New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-17
THE MARYLAND CAMPAIGN.

If a spirited preliminary contest within party
lines is the best preparation for death strug-
gle with the enemy, the Republican organiZa-
ton in Maryland ought to enter this years can
vass in the pink of fighting trim. Whatever else
may be said of Republican leadership in that
State, it certainly does not run to dry rot. 1t
does not courtenance lethargy. 1t prefers the
kind of harmony that must be fought for TO the
kind that foirishes in the shadow of apathy
and death 1t holds to a programme of mill
fancy even though some of its love feasts have
to be turned into creditable limitations of the
Donnybrook Fair.
This year more than ever the spirit of mettle
some-not to say turbllent-rivalry seems to he
moving in Maryland politics. A Governor is 10
be elected next fall, and the legislature chosen
will ill the seat which the Hon. Louis Z. Nc
Comas now occupies in the United States Sen
ate On the Republican side Mr. McComas is
q candidate for reelection. But he is being
fought-and bitterly fought-by interests in the
party which have effected a formidable combi-
nation. On the Eastern Shore Representative
William Fl. Jackson is leading the anti-McComas
forces. Throughout Southern Maryland the re-
doubtable Sydney E. A1udd, Representative from
the With District is waging undying warfare on
the senior Senator. In Baltimore City Repre-
sentative Frank c. Wachter. recently defeated
for Mayor of Baltimore by the narrowest of
margins is conducting the opposition campaign,
while in Western Maryland Ex-Governor Lloyd
Lowndes and ex-senator George L. Wellington
have apparently Joined hands with the Jack
son-NIudd-Wachter coalition The fight has
been enlivened by many sensational Incidents
and promises to develop a vast amount of ex-
element and friction. Whichever faction wins
in the State convention and in the legislative
districts the party as whole will have gone
through an experience compared with which
meeting the Democracy next November will
seem like a best-behavior muster for dress
parade.
Tumult and trouble in Maryland Republican
politics are perhaps but the natural legacy of
the too easily bought successes of 1895, 1896
and 1897. The Republican organization bene-
flied in those years by political wlndfalls as un-
expected as they were gratuitous The noml-
nal leader of the organization at that time, the
Hon. George L. Wellington, conceived the gro
tesque notion that he was the Napoleon OF vic
tories won by providential dIspensation. and so
obstinately did he cling TO this idea that exile
to Elba was the only cure for II. But the fric-
tons he helped 10 generate remain and will re-
main stumbling block TO genuine party har-
mony.
1t would be Republican misfortune If Mary
teAAN' ~ANSA NlOSSiHE 10 lAt IAcpublICdD COluIIn
in two Presidential elections and sending two
Republicans to the federal Senate, should be
won back this year TO her Democratic allegiance
We sincerely hope that the energy and determi-
nation now shown by Republican leaders in an
tagonizing one anothers programmes may be
thrown later into the campaign for the legisIat-
ure and the governOrship, and that party vic
tory may be won next fall as timely ane as
helpful rs that of 1895 or 1897.