrat who had spoken
here. When 1 entered the hall it was packed
with negroes, class of voters who could
not possibly understand the speech had
prepared. The democrat had an intelligent
audience of white men. could not reach
them because they would not come where
they would have to crowd in with negroes.
l didn't blame them. l realized the hope
lessness of my task and contented myself
with few generalities.'' And this in the
capital Of the state. IL
The Schley Inquiry.
" iAAiC ShC ooOhST L. w dSQlnStOQ lQCtOenL
claims most of the attention, the Schley
court OF inquiry has it's share, and the more
that Is heard of it the better it is for the
democrats. All Maryland is for Schley; all
the papers give Schley cast to headlines,
Introductory dispatches and editorials.
There is constant reiteration about the
governments case against Schley;;' the
government counsel" the, government
failure and the government prosecution"
that the people are thoroughly imbued with
the idea that 1t is a government prosecu-
tlon OF Marylands naval hero. And who
Is this government? Just at present it Is
the republican administration and the peo-
pie of Maryland are blaming the republi-
can party: While intelligent men know
that thls Is no reason why a democratic
legislature should be elected in Maryland, 1
yet there are thousands of voters who do
not belong to this class who are affected by
Just such things as the Schley inquiry So
positive have been the statements of the
Schley papers that any other finding than
that of complete vfndication of the admiral
Will be looked upon as wholly unjust.
No Particular Issues.
There are no issues in the campaign. Sill
yer is the deadest iof all forgotten ques-
ttons. No one talks of tariff. There is a
little said about the trusts. And that is ALL
Personal, and not political, issues are the
features Of Maryland politics this year.
When the Booker Washington dinner, the
Schley inquiry and German are the issues
IN politics 1t may be called an 'soff year
that Is, In the sense that an '.off year.
means year when no issues are up for
discussion and decision. Eherelis some talk
about German, and soma democrats will
not vote for the democratic iIessislative nom-
be the ultimate beneficiary. rBdt there will
not be any such numberatf them as have
voted against German tickats In past years.
nor repudiated Bryanisrp ana, free silver
when supported by the dea5pc Ratio machine.
Ihere are democrats Opposing sfsorman who
surround themselves with, The saelusion that
German can be defeated %tfs democratic
caucus Ghas atter the legts1afurAs Is chosen.
Cor German ma gets the caucus RsmIPation, there
to bolt the nomination and, ,praNent his cleo
ton But at the same ~tiS1es tie shrewdest |
politicians say that a. dsmpcratic victory
means German victory aid the return Of |
German to the United statsss Senate.
---s----->{f,, sfSsAi
breaches RELIGIOUS, LIBERTY.