Evening star., 1905-07-30
MUDD MAY BE LEADER
HE MAY CONTROL THE REPUBLI-
CAN CONVENTION.
Special Correspondence of The Star.

Special Correspondence of The Star,
BALTIMORE, Md, July %, 1906
The decision of the executive committee
of the republican state central committee
to hold an early state convention has set
the tongues Of the political prophets awag-
cling. and it is generally believed that Rep
resentative Sydney E. Mudd is effecting
combination to control the party throughout
the state, with Mr.. Mudd as the leader
In support of this belief the politicians
point to the fact that the fifth district rep
resentative was able to muster sufficient
strength at the committee meeting to abso-
futely control its action in far as the
selection of a date for the convention was
concerned
1t is a wellknown fact that Chairman
Hanna. Collector Stone, the city leader;
Representative Frank c. Wachter and
others were in favor of holding the conven-
ton after the city primaries. to which plan
Mr.. Mudd was opposed This situation af-
forded the southern Maryland leader an
opportunity to make test Of his strength.
On the evening preceding the meeting Mr..
Mudd was a very busy man, holding many
conferences and taking leave of the several
county leaders with a smile on his face.
When he appeared at the committee meet
Ing the next day Mr.. Mudd's cOuntenance
wore the confident and jaunty air of poll
tician in the saddle who realizes his ability
to control the situation.
With the aid of former Representative
William III. Jackson and Phillips Lee Colds
borough. collector of internal revenue, Mr..
Mudd won his fight for an early conven-
ton by vote of 16 to Z. those voting
against the Mudd resolution being City
Chairman Mason. Representative Wachter,
Collector Stone and John A. JanetZke Of
Baltimore city; w. B. Baker Of Hartford
county. A. A. Blakeney of Howard county
and John P. Forester of Queen Anne
county.
As to Craftsmanship.
The convention will therefore meet in
this city on September to adopt a party
platform and to take up matters looking
to organization for the fall campaign. At
the close of this convention the members
Of the new state central committee will as
semble to elect their chairman. 1t had
generally been taken for granted that Chair
man Hanna would again be placed at the
helm of the committee, but the result of the
little skirmish at the committee meeting
has led to the belief that Mr.. Mudd will
make fight to name a new chairman. In
this connection 1t Is significant that former
State Chairman Gol1sborough lined up with
Mr.. Mudd on the early convention PROPOSE
ton. 1t must not be forgotten. either, that
the Dorcester county leader was forced
out Of the Craftsmanship by Mr.. Stevenson
A. Williams, who opposed Governor War
field in 1903 and who made his acceptance
of the republican gubernatorial nomination
conditional on Mr.. Hanna being placed at
the head Of the state committee. Senator
McComas. then the party leader in Mary
land, made strenuous objections to the
side-trackine of Mr. Goldsborough, and not
until Mr. Williams had threatened to with
draw as the candidate did Senator Nc
Comas acquiesce in the selection of Mr..
Hanna.
AS to whether Mr.. Goldsborough has am
bitions to again become state chairman,
which would mean his retirement as in
ternal revenue collector, is not known, but
the politicians assert that the retirement of
Mr.. Hanna is very likely to take place in
September and in some quarters 1t is even
hinted that Mr.. Hanna may tender his res
ignation rather than precipitate a fight in
the committee, the result of which, 1t Is
claimed, would be the defeat Of the Will
liams wing, as represented in the person
of Chairman Hanna.
The Amendment Fight.
The democratic state organization lead
ers are now thoroughly alarmed over the
widespread opposition to the Poe amend
ment. For the lirst time in his political
career Senator German finds himself una
BILE to rally around his "black peril stand
ard all of those leaders who in the past
have ever been ready to lend a helping
hand to further the political fortunes of
the Sage of Laurel Two of the sena-
tors most able allies in the past-I. Free
man Rasin, the city boss, and J. F. c. Tai
bott of Baltimore county-have thus far
exhibited no desire to aid in securing the
passage of the Poe amendment. From
close personal friend of these two leaders
The Star correspondent learned today that
neither Mr. Rasin nor Representative
Talbot favor the disfranchsement plan
and that Mr.. German is chasing a forlorn
hope if he expects any aid from them in
securing ratification of the measure at
the polls next November. Continuing, this
gentleman said:
THE rank and file of the party is badly
split up over the Poe plan. / know men
who for years have followed the dictates
Of their respective leaders, today following
the trend of their own personal views re-
garding this measure 1t is such a drastic
and-yeS, pernicious-meaSure that they
fear to give such unlimited power to
suffrage into the hands of the democratic
organization. If the amendment was a
straightout ro-disfranchisement meas
ure 1t would pass by an overwhelming
majority, but as at present drawn l
not understand how the most sanguine
organization democrat can even hope for
its passage From talks with county poll
ticians and my own personal observation
l can only see defeat ahead for Senator
German.
Governors Attitude.
1.-THE attitude of Governor Warf1eld to-
ward the Poe plan Is having It's effect too,
throughout the state upon thousands of
democrats who realize that the governor
stands for fair elections. The strength of
Governor Warfield with the democrats of
Maryland is hardly appreciated to Its full
extent by the state organization leaders
with the possible exception of Senator Cor
man. who, If he does realize 1t, is not max
Ing the fact known.
What these leaders fear most today is
that Governor Warfield may issue an open
letter to the plebiscite setting forth In de-
tail his reasons for opposing the Poe plan,
and / am firmly convinced that the gov
ernor would do so were 1t not for the fact
that his action would be ascribed to Interior
motives. the statement having been fire.
quently published that he aspires to a seat
in the United States Senate"
For Cruiser Fund.
The following appeal has been issued for
the Maryland cruiser fund commission to
all citizens of Maryland:
On July 13 his excellency. Governor War
field, and his honor, Mayor Timanus of
Baltimore. named commission to have
prepared a proper testimonial to the
armored cruiser that bears the proud name
of our state.