Evening star., 1903-08-29
Close Fight in Baltimore Re-
publican Primaries.
NO QUARTER IN FIGHT
McCOMAS AND WACHTER CONTEST
HAVING HOT FINISH.
Edwin Warfeld's Successful Campaign
for Democratic Nomination for
Governor Of Maryland.
Special Dispatch tc The Evening Star.

Special Dispatch tc The Evening Star.
BALTIMORE, Md. August 29.-The
closing days Of the republican primary
campaign in Baltimore give every In
| dication that next Thursdays battle at the
| polls will be the hardest ever fought in this
city for control of the city organization.
| The regular organization leaders claim
that the fight is as good as won. and the
anti-organixation or union republicans also
| assert that victory will perch upon their
banners.
| 1t Is freely stated that great sums Of mon
| ey are at the command of the Wachter
forces but this talk has not at all dismay-
ed the McComas leaders. They assert that
| upon their side the campaign has been q
| clean and thorough one. and they are con-
fident Of controlling every one of the four
district conventions as well as the city
convention.
McComas Men Confident.
They say that reports from wards show
| that there is absolutely no decrease in the
| strength with which they entered the fight:
| that. on the conrary. the number of their
followers has been largely augmented by
men who were with Wachter in the mayor
| atty contest last April. but who refuse to
follow him in his effort to secure control
of the party machinery
| Representative Wachter, on the other
| hand. believes absolutely that he can do
| better than he did in the primaries last
| spring, when he beat the organization in
| twenty of the twenty four wards in the city
He and his friends expect to carry three
of the four legislative districts without any
trouble. and they even talk of carrying the
! other district also
| "Union" Republicans Serene.
The union" republicans claim that If
| they carry three districts which the or
| ganization says is not possible, they will
certainly be able, with the help of Repre-
sentadves Mudd and Jackson, to control the
| state convention.
But even If the union republicans do con-
| troll the state convention it is very doubt
| full if they will attempt to defy the senti-
| ment throughout the state in favor of Stew
enson A. Williams of Hartford county.
1t looks now to be almost certain that he
| will be the republican candidate for gov
| ernor.
| Neither Asks Nor Gives Quarter.
| 1--WE are asking no quarter of the regu-
| lar republican organization and If we win
we shall give quarter to that organi-
| zation." said John r. Triebler, jr., president
Of the union republican organizati ton Of
| Maryland.
! I'VE expect to control the city and the
| legislative district conventions" continued
| Mr.. Triebler, land shall nominate tick
cts composed exclusively of our friends. We
have candidates enough of our own to fill
| the tickets and we shall not go elsewhere
| to hunt for them.
| II am confident that the opposing side
| will not nominate any of our friends If
not ask them for any favors. And we shall
| not grant any. = = se-75s s5-775s
| Loyal ON Election Day.
| ch to no
loyal republicans on election day. We shall
expect the other side. if we win in the pri-
| maries, to be loyal. That is certainly
| fair.
| I'VE have not agreed upon any candi-
! dates for city or legislative positions. Great
| pressure has been brought to bear in favor
| of two or three candidates for certain po-
| SitionS, but have given them no en-
| couragement by telling them that they
| would be preferred over other candidates
1T will be a free. open, fair fight on the
| floor of the convention and we want the
| best men to win.
| Democratic Harmony.
| The democrats have practically no con-
| test within their ranks but there is suf-
| ficient life in certain wards to arouse in
| terest, and they are closely watching the
| fight among their opponents, deriving con-
siderable satisfaction. of course, from it's
| bitterness
| Some of the democratic leaders assert
| that it makes no difference which side
| wins, for the republicans will get together
| after the primaries and present a solid
| front while others say the bitter feeling
which has been engendered cannot fail to
result in considerable cutting" with an
| obvious benefit to the democrats.
Warfield's Candidacy.
| In view of the forthcoming nomination of
| Edwin Warfield by the democrats for the
| governorship, the question is often asked #
| his nomination and possible election would
not be setback for the democratic leaders
| in city and state
This question is prompted by the charac-
| teristic campaign which Mr.. Warfield has
| conducted for the nomination.
| He was a candidate four years ago and
| was defeated by Col. John Walter Smith
| for the nomination. and he saw that the
| democratic organization in this city. which
| lined up behind Col. Smith, had brought
| about his discontinue.
| When Mr.. Warf1eld entered the race for
| the nomination this year he had every rea-
| son to expect, judging the future by the
| past that the organization leaders would
| again oppose him. The same causes which
| had existed four years ago for this opposi-
| ton. he believed. still existed, and hence
| his failure to apply for aid in quarter IN
which he supposed 1t would be denied him.
His Plan Of Campaign.
| Once having made UP his mind to enter
| the race, he began systematically to for
| ward his own cause. He did not appeal to
| any organization.
Instead. he appealed to the whole party,
believing that If his candidacy were well re-
| ceived the pressure from the ranks upon
the leaders would bring the latter to his
| support.
| He waged no warfare upon them and
| sought their assistance upon the same un-
| derstanding and upon the same terms OF
| fair play upon which he sought the support
| of the humblest democrat. His expectations
| have been realized.
| The strength which Mr.. Warfeld develop
| ed has been sufficiently powerful to induce
| the leaders to accept his candidacy, and
| when the state convention meets next
| month he will have practically no opposi-
| ton.
! 1t has been because Mr. WarfieId did not
| in the first place apply to the leaders In the
city and state and because they did not at
| once flock to hts standard that the impress
| sion has gained ground that Mr.. Warfields
| nomination will mean setback for the
| leaders.
Leaders Are Willing.
| This impression is erroneous. At no time
has the situation. either in the city or In the
| counties, been beyond the control of the