Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-19
PROVED A BOMBSHELL
SENATOR RAYNER's LETTxR on
THE POE AMENDMENT.
The Sensation Of the Maryland Cam
paign-Views Of Leaders on
tho Situation.

ISfd0r Rayner To the democracy OF mary
land, which was referred to in The Star
yesterday. announcing in ringing terms his
opposition to the suffrage amendment. 1t
has undoubtedly proved the sensation Of
the campaign, and is taken by many as Sig
niflcant Of Mr.. Rayner's course toward the
present party managers. not only in this
campaign. but In the future.
At democratic headquarters. where the
city and county politicians. leaders and
members of the state central committee
gathered. the declaration Of Mr.. Rayner
was discussed to the exclusion of almost
everything else. The managers had been
confident that he would not declare hini-
self in this campaign, and their amusement
which they based their belief vas the fact
that his son. Mr., William B. Rayner. had
been nominated as candidate for the
house of delegates in the third legislative
district Although any sort Of an announce
ment from Mr.. Rayner would have been a
surprise. one of the tremendous and sweep
ing force that characterized his utterance
on the subject came like bombshell to the
rank and file OF the organization men.
No Comment From German.
Senator German would make no public
comment upon the stand Of Mr.. Rayner
but 1t Is believed by his close friends that
the situation will force him to reply to his
colleague later In the campaign. Mr.. Ray
ner's denunciation of the organization and
his indirect references to Mr.. German are
too plain to be mistaken. and 1t is stated
that Mr.. German will not let them go un-
challenged. Moreover the senior senator
supporters look to him for q reply, and say
that such an arraignment as Mr.. Rayner's
cannot be permitted to go unanswered.
When asked by a Baltimore Sun reporter
whether he cared to make any statement In
regard to Mr.. Rayner's announcement Mr..
German smiled and said:
v~<,t1y4 III I,~N-
Portable for US and the world Is still re-
voiving."
Representative J. F. C. Talbot. when
asked what he thought of Mr.. Rayner's at
titude said:
ut is just what expected from what
know of the man.
A Difference Of Opinion.
Col. Buchanan Schley Of Washington
county. said:
The letter simply emphasizes the fact
that there Is difference of opinion within
the party on the amendment ISSUE"
Among the republicans, the anti-amend-
nent democrats and the friends and fol-
lowers Of Gov. Warf1eld the announcement
OF Senator Rayner was a cause OF jubia-
ton. The Warfield men look upon it as
| meaning that in the future the forces Of
Messrs. Warfield and Rayner will be allied
against Mr.. German and as Indicative of a
fight for control OF the organization two
years HtHCc lUe fneH WHO nave Deen &C
tive In the anti-amendmeut association re-
gard such a denunciation Of the amend
ment and also of the democratic manage
ment from one of the democratic United
states senators as a crushing blow to the
amendment forces, and are determined to
redouble their efforts to secure statement
of similar character from Gov. Warfield.
| At republican headquarters the leaders
progressed to regard the opposition of Sena-
tor Rayner as putting an end to the last
hope of the other side Of carrying through
the amendment. Secretary of the Navy
Charles j. Bonaparte, who was In Baltimore
said: ;.
1 II have read Senator Rayner's letter
" hat he says in reference to the amend
ment and the democratic organiza ton Is
doubtless important and interesting It,
however, seems to be family affair and
think an outsider like myself would be
discreet in not meddiing In such a natter.
Chairman Hanna's Views.
Chairman Hanna of the republican state
committee said:
Mr. Rayners attitude is most signifi-
can't he Is fresh from the people. having
been chosen United States senator over
the headS of the democratic machine Mr.
Rayner knows that the people are against
the Poe amendment and he takes sides with
them against the bosses in his own party
The people are thoroughly aroused over
| this latest and boldest scheme of the DEM
ocratic ring to perpetuate it's power and
as the days go by the opposition to its
adoption Is more and more pronounced 1t
Is enough to make even the bitterest par
tisan pause and think when he sees such
stanch party men as Senator Rayner Gov
ernor Warfield, Attorney General Bryan and
others against it."
The Feeling Elsewhere
A dispatch from Rockville says: The let
ter of Senator Rayner fell like bombshelI
In political circles in Montgomery county
1t Is predicted that the letter VIII have a
tremendous effect there. where Mr.. Rayner
Is the idol of a large following and those
regarded as his closest friends control the
organization. The ticket nominated Is of
their choice. They have declared for the
suffrage amendment, and necessarily Mr.
Rayner's deiiverance Is a serious embar-
rassment to them.
There is no telling what may happen in
Montgomery on November as a result of
these complications. The attitude of Mr.,
Rayner has increased the confidence of the
republicans and Independents in their abiI-
ity 20 roll UP majority against the amend
ment. They believe also that the accumu-
lating embarraSsmentS of the democra tic
state organization will operate to assist
them in the election of their county ticket
Senator Rayner's Statement.
Mr.. Rayner gives his reasons for his re-
volt in statement several columns in
length. He was at his best when he pre-
pared his statement, for he was dealing
with subject which appealed to his man.
hood and aroused those traits which most
men express and of which all men at one
time In their lives are conscious.
Read this: l am utterly opposed to this
amendment, with the strongest convictions
of my life against the principles that it
embodieS, and / believe that its adoption
would bind the chains of political slavery
around this state, would sound the death
kneil Of our political hopes and aspirations
in Maryland and would be as great a caIam-
ity as could possibly be inflicted upon our
people. This Is my deliberate Judgment