Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1905-12-23
OUR BALTIMORE WEEKLY LETTER.
Speculation On The Organization
of House And Senate
Next Month.
Baliimore, Nd, Dec. y. Il


The near approach of the Chritmas
holidays has not stopped the discussion
of political matters in Baltimore. aud
the frequent visits of county states
men 10 the city, owing 10 the coming
session of the General Assembly in
January. has caused much more than
the usual amount of talking and wire
pulling among those who are interest
ed in what is to be done at Annapolis
during the early months of the new
year. OF course the principal subjects
considered are the organization Of the
two houses and the men who wish to
be chosen To the chief places in those
bodies.
Fer the presidency of the Senate.
the gentlemen most frequently men.
toned are Senators Beasman, of Car
roll. and Moore, of Worcester Mr.
Reasman is believed 10 have the ac-
tive support of Sena tor German, Mr..
Rasin, Congressman Talbot and what
is ufuallyk nown as the regular organ
ization, while Mr.. Moore is supported
by Governor Warfield, ex-GoverDor
Smith and what are classed as anti
organization forces. The contest
promises to be close, owing to the fact
that no one knows just what Governor
i.
Moore. 1t his Excellency determines
TO favor his candidate with promises
of official patronage, the chances are
that the fight will be one of the hot
test in the history of the state. The
large Democratic majority in the Sen
ate makes this entirely an affair with
in the party, preolud1ng any combina-
tion with Republicans
The speakership of the House of
Delegates on the other hand, offers
complications, since the Democrats.
Independents and Regulars combine d
have little more than bare majority.
In fact so close is the vote that
combination of the Republicans with
the independents of Anne Arundel
and Queen Anne's, would deprive the
Democrats of control, and such com
binations are not unknown in recent
Maryland history 1t is. however,
unlikely in this juncture. for the rea-
son that the members from the coup-
ties named have already announced
their intention to go into the regular
caucus and abide by its decisions in
all matters of political character.
The indications point. therefore, to
the caucus determining who shall
preside over the House, with little
Likelihood of a revolt from that de-
cisi on.
The leading candidates for the
speakerhip at the present time are
Messrs. Carville ID. Benson, of Bslti-
more county, and DR.. Richard S. Hill,
OF Prince Georges, although many
well informed people are of the opin-
ion that the fight between these gem
tlemen will become so acrimonious
that a dark horse may be run in at
the last moment and win the race.
The most promising dark horse are
considered to be Delegates Disharoon,
of Wicomico and Ray, of Prince
Georges, with an underourrent of
preference for Delegate Murphy, of
Baltimore city. In the lining up of
the statesmen for tile speakership. Gov
ernor Warfield is openly backing DIR.
Hill. while the so-called regulars are
using all their powers to win the
prize for Mr. Benson.
The opposition to DR.. Hill, who has
heretofore always beeu classed as a
regular, is largely due to the fact that
he is looked upon as the candidate
of Governor Warfield. and many of
those are unwilling to see him in the
Speakers chair are influenced solely
by that consideration. AS in the case
of Mr.. Moore and the Senate presi.
dency, whether his Excellency viii go
10 the length of using his power as
Governor to aid DR.. Hill, is unknown
to the public. IL he does so, the Doc
tor may win, although the chances
are decidedly in favor of the man
backed by Senator German and the
regular crowd. Both Mr.. Benson and
his competitor are men of ability, and
either will be able to preside over
the house with dignity and skill An
other contest which promises TO be in
teresting is that between Mr.. Vandi-
yer and ex.State Senator John Hubner,
of Baltimore county, for the State
tTeasurership. Here again the Cover
nor and his preferences enter. Mr.
Vandiver has the backing of the reg
ular organization and Mr.. Hubner
will be supported by Governor War
field Mr.. Hubner, however, will not
receive the seven votes from his own
county; it would be contrary to all
precedents for him to win, and no one
whose opinion is of any value believe
that he can do so, even with the
powerful aid of the Governor of the
state. Paul Winchester.