The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1903-11-14

titled to any serious support from the party as
a whole, is not considered for moment by
politicians interested in this senatorial fight.
Mr.. Rayner, when he has rot openly fought
the Democratic ticket has held office; and
many Of those who favored him for Congress.
man and Attorney General are now Of the
opinion that he has had enough. and are not
disposed to advance his interests. Especially
is this feeling intense at this time. because it
has at last become patent to even his friends
that Mr.. Rayner takes interest in the Demo
cratic party and its fights in this State, only
when he is personally at stake as Il candidate
for some office.
Governor Smith and Governor Jackson, on
the other hand have for years been the heav
lest campaign contributors in the Democratic
party, and the friendly fight for the honor will
be between these two alone.
There is no intention whatever of dealing
in bad faith with Mr.. Rayner however, and
the delegates from Baltimore who pledged
themselves 10 him, WILL beyond the shadow
of a doubt, vote for him. Mr.. Rasin, how
ever, is believed to favor Governor jackson,
who has been his friend in need for years.
and it is no secret that Mr.. Rayner counts no
pledge from the city leaders among the mum
Der which he extracted from the city delegates
as the price of his not fighting them, which is
ABOUT all tnat HIS poSltlon three WEEKS ago
amounted to.
Mr.. Rayner's lead of twenty votes will there
fore be easily offset by both of the other can
ddates, and not even Mr.. Rayner expects to
hold this lead after the first ballot has shown
that his strength is less than that of his rivals.
While in many ways Mr.. Rayner would
make very attractive Senator, specially be-
cause of his gift of oratory, this has never
been of the slightest services to the State of
Maryland, however much it may have re-
bounded to Mr.. Rayner's personal glory. As
a Congressman, it is sad fact, that for all
his entire lengthy service Baltimore has never
pro6ted by it in the slightest manner. In
fact, Congressman who followed him and
who makes no claim to oratory. accomplished
far more for the State in one term than Mr..
Rayner ever did,
1t is not believed therefore, that the Attor,
ney General will gather much strength from
the counties to the detriment of either Of the
two Governors, both of whom have done more
for the Democratic party in any campaign
since they first went into politics, whether
they were at issue or not, than Rayner has
ever done.
Beyond all doubt, however, Mr.. Rayner's
claims will be urged by the Baltimore News,
which will hardly advance his chances, in
view of its attitude since Mr.. Rayner's en-
dorsement by the city delegation, and espe-
cially in view of the fact, that Mr. Rayner, it
is alleged, represented to the city delegates,
as an nducement to them to endorse him,
that both the Sun and the News would active
ly support them and the ticket if they came
out in his behalf. A promise needless to say,
not borne out by subsequent events.
GENERAL yANDIvER.
To return to General Vandiver, however,
al 60 or from, alnpa in nIapipO the
credit for the sweeping victory, more on Muir
ray Vandivers shoulders than on anyone else.
The city politicians remember that last New
Years day, "Old Murray" (he may not dis
courteousiy be called old-an old Democratic
wheel horse) was found at headquarters
everything wide open and was even then lay
ing the plans, the last of which worked out
perfectly, so far as the election was concern
ed, Wednesday afternoon.
During the years that the Democratic party
was in distress Murray Vandiver, with Gov
ernor Smith, Governor Jackson and few
others, failed to lose hope and to give up try
ing, and during all the years that, the city
HEADQUARTERS were closed, State headquarters,
with sold Murray" in charge, were open.
And there, all were welcome.
Truly the Democratic party owes deep
debt of gratitude to the General. He has
done his work faithfully and well and even
those who do not like him, and unfortunately
there are few such, cannot be so unfair as
to deny him the glory which is now his due,
or shirk their part in paying the debt of graf
itude, which every Democrat of this State,
with his party's interest at heart, owes to him.
MARYLAND.