Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-26
Germans Chances for Nomi-
nation Speculative.
FIGURES IN CAMPAIGN
McCOMAS AND RAYNER QUAINT
TIES TO BE CONSIDERED.
Retirement Of Goldsborough and APP
pointment of Hanna--Democratic
influence Will Go to Gov Smith.

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
BALTIMORE, Md. September 26.-The
political campaign for control of the state
was formally opened during the week and
the Indications are that it will be one Of the
most memorable in its history.
The fight opens with Maryland as a close
state. 1t is becoming more debatable ground
each year. If the state is captured by the
republicans ii will play a more prominent
part in the next national convention than 1t
has played in similar gatherings in recent
years. 1t may indeed, become important In
the electoral college in deciding the election
of the nominees of the two parties and If
the state should go republican this year and
next 1t can be reasonably transferred from
the southern to the northern group.
A democratic victory would mean that
Maryland is to take her position with the
southern group and enact laws looking to
the Acknowledgement of the illiterate vote.
In this campaign the central figures are
Senator McComas and Senator German. To
both the result will mean much.
Outlook for German.
The success Of the republicans at the polls
would foreshadow the return Of Mr.. Nc
Comas to the United States Senate. His
| leadership of the party in this state will be
more firmly established. and he will be In
position to have absolute sway over the
state delegation next year to the republican
national convention. Victory, too, would
greatly increase and widen his influence at
Washington and throughout the country,
and would cause him to loom up prominent
ly as vice presidential possibility, If he
desires such an honor. which is not proba-
BILE.
If. on the other hand, the democrats
should carry the state. the prospect of Sen
ator Germans nomination for the presi-
ened. Already prominent democrats, not
only In the south, but in other sections or
the country. are delaying their preferences
for the Maryland leader as their standard
bearer in 1904 and If to this considerable
influence already developed for him, he
should add the prestige of Endorsement
Of his own state through a victory of his
party here, his stock would rise consider
ably above par. If he should decide not to
enter the arena as a candidate for the
presidency, his influence in the nominating
convention, as we'll as in the country at
large, would be augmented by success at
home.
| AS central figures in the campaign the
contest between the two senators for SUI
premacy and for the influence In national
affairs to follow will attract attention all
over the country. 1t will bring to each lib
eral campaign contributions from those in
terested in the outcome, while men promi-
nent in both parties as leaders and as ora
tors will proffer their aid on the stump. 1t
is not likely, however, that there will be an
importation Of outside help of the oratorical
kind. In recent years custom has grown
up and is observed by both parties in this
state to confine state campaigns to state
issues and to have those issues discussed by
home talent Behind the senators will line
up the most potent factors of the two
parties. Mr. German never was more
strongly fntrenched in his party than he Is
today. and his object, therefore, will be
solely to carry the state.
Republicans Confident.
The situation in the republican camp Is
much brighter than when Mr.. Williams was
nominated for governor a fortnight ago.
The work of reuniting the party. which was
rent with factional fights has been going on
under the personal direction of Mr.. Will
Jams. His first move. and one that did more
to close the breach than any other action.
was his inSiStence upon the retirement of
Mr.. P. L. Goldsborough as chairman of the
state committee and the placing of Mr.. John
B. Hanna at the head of the organization.
Rayner's Candidacy.
The event of the week in democratic
circles was the announcement by Attorney
General Isidor Rayner of his candidacy for
the United States Senate. At first blush 1t
was thought this move would disconcert
the leaders. But not SO. They argue that
Rayner. always popular with the Baltimore
masses. will bring added strength to the
ticket in the city. 1t is conceded that Mr.
Rayner will carry the city and have solid
delegation behind his candidacy, but the
other candidates all relying on the
counties. which, it is expected will return
a great enough democratic majority to the
legislature to elect a senator without the
votes of the Baltimore representa- tives.
1t Is generally understood that the in
fuence Of Senator German and the leaders
will be thrown to Gov. Smith for the sena-
torshfp In the event of democratic success
At any rate, the candidacy of Mr. Rayner
has not caused the leaders an Unpleasant
quarter of an hour"