Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-06
POLITICAL OUTLOOK.
Both Parties Maneuvering for Advant-
age in Prince George County, Md.
al Correspondence OF The Star

Special Correspondence OF The Star.
UPPER MARLBORO, Md, Aug 5, 1905
According to announcement made to-
day Mr.. Robert w. Wells of Hyattsville
district is not a candidate for election to
the lower branch of the general assembly
of Maryland. in which body he had seat
during the sessions of 1902 and 1904 Mr.
Wells declares that under certain contin-
gencies, his friends will present his name
for the nomina ton for state senate. He
states that several weeks since he promised
to support Mr.. William B. Clagett, of
Upper Marlboro for the nomination, but
should Mr. Clagett for any reason not be
a candidate, he proposes to seek the office
himself.
Mr.. Wells the only member from
the southern Maryland counties to support
Senator Rayner in his memorable fight in
1904, action which by no means pleased
the organization.
The democratic convention which meets
here Monday of next week will make no
nominations for the legislature or for coun-
~ offices, but will adjourn after selecting
county central committee and delegates
to the state convention. 1t is generally
conceded that Mr.. William B. Clagett will
be the democratic nominee for state sem
ate, while it is practically certain that j.
Enos Ray, jr., of Hyattsville, Joseph X.
Roberts Of Marlboro and Carter Lee
Bowie of Queen Anne will be the ticket
for the house of delegates.
The other candidate will probably hail
from Laurel district and will be either
M. ]. Tighe, a member of the last legisla-
ture; Ogle Marbury John w. Gray
These three gentlemen will contest for the
delegates in the primaries next Saturday.
Road Commissioner B. J. Gallant and ]
w. Hatton will be renominated. and J. w.
Rawlings of Aquasco and w. H. Owens of
Laurel will probably be nominated for the
office of county commissioner. 1t is under
stood that Deputy Sheriff George S. Dove
of Spaulding's district will be nomina ed
for the office of sheriff.
A peculiar feature of the political gossip
IN Prince George county Is the attitude of
politicians relative to the Poe amendment
to the constitution. One seldom talks to
a democrat who will admit that there is
any chance for the amendment to carry,
and yet, SO far as can be learned every
one of them proposes to vote for the meas
ure. On the other hand, several repub-
licans have declared their intention to vote
for the amendment
1t is practically impossible to secure any
reliable informato as to when the can
the county offices will be named, each party
apparently waiting until the other has an
nounced its candidates. Under the Wilson
election law the official ballot this fall will
contain party designations, and should
the republicans nominate a Smith
Jones' for instance, they fear that their
democratic friends will place candidates of
similar names on the ticket. Having moth
ing to guide them but the mere name, the
illiterate voters, a majority of whom, it Is
conceded. are in the republican party in
Prince George county, would be as apt to
vote for the democratic Smith or Jones
as he would to cast his ballot for the re-
publican.
The democrats say they will refrain from
making nominations at this time in order
to save the candidates the expense Of an
extended campaign, but the general i'm
preston is that they desire to take advan-
tage of such a contingency as indicated
above. 1t is not without the range of pos
sibility that, after the republicans have
nominated their ticket, the democrats will
strive to put an Independent ticket in the
field. containing, as near as possible, the
names of candidates selected by the
publicaps.
1t is freely intimated that not over 40
per cent of the votes cast this fall will be
counted, but the democrats content them
selves with the statement that this 40 per
cent will be cast by persons entitled to take
part in the administration of public affairs.