Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-06
FOR POE AMENDMENT
DECLARED TO BE
SOLID FOR THE MEASURE.


| CAdtS OL SdlVeTN, f1dTIOTu ana OOFCncSteI
counties during the week in indorsing the
! amendment has filled the organization lead
ers with optimism. and they claim that the
amendment will pass by a good majority.
| The opponents of the measure on the
other hand. are equally sanguine that the
German machine will meet a Waterloo at
| the polls insofar as their pet scheme is con-
| cerned. These anti-amendment democrats
| who have always been aligned against the
| regular organization have signified their in
tention OF contributing large sum Of mon
| ey to be used to defeat the Poe plan And
| not only will they contribute to the "sinews
OF war; but they have already formula
| BILE organization engaged in campaign work
| looking to the defeat Of the measure In
| addition to this Anti-Poe Amendment
| League the Crescent Club. one of the most
| more, has openly declared war on the
amendment. and followed this up with a
! stirring appeal to democrats to work hard
| to bring about Its defeat.
Thus, It will be seen that the opposition
| within the party to the German plans is
! not confined to sporadic jumps over the
| traces, but Is an organized concentrated
| movement of political bodies. the members
| of which will carry their opposition to the
| ballot boxes.
To Hold Conference.
| An important conference Of the demo-
| cratic leaders will be held In Saratoga dur
| ing the next ten days. Those in attend
ance will include Senator German, Chair
| man Vandiver, Chairman Rusk of the city
committee, Gen. l.. Victor Baughman of
Frederick county and other prominent
| county leaders who known to be in
favor of the amendment. These leaders Will
combine business with pleasure. and while
the plans for the fall campaign are being
outlined and discussed, they will be enjoy
| ing their annual vacations.
Conspicuous among the absentees at this
conference will be Governor Wartield, who
the opposition democrats earnestly hope
will take a decided stand against the
amendment when the fight wakes warmer
AT the present time, however, the governor
even refuses to discuss the measure private
ly. The latest statement from the execu-
tive In this regard was to the effect that he
considers he has done his full duty and that
there is nothing else for him to do.
From a close friend of the governor The
Star correspondent learned that Mr.. War
field feels almost certain that the amend
ment will be defeated. Continuing, the gen
teman said:
The amendment is championed on'y by
the old wheel horses of the German ma
chine, and 1t does not appear likely to me
that the people will give up certainty
that is to their own benefit for an uncer-
tainty that will be made to prove beneficial
to the German ring. The old cry that the
plan has worked satisfactorily in Virginia
is being raised by the advocates of the
amendment. but every one at all conversant
with the amendments knows that there is
vast difference.
1T is true that in both cases the election
officials have power which is practically su-
preme, but there is a difference in method
In the selection of these officials. In Vir-
ginia they are as careful as in selecting
judges of the courts. This is required by
the law. In the Poe amendment any ward
heeler or county worker no matter what
his reputation, is eligible to pass upon the
qualifications of the voter.
he aYpoy ~ y,a daEn b. .tfl ttton
tons that must be possessed by the voter
but is silent as to the caliber of the judges
of election and registration Is it likely
that the people are going to stand for such
q meaSure?'
In Republican Camp.
Aside from being united and working In
harmony against the Poe amendment, the
republican leaders and the rank and file
are in a quandary and 1t seems quite like
ly that this condition Will prevail until
after the new state central committee is
organized. In other words, the leaders are
worried about Representative Mudd. They
fear that the southern Maryland leader
with the combinations he has formed on the
Eastern shore and other sections of the
state, may capture the state committee,
name a new chairman and practically in
stall himself as the state leader.
There is no gainsaying the fact that right
here In Baltimore Mr.. Mudd has many sup
man to lead the party in the state. They
assert in support of this claim that all
the leaders since Wellington have led for
lorn hopes, and that it is high time that
some man who has been able to achieve
victory in some part of the state should
be placed at the helm
1t is significant that the party leaders
who led the fight against Mudd In the state
executive committee last week and went
down in defeat have all been to Washing
ton during this week and held conferences
with Secretary Bonaparte. These leaders
were Collector Stone. Representative
Wachter and United States Marshal Lang
hammer, and they made hard fight in the
committee to secure late date for the
state convention. as was desired by Sec
| rotary of the Navy Bonaparte Mr.. Mudd
on the other hand, did not follow the wishes
of Mr.. Bonaparte, but made a successful
fight against the cabinet officer, whom
many republicans are satisfied to regard
the state leader And the party men are
naturally asking What does 1t mean?"
Governor is Probing.
Gov. Warfeld is still probing the facts
surrounding the graft" printing bill, which
by some mysterious means went through
a change in point of price to be charged
for state printing work. The original bill
appropriated SO. 900. but this was amended.
fixing the price at $4,000. In some manner
the amount was changed back to S25 COO
and this fact was not discovered until with
III II udy VI TWO OF awarding the contract.
AT the request of the governor the original
bill as 1t appeared when engrossed for the
second and third reading was turned over
to Mr.. Warfield, and two members of the
printing committee have laid before the ex-
ecutive all the information they possessed
regarding the matter. Delegate Gill of How
ard county, who was chairman of the print
ing committee, called upon the governor
this week, but could throw no light on the
mystery.
Gov. Warfield is determined to probe the
matter to the bottom. and will continue
the investigation until all means have been
exhausted to get at the facts
Prizes for Farmers.
The State Horticultural Society is COM
pleting plans for the annual exhibit of farm
products and flowers grown In Maryland.
which will be held in Baltimore on Decem-
Der and Z next. AS an inducement to
those growers who desire to improve their
products the society has offered 500 in
prizes for the best variety in fruits, vege-
tables and flowers. While the total value
of the prizes Is not large the society feels
that In offering them there will be an extra
incentive for the grower to do all he can
to help himself and thus improve the prod