The Washington times., 1902-03-10
STRANGE DOINGS At
MARYLAND'S CAPITAL
Democratic Leaders Unable
to Control Party Associates.
STRAUS CONTINUES WARFARE
Baltimore City Delegate Carries Out
Threat to Embarrass Bos IS at Every
Turn-Election Law Not Out of DAN
ger.
Special to The Washington Timcs.)

Special to The Washington Times.)
ANNAPOLIS, Md. March 9.-The ses-
sion of the General Assembly of Mary
land for the year 1902 enters upon it's last
quarter this week, and although some
important measures have reached the
stage where it can be said without much
question that they will become laws. as
yet no important matter of either a gen.
eral or political nature has passed both
branches.
The session has been unique in the par
ticular that although both branches
which compose the Legislature have a
Democratic majority, yet the managers OF
that party. usually so able to control
their party associates, have during this
term lost control completely. and are to-
day utterly unable to redeem the impor-
tant pledges OF the last campaign, to pass
any measure upon which the success Of
the party depends in the future. or, in
deed. put through any matter Of legisla-
tion whatever, no matter what the ne
cessity may be.
Combine Holds Sway.
A combination of five Democrats, with
the Republicans of the House of Dele
gates, now holds absolutely in its hands
the fate of any matter brought before
that body
The combination was brought about in
this manner: At the beginning of the
session the most prominent candidates
for the speakership of the House were
Mr.. Noble l.. Mitchell, of Hartford, who
was afterward elected, and Mr.. Isaac
City, nephew of Attorney General Isl
dor Rayner. and most brilliant orator
and aggressive fighter.
Straus believes that he was defeated
through the efforts of the State leaders.
and as he already owed them a grudge
for refusing him a Congressional nom.
ination at the last election for that po-
sition, he served them notice that he
would embarrass them all he could.
Favored Wrong Side.
The chance offered itself from an un-
expected quarter. In Anne Arundel Coun-
ty, where Annapolis is located, there Is
generally bitter feeling between two fac
tions of the local Democracy. The MEM
bers of the House of Delegates belong to
the Wells Bannon faction. DR.. Elijah
Williams, the State Senator from Anne
Arundel. heads the other. In making the
executive nominations, Gov. John Walter
Smith gave his ear exclusively to Senator
Williams. and made some appointments
which were particularly obnoxious to the
other side.
This has so excited the four Anne Arun-
del County delegates that they have Joined
Mr. Straus and declare that they will
embarrass the party management to the
end of the session.
There are ffty-one Democrats in the
House of Delegates and forty-four Re-
publicans change of five makes the
figures stand forty-six to forty-nine. A
constitutional majority is forty eight, so
the shift takes the House out of the con-
troll of the Democratic leaders.
Patch Up Election Law.
The safely Democratic Senate has al
ready passed a bill promised during the
campaign which fills up the holes in the
election law passed at the extra session
of 1901, and intended to cut off the un-
intelligent and particularly the negro
vote. This bill will have a fair chance
in the House. as 1t is known that Mr.
Straus favors it. and the Anne Arundel
delegates may be brought to its support.
The Republicans will fight it to the end
number of primary election laws have
been introduced during the session, but
not until last week was a bill introduced
which will have the solid Democratic sup
port in the Senate. Even then the senti-
ment is absolutely against its application
to the counties.
The Senator'S from eighteen of the twen-
ty-three counties have had their con-
stiIuencies exempted. and in this form it
will go to the House of Delegates. 1t was
stated today by a leader very close to
the five boilers in the House that II
Anne Arundel was added to the counties
which are exempt from the provisions of
this law they and Mr. Straus would sup
port the measure. and 1t would become
law, applying practically TO Baltimore
City only.
1t is here that the great demand is made
for legally regulated primaries, and if the
law can be applied there the Democratic
leaders believe the independent element
will APPRECIATE II.