Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-09
MARYLAND POLITICS
MUCH ACTIVITY BENEATH AP-
PARENTLY CALM SEA.

Spetidl Correspondence OF Inc star.
BALTIMORE, Md. July 8. 1905
While the waves on the political sea OF
Maryland have rippled smoothly on the
surface during the week, there has been
much activity beneath that seeming placid
ity. The democratic organization leaders
have been making a still hunt In their
spective counties, endeavoring to get an
accurate line on the disaffection over the
Poe amendment. From a reliable source it
was ascertatned that should the reports of
the leaders show that the amendment is
in any danger of defeat, then the organ
ization will quietly drop the fight to carry
the measure through and devote all en-
ergies toward retaining control of the next
state senate.
And the organization will further en-
.deavor to nominate and elect to the as
sembly such men as may be relied upon
to antagonize Gov. Warfield in any move
ment for good legislation. Political wise
acres, men who have followed the game of
politics in the democratic party, say that
the present is contest between Gov War
field and Senator German for supremacy
throughout the state. The assertion is
made and not denied by the governors
friends, that Mr.. Warfield is anxious to go
to the United States Senate. The gov
ernor, they state, has become very fond of
state government, and now yearns to be-
come a figure In national politics.
To Block Warfeld.
1t IS for this reason that the organization
leaders will put up a most determined
fight to elect to the legislature only such
candidates as can be depended to get into
line when the party whip is cracked. The
leaders have contemplated a legislative
warfare against the government ever since
the adjournment of the last assembly.
The first move In this direction came last
fall when State Senator John Gill; openly
known the governor 8 personal represent
tative in the upper house. was given the
nomination for Congress- and later elected,
succeeding Maj. Denny, democrat, who
had made an enviabe record in the House
of Representatives in behalf of deeper
harbor for Baltimore. In eecting Gen.
Gill to Congress the organization thereby
removed from the state senate Gov. War
fields closest friend in that body, and a
man in whom the governor could place the
utmost reliance.
The second indication of warfare de-
veloped when two candidates appeared in
the field for Senator GilPs seat. One was
Isaac Lobe StrauS, who kicked over the
organization traces In 1902 when a mem
Der of the lower house, and who had bit
terly assailed Senator German and other
leaders in primary fights. The other as
pirant was Mr.. ]. Charles Linthicum,
member of the last house of delegates and
known as an organization man.
1t was naturally supposed that as be-
tween the two aspirantS Mr.. Linthicum
would have the backing of the organiZa-
ton. But not so. The machine leaders
learned that Mr.. Linthicum was a close
personal friend of Gov Warfeld, and word
was sent down the line that the faithful
must support Mr. Straus in the primaries.
For New Men.
Then came the announcement that the
organization had decided upon a new set
of candidates in a majority of the counties,
and that the old Legislators must step aside.
This attitude on the part of the leaders
was most perplexlng In explaining the
causes leading up to this decision, a we'll
known party leader stated that the leaders
now fully recognize the weakness of their
cause this year by the unpopularity of the
Poe amendment 1T IS because of the
weakness engendered by the amendment,
he continued, that the leaders are anxious
to bolster up their cause by bringing to
the front an entire new set of men for can
didates Another reason for this step Is
that the managers fear that If the mem
bers of the legislature who passed the
cept Gov. Warflelds franchise plan, are
renominated they will be defeated by their
own records
That this plan of sdetraclSing old MEM
bers Is being put into effect has already
been demonstrated. In three counties con-
ventions have been held-Talbot, Wicomico
and Cecl-and at each convention not one
of the members of the old legislature re-
ceived a nomination. j. NJ. d.