Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-23
POLITICS IN MARYLAND
State Democracy Still Looking
for a Moses.
THE SENATORIAL PLUM
Aspirations of Some of the Old-Time
Leaders.
GORMAN WOULD RULE OR RUIN
Problem With the Wise Ones Who
Wish to Check Him-Warfeld's
Friends Angry.
Special Correspondence Of The Star.
BALTIMORE. Nd. ].

Special Correspondence Of The Star.
BALTIMORE, Md. June %, 1907.
Events of the past week in political cir
Giles demonstrate conclusively that the dem
ocratic leaders are about as harmonious as
bunch of Kilkenny cats. And the fact be-
comes more and more patent each day that
the party is without a state leader-in prac-
tically the same condition as a ship with
out pilot 1t was supposed when Senator
German passed away that Representative
Talbot would succeed to control of the
party machinery, but up to the present
time the second district representative has
not been able to issue any orders. He has
in fact confined all his energies toward
keeping the fences in his own bailiwTck in
repair. Talbot has one ambition, and that
is to capture a seat in the United States
Senate He is not espousing the cause of
any aspirant for gubernatoral honors. He
is not meddling in the affairs of any dis
trict or county save his own.
Talbot knows that even If democratic
| legislature shall be elected he is not going
| to receive the senatorial plum on a silver
| platter. Others of prominence in the coun-
| ellis. of the old guard have their weather
eyes peeled for a toga in the upper house
at Washington, and the great majority of
| the easy boss of Baltimore county And
| Talbot knows we'll that at least three of
| these aspirants for the senate will tap the
tar'lS.
Would Like to Be Boss
| Talbott's modesty in remaining in the
| background must not be taken to indicate
| that he does not desire to be the state boss
| TO be at the head of the democratic party
| in Maryland is the one great ambition of
| his life, but Talbot fears to crack the whip
because he knows that the moment he at
tempts to take up the reins of leadership
| he will be openly opposed by others In the
party who likewise WELD great influence
| in their respective sections and who would
not hesitate to snap tne:r fingers at any
orders he might issue.
1t is true that Talbot has a large fol-
lowing throughout the state-men who
would take orders and follow his lead with
out question-but these men are not powers
in their localities and are not the men who
pay the freight when election time rolls
around. In Baltimore city, for instance
Talbot haA many earnest friends, but they
are not in the inner councils and do not
control even n small wheel in the machine.
Had Rasin lived then Talbot would have
| been in a position to assume the mantle of
German and to have directed the des ,inies
of the party in the state. The control of
the old city machine, however, has passed
into new hands, and not one of III. ring
as now constituted will lineup behind Tai
bolt.
German as Wrecker.
State Senator Arthur P. German is an
other who aspires to state leadership and
also the United States Senate His high
handed methods as practiced at the Howard
county convention this week indicate that
he does not possess atom of the polit-
ical sagac:ty or generals;iip tina. made his
father the foremost state boss in the coun-
try. This bright young man from Howard
county went to considerable trouble to slap
the Warfield democrats in the face. And it
is regarded as all the more remarkable
and more foolish in view of the fact that
Gov. Warfield long ago announced that he
was not in the. field for any political office
in Maryland Organization democrats-men
who have admired young .Gorman's polit-
ical activities in the past-do not now hest
tate to say that the young man frVm How
ard if allowed to continue such methods
will surely wreck the party all over the
state.
They assert that young German did some
thing that was wholly unnecessary and
that instead of endeavoring to stir UP party
turmoil he should use his best efforts to
bring about harmony they likewise init
mate that young German has been given
too much prominence in the councils of the
party, that he has permitted his personal
hatred of Gov. Warfeld to crop out too
frequently at political gatherings and that
it is about time to call halt on the bright
young man from Howard.
No One to Rebuke Him.
And right here comes problem for the
men who would curb the activities of young
German. Who shall take the little boss of
Howard county off to- some sequestered spot
and tell him that more flies be caught
with molasses than vinegar? Who shall
tell the little boss of Howard county that
he must cease his warfare against the gov
ernor: that he must bury the Ratchet and
! that he must play the game of politics
his father used to play it? Not one today
among the so-called leaders would dare
essay the role. And it is the knowledge of
this fact that is causing the leaders deep
concern. They know that young German
Will carry his political vendetta against
Warfield into the campaign and that
result thousands of votes will be lost to
the democratic ticket this fall.
The democratic party is indeed in dire
straits and with young German riding
roughshod over the friends of the state adj
ministration there is little hope of condi-
tons within the party improving before the
| fall campaign. The Warfield democrats are
| in an ugly frame of mind and are not at all
disposed to hunt for the dove of peace.-in
fact, many of them prefer war to the bitter
end Many democrats are today predicting
| that a republican will occupy the seat of
| young German in the next state senate
Jones FOR Governor.
| Col. Spencer c. Jones of Montgomery is
| III tTc Heiu III earnest Tor the guDernatOrlal
nomination, and it is learned upon excellent
authority that the "old guard will land him
at the head of the state democratic ticket
Jones, it is claimed by certain leaders, does
not aspire to the United States Senate, and
for this reason is the most desirable candi-
date from the organization point of view
Other aspirants. however. claim that Col.
Jones is not entitled to the nomination be-
cause 1t is doubtful if his own county
would support him in the convention. They
claim that Col. Jones made the fight for the
organization two years ago in Montgomery
county and was defeated for the nomination
Tor the state senate by Blair Lee, who is
now in control of the party machinery
IT is certain. however, that IL the "old
guard decides upon Col Jones he will get
the nomination whether Montgomery falls
INTO line or not. The "'old guard will be
In absolute control of the convention next
August and with the eyes of each leader on
the United States Senate they will nomi-
nate for governor the man who will least
likely thwart their respective ambitions
and Col. Jones appears poday to be about
the only one in MARYLAND who fills tho Hill