The Washington times., 1905-12-31
CAUCUS IS CALLED
BY BOTH PARTIES
IN MARYLAND
General Assembly of the
State to Organize
on Tuesday.
DEMOCRATS WORRIED
Are Experiencing Difficulty
in Lining Up Forces
in the House.
DEMOCRATS WORRIED

BALTIMORE. Dec. 30.-Chairman
Yandiver. of the Democratic State COM
mittee. has issued a call for a caucus
TO be held at the State house in An
napolis next Tuesday night. when the
Democratic senators and delegates will
nominate their presiding officers. At
the same time the Republicans win
choose their candidates for these posi-
tions il another part OF the building.
AS rule the nominations OF the DOM
inant party are equivalent TO an election.
but owing TO the fierceness Of the con-
test for control. the organization which
apparently has the situation well in
hand is not altogether certain of seat
ing all its candidates. In the senate
no trouble is apprehended. for here the
majority is large enough to insure vic
tory even though there may be bolt.
but in the house. where the lines are
closely drawn. there are no votes 10
spare.
Republicans Are Alert.
The Republicans are alive to their op-
portunities and are prepared to take
advantage of them. They held a con-
ference here last Wednesday avowedly
TO determine upon a line OF action but.
afterward. declined to make public the
result of their deliberations. Secretary
Bonaparte took a leading part in the
discussion. and TO him was delegated
the authority Of imparting Information
to the reporters
All he would say was that no
definite action had been taken. which
was true enough. for IL was decided TO
wait until the eve OF The opening of the
legislative session and then be govern
ed by conditions -F,i4e,-afJse11ru~ Con-
gressrnen Pearre and Alndd and ex-Con.
gressman Jackson oceasioned comment.
They represent three Of the most i'm
portant districts in the State and IL IS alb
solutely necessary 10 secure their CO.
operation 70 insure unity of action. Mr.
Mudd de Jared at the tirne the confer
ence was proposed that il was unneces-
sary. as the members could be depended
upon 10 do the proper thing. but the
other leaders deemed it advisable to map
out a program for them Whether
Messrs. Pearre and Jackson coincided
with Mr.. Mudd and therefore absented
themselves. is not known: in any event
those who did attend concluded to 90 on
without them.
Conclusions Arrived At.
1t was the consensus of opinion that
the Republicans should use every Iegit-
innate means 10 secure the adoption OF
changes In the election law which would
protect them from the imposition of
trick ballots in Republican counties
Some of these with independent procliv-
ities urge a union with the forces led by
Governor Warfleld, the idea being To
help him overthrow the Democratic ma
chine and in return for this assistance TO
have the assistance of the administra-
tion In their efforts 10 purify the cleo
tion laws They go so far as to favor
supporting the governors candidate for
president of the senate, speaker of the
house and State treasurer. II is pos
sible they may ask a share in the pa
tronage when the Legislative plums are
dealt out, but they don't insist upon
this
The practical politicians are OF the
opinion that the governor is unable TO
guarantee delivery and doubt the FEAST
bility OF the proposition. They argue
that those Democrats hailing from
counties In wnich the complicated bal
lots are used and VINO are classed as
friends OF the administration viii oppose
any change looking TO the uniformity OF
the ballot, and without their assist
ance IL would be impossible TO ac-
complish anything. What they prefer is
to stand pat ana stick to their can
dida tes. dealing, II possible. with the or
ganization. Their idea IS 10 vote Cor any
bill which seeks TO deprive the governor
of his patronage in Baltimore city. pro-
vided they arc given minority repre-
sentation on the various boards. The
law now gives 10 the governor all ap-
pointments OF this kind, no. IS ne
obliged to consult either organization
Opposed by Bonaparte.
This matter was discussed al the con-
Ference. but encountered so much oppo-
sition from Secretary Bonaparte that Il
was dropped. II is an open secret that
NJ. dudd takes little or no stock in
MI Bonapartes way Of playing politics.
ant hence his absence from the meeting.
Hif plar iS 10 meet aD1prgpucles as tneN