Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-20
BON TASK
LEADERSHIP OF MARYLAND RE-
PUBLICANS.



politically, was the assuming of the reins
of republican state leader by Secretary OF
| the Navy Bonaparte. 1t was, however. a
position thrust upon him, rather than one
of his own seeking. AS pronounced party
leader said: 1T was impossible for Mr.. b.
| naparte to avoid the task. since his position
in the ca binet and the estimation In which
he is held by President Roosevelt. forced 1t
upon him. The leadership is generally as
ISOLATED with membership in the republican
national committee, but this arrangement
has been due to the fact that Maryland
did not at the time have representative
In the Presidents cabinet"
The local republican leaders express every
satisfaction with the situation and state
that they ready to follow wherever the
Secretary may lead. The first intimat. on
that Mr.. Bonaparte had decided to sink
his personal feelings in the matter and
take up the task came last Wednesday
when he summoned the prominent leaders
throughout the state to meet him at his
law offices on st. Paul street for the pur-
pose of holding a conference.
Those present at the conference were 8.
A. Williams. national committeeman: John
3. Hanna, state chairman: Collector of the
Port VIM. F. Stone, Internal Revenue Col
leCtOr p. l.. GoldSborough Representative
Sydney E. Mudd, Representative Frank
Wachter and former State Senator Lewis
Putzel. The meeting lasted two hours. and
at it's conclusion. the participants declined
to shed any light on what took place. and
all requests for information brought forth
response to See Mr.. Bonaparte."
Acceptable to All.
The position taken by the state and city
leaders. who attended the conference, in
referring all questions to Mr.. Bonaparte,
was interpreted meaning that the emf
nent Marylander had been accepted the
tof nd ha ha
MES of the republican party in the state
would be in his hands. The rank and file.
too, in this city at least seem perfectly
So tisf1ed with Mr.. Bonaparte at the helm
and harmonious work in the state campaign
seems now assured. The attendance OF
Representative Mudd at the conference in
response to the Secretary's summons proved
very gratifying to the leaders. as the opin-
ion prevailed in some quarters that the
southern Maryland leader had the state
leadership bee In his bonnet and was fixing
his fences throughout the state with view
to making a contest for the position.
Just what TRANSFERRED at the conference in
Mr.. Bonapartes Office has been carefully
guarded. From reliable source, however.
The Star correspondent learned today that
ways and means by which to defeat the
Poe amendment was the principal matter
that engaged the attention of the leaders
1t agreed that everything was to be
sacrificed to defeat the amendment, which
IS to be put forth by the republicans the
ambitions are to be set aside and a great
united effort made to defeat the measure
even If every legislative candidate must be
sacrificed to bring about this result.
Republicans Sanguine.
While ready to make any sacrifice to de-
feat the Poe plan. the republican leaders
are sanguine of success this fall and pre-
dict sweeping legislative victory. Some OF
them have even come to the belief that the
amendment will really be an an aid to the
republicans. many democrats will carry
their opposition to the measure to the ex-
tent Of voting the entire republican ticket
While harmony is assured in so far as the
amendment Is concerned there Is consid-
cradle friction among the city republicans.
The trouble seems TO have originated in the
impression that the city organization had
kept too close supervision over the details
of matters political in The different wards
AS Offset to this the state central COM
mittee passed a home rule resolution CIV
ing every ward in Baltimore the privilege
OF electing it's own executive, who is also a
member of the city committee, which shapes
the municipal campaign. AS a result of this
resolution about half Of the ward executives
will be changed this fall and the destinies
of the republican party ward workers will
virtually be in new hands after that time
Every effort Is being made by Collector
Stone and Representative Wachter to
straighten out the situation and bring har-
mony into the rank and file. but with little
success thus far. In this connection IL Is
stated one OF the local leaders had begun
work to form a rival organization, when he
was induced to give his plans up and come
back into the fold.
AS to Democrats.
The presence of the big democratic lead
ers at Saratoga has naturally caused a
slump in party news and gossip here The
antt-amendment democrats however, are
busily engaged IN their campaign work,
and freely predict that If the republicans
work in harmony and vote the same way
the Poe plan will be showed under by a
majority that will remind Senator Gorman n
and his advisers of the landslide of ten
years ago, which retired the sage Of
Laurel from the Senate and drove the
Democrats from power in state and city
The Reform League Is also conducting
vigorous campaign in opposition to the
measure, the work being directed by Sec
rotary Bonaparte. who Is chairman Of the
executive committee Of the league. The
local ward leaders admit that the city will
give a rousins majority against the meas
ure, and for this reason fear that an IN
dorsement of the Poe plan at the state con-
vention next month may endanger the leg
islative ticket In this city. 1t Is regarded
a. significant that the city leaders decline
to discuss the amendment or It's prospects
of success. Asked as to whether the or
ganizaton Will support the amendment,
II
and personally shall follow where the or
ganiZation leads"
Warfeld's Position.
The report that Governor Warfeld will
soon make open declaration Of war on the
amendment will not down. 1t has even
been asserted that he will walt until the
campaign Is nearing Its close when he will
issue ringing denunciation Of the meas
ure and call to all good citizens to vote
against it. The governor has given no ink
ling, personally, of the course he intends to
pursue, but many democrats point to the
fact that his attorney general, Mr.. W. g.
Bryan. has In open letter announced
his opposition to the measure and his fixed
purpose to vote against 1t. They argue that
General Bryan did not take this action
without first consulting the governor, and
that the sentiment expressed by the attor-
ney general met with the approval Of Mr.
Warfeld. Hence. knowing the courageous
caliber of the governor in politics. they ex-
pect to hear from him ere the campaign
closes. ]. NJ. d.
Laurel and Vicinity.
Special Correspondence Of The Star.
LAUREL, Md, August 10, 1905.