Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-09
WACHTER is DEFIANT
MUCH EXCITEMENT LIKELY IN
MARYLAND PRIMARIES.
Special Correspondence of The Star.

Special Correspondence of The Star. .4
BALTIMORE. Md, December g. 1906.
The situation in the republican ranks
over the forthcoming mayoraIty nominal
ton is very tense. The first ripple on the
surface of what promises to be a tenn
pestuous came the other night when
Representative Wachter in address
before a republican club practically an
nounced his candidacy. and took occasion
to score the party organization leaders.
The following day Wachter supplemented
this with an interview in which he threw
down the gauntlet and specifically stated
that if necessary it would be fight to the
finish with the city leader, William F.
Stone, collector Of the port.
Then there came volley from the organi-
cation camp. Wachter was branded as
an migrate for attacking the organization
which 1t was claimed, had worked hard
and successfully to send Wachter TO Con-
gress during the past eight years. 1t was
stated that Collector Stone had, during
these campaigns, contributed literally to
campaign funds in the interest of Wachter
and that during these eight years at least
ST. 200 of Stones personal funds had bse1
used to aid in defraying Wachter's cam
paign expenses. This assertion was made
by Sheriff Padgett of Baltimore, who had
been regarded as one of the stanchest sup
ports of Wachter.
Promises a Sensation.
When this statement was shown to one
of Wachter's right-hand men he said to
The Star correspondent: Unless the or
ganzation retracts that statement, one
of the biggest political sensations that
Baltimore has ever experienced will occur
next Thursday night, when Wachter will
make address before the Pioneer Re-
publican Club. Wachter and his friends
had hoped that they would not be COM
PEELED to take up the question OF finance
in politics. but as the Stone organization
seems to be hunting trouble, they will be
accommodated. Wachter will be compelled
in self-defense to tell where the money
came from. Wachter has nothing to fear,
Notwithstanding all this talk about the b.
and O. assisting him financially in .he
past or refusing to aid him in the future.
So far the actual item relative to stone
personally assisting Wachter, the other side
of that question will be given publicity
by Wachter next Thursday night, unless
as l say, the organization retracts the
statement made by Sheriff Padgett. And
when Wachter gives out the other side of
that question there will be all kinds of
trouble for somebody
The situation. therefore. presents a seri-
Gus problem for Secretary Bonaparte in his
capacity as party adviser. In the past few
years the Secretary seems to have been
able to cope with each situation as it pre-
scented ITSELF and his advice when followed
both in city and state. The key to the
situation is held by Mayor Timanus. If he
will consent to withdraw. then Wachter
will not figures as a candidate in the prima-
ries. Friends of the mayor, however, as
sert that Timanus under no consideration
will withdraw his candidacy and the mayor
himself has stated that his decision to be a
candidate is irrevocable.
As to Democrats.
The democrats are pretty much in the
same boat the republicans, only that
there are two avowed anti-organization
candidates for the mayoralty. They are
George Stewart Brown, a young lawyer
and a member of the upper house of the
city council, and ]. Charles Linthicum. at
present a state senator. The former for
maly announced his candidacy this week
in lengthy public letter, in which he
denounces bossism and declared that
all public utility corporations should
ership as the club to hold over the
heads of the corporations, and will make
his primary campaign cry Crush political
bosses and curb the corporations" Lin
block to the plans of the city democratic
machine. He has tried conclusions with
Boss Rasin on several occasions and each
time has downed the forces of the "old
man." The fight. therefore, among the
democrats promises to be equally as bit
ter as that of the republicans.
To Down Wardeld.
Signs are not lacking that the democratic
old guard is laying plans to defeat Warfeld.
for a denomination. They do not want to
down Warfield in such a way that it will
ALLEVIATE his big independent following, but
they hope to secure candidate man
not identified with the machine and who at
the same time will recognize the claims of
the organization to certain patronage in the
event of his election There is a rumor
current that Gen. John Gill, president of
the Mercantile Trust and Deposit Company,
may be the choice of the organization to
defeat Warfield. Gen. Gill, it is pointed
out, would be acceptable to the independ-
ents as we'll as to the machine. He has not
been over-active in party politics and has
few, if any. enemies in any of the many
factions within the party. The fact is now
recalled that Gen. Gill at the last state
convention declared in favor of the Poe
amendment, and it is said that at that time
he was given to understand that he might
at some future day realize his ambition to
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