The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1903-01-24

On the Democratic side. the present
Mayor. Thomas Gordon Hayes. has al
ready announced his caudidacy. selected
his Chiefs of Ward Stutls. and with his
characteristic StrrnuoSity has taken the
| field in person. Low taxes and munich
pal economy are his watchwords. but it
remains to be seen what following he
will finally command. against the rrgu-
lar organization of his party which is
| opposed to him.
On the Republican side. the only uc-
knowlcdgcd candidate. is Congressman
Frank c. Wachtcr. Prior to the Con-
grcsSional Election last November, his
candidacy for the Mayoralty nomination
was encouraged by the City Republican
Leaders generally. Everything tattcr-
| ing that an enthusiastic constituency
could say. was poured into his ear, and
the local organization regarded his can
didacy fuvorahy.
| This endorsement however seems to
have been based upon an expected ma
jorty over his Democratic Congressional
opponent. which MI Wachtcr did not
receive. He was elected, but by IL plur-
ality much below that anticipated by the
local Managers, and they seem disposed
to treat his nomination rather as con-
| tingcncy than Il certainty
The question of the Mayoralty candid
acy on either side being an open one. in
which til" plans and designs of the local
leaders have not yet taken shape. the
political conditions in that city. become
of greater present interest. irrespective
of the standard bearers who may be
ultimately chosen.
| The Baltimore "Sun" whose stirring
appeals 10 its party followers, have re-
Gently attracted wide attention. seems to
think the advantages OF the situation are
with the Republicans. This is import
| ant testimony from the opposition On
| the face it says, at present it must be
| conceded that the Republicans have the
better organization. There are rivalries
and differences among Republican lead
| crS but they do not seem to threaten
harmonious action or the Community
of interests 50 essential to political sue
| cess. Like other people. they have their
little hatchcts, but during political cam
paigns and at elections they generally
use them not on each other. but on the
Democrats. On the other hand, the
i'll this city ut least, has been split up
into warning camps, each after the scalp
of some rival chicftain There is the
Hayes tribe of red men. led by the fierce
and rcdoubtablc warrior whose strong
hold is located in the white wigwam of
the City Hall; the formidable Rasin
tribe, which is found in all quarters of
the city and which is celebrated for
knowing how to gather in the political
grapes, whether fresh or dried: the Ma
hon tribe, which is famous for its az
grcssivencss and which will permit no.
body to tread with impunty on the tail
Of its coat; the Morrison tribe. which is
strong in strategy and in the conScicn-
tiousness with which it pays off old
scores: and several lesser bands which
have sharp knives and keen appctitcs for
revenge. In addition to this diSadvaut-
age. there seems little reason to doubt
that at least - per cent. of the indcrcnd-
rnt voters in this city are of Democratic
origin and descent. They are still Dem
ocraiic in SympathicS and lcanngS. hut
many of them are beginning to prize
their independence alloy" their Demo.
cracE and are consequently Il difficult
set To manage. Like glass. they mus,
he handled with car" if they are to lie
landed successfully in the ballot box Of
any particular party. They are proud of
their political attitude and "touchy'
(which is the opposite 81 easy 'tu
touch'' in the extreme.
The situation which coufrontS the
Democrats is undoubtedly serious. hut
its difficulties IAN be overcome If the
party leaders will meet them in tn"
right spirit, with Il desire for party sue
cess rather than for personal aggrandizu-
ment. AS IL matter of fact. it may be
said without fear of successful contra
diction that the real difficulties of the
situation lie not in the party but with
the managers or miSmanagcrs whose
genius for putting it in hole surpassc>
almost anything known to modern poll
tics. If the result did not represent 50
great political tragedy. the methods
which these gentlemen have adopted of
showing the party how not to do it. how
to he beaten when it ought to win. how
to lose the game when il holds the best
trumps. how to snatch defeat from the
outStrctched hands of victory. would be
in tn" highest degree ludicrouS. Their
mode OF retrieving disaster and recover
ing the State strongly suggests the plan
of campaign adopted by the blind man
of Mother Goose celebrity, who, aftc: