Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-14
At THE WHITE HOUSE
Conference on the Maryland
Political Situation.
THE PRESIDENTS WISH
DESIRES REPUBLICANS TO MAKE
A STIRRING FIGHT.
Is Not Taking Sides in the Senatorial
Contest-Will Stand by Referees
in the South.

ences with Maryland republican leaders to-
| day, and he proposes to see as many Of
| them possible and urge them to put up
the best fight within their power in the
coming election. To Senator McComas the
President talked more than half an hour
this morning, and later in the day Repre-
sentatives Wachter of Baltimore the leader
| in that city of the anti-McComas element,
and William II. Jackson of the first district
were with the President some time. These
callers, the other Marylanders who have
been with him. the President impressed
with the Importance of republican victory
in the state The Presidents only interest
in the fight, despite all reports to the con-
trary, is to awaken the Maryland republic
cans to a feeling that they have excel
lent opportunity of winning. and that they
ought to throw off apathy and get down to
the hottest fight in their lives. The Pres
| ident naturally believes in a contest that is
full of vim, and he takes the view that the
best way to get such a fight is to awaken
| interest Like Senator McComas and the
other republican leaders of the state he
feels that with ginger put into the cam
paign and apathy dropped the republican
chances greatly improved.
The republicans are in splendid shape in
Maryland" said Senator McComas after
| the conference. "In the city of Baltimore
| the situation is improving daily. The Dor
chester county republicans are solid, in
! Prince Georges they are together in How
ard and elsewhere they are getting to-
gether and will be together by election
| time: in the western part of the state there
| was never greater harmony or brighter
| prospects. of republican gains in all direc-
| tions. Altogether, every day shows an i'm
provement in the republican outlook. The
democratic differences much exceed our
own and are more serious.
Neither for Nor Against McComas.
The President gave Senator McComas and
Representatives Wachter and Jackson to
understand that he is neither for nor
against Senator McComas; that he does
not consider the fight one of factions. but
| one in which the republican party through
out the country is greatly interested, and
that he will hold the leaders responsible for
| the outcome. The President is looking par
ticularly to Senator McComas and Repre-
sentative Wachter for success. and he
wants it distinctly understood that in the
personal controversies of the Maryland
campaign he has no part.
When Senator McComas was spoken to
about newspaper stories of his possible re-
tirement from the senatorial fight he said:
LAS the republican state convent on would
have been practically unanimous in recon-
mending my reelection to the Senate if the
matter had been placed before that body
the talk to which you refer is absolute and
unqualified rot. 1t is not likely that any one
would ask me to withdraw when the party
so emphatically indorsed me. and to indi-
cate SO is the ver.est nonsense. Personally
| am more anxious to carry Maryland than
am to be senator again. We are trying to
elect the state and legislative tickets& and
we are growing more hopeful each day that
we will do So
did the President ask you to withdraw.
or anything of that kind?'' was the direct
question asked Senator McComas.
The President has honored me with his
personal friendship for fifteen years." said I
Senator McComas, in answer land even IL
he had been the opposite of my friend he
would not have made any such suggestion
as this He never did ask me to withdraw
he never could have done SO, and, of course I
he Will never do so. If you have noticed
the Maryland returns you will see that
eight out of ten nominees of the republican
party all over the state are friendly to my
reelection. But I want to emphasize this
point: We are going ahead to elect the re-
publican state ticket and the legisla ture
That Is the business in hand and that is
what all republicans ought to get together
to do. We know that We have a fight and
we are too busy in winning to attend to
anything else. l have read a great deal
in the papers about lack of harmony here
and there, but when have gone among the
people have found that the party is un-
usually united. What most fear is apathy.
l observe it in both parties, but if we stir
up the people we will win this fight
The Anti-McComas View.
From Representatives Wachter and jack
son the President obtained the anti-Mc-
Comas view of the situation in the state.
He also obtained a promise that the arti-
McComas element as far these leaders
are concerned, will do all within its power
to insure republican victory On leaving
the White House Messrs. Wachter and
jackson expressed themselves as pleased
with the prospects. They said that the re-
publican tickets stand excellent show
o. winning and that the republicans are
getting together in good shape.
I'VE are fully satisfied with our confer
ence.' said Representative Jackson. THE
;-
He wants a republican victory, and he
cannot be expected to take part in any
differences In party politics. That is all
we ask and expect. We are glad to know
that he has never expressed himself in
favor of this or that man for the Senate.
and that what he wants to see is a repub-
lican governor and republican senator
from the state. That is what we want,
too
Will Stand by Referees.
Nearly a year ago the President adopted
the plan of selecting referees in southern
states in the matter of federal appoint
ments He had been troubled SO much by
the factional and personal differences
among the republican leaders in the south
that he hit upon the plan of selecting ref
erees and referring to them all questions
coming up to filling post offices and
other positions. Almost without question
the President has acted upon the recon-
mendations of these referees. and has not
given any thought to the recommendations
of others unless in exceptional cases.
Recently recommendations have been
coming to the President from independent
sources in the south. and intfmations have
been made that the President was dis
satisfied with those to whom he had look
ed for advice in the matter of appoint
ments. Secretary Loeb today gave out
this statement relative to the intimatioss:
THE President is much gratified over the
results of his efforts through his advisers
clean. competent officers and the best posi-
sfble service in all the departments. tt
is his intention to sustain these advisers
fully In the future. as he has done In tho
past"
The referees are looked upon In most OF
the southern states as the personal repre-
sentatives. OF the President in both APP
pointments and political matters, ard the
fights against them In tho south are often
led by republicans who are In revolt against