The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-08-19
POLITICS IN
 THE SOUTH Maryland to Witness Heated Campaign. DEMOCRATS ARE HOPEFUL Tennessee Is Also Bordering on a
 Campaign. Senator oarmaek May Enter the Race fer Governor Agaipst the Pres est Incumbent, Governor
 Patterson.

dHnlukLOn, AuSs Aos-N0PNNA0A't visitors to the national capital during the past few days have been indulging in some interesting talk regarding the political campaigns in several of the States. A great many residents Of Maryland who keep the run of things political. come frequently to Washing ton.
 A lively contest will be waged in that State this year. Each party has put up its candidates for Governor. the principal office to be voted for in Mo- yember. For the past ten or more years Maryland has been uncertain. Mckinley carried 1t twice in succession in presidential election. His major ity against Bryan was a heavy one in 1896 and again in 1900. The free sil- yer contention caused many thousands straightout Democrats to bolt the Democratic ticket and take Ia the whole Republican proposition. The Independents also docked in those cam paigns to the Republican standard. Then Maryland swung back into the Democratic column so far as the State tickets were concerned, 1t is Democrat ic today. and two Democrats are now representing the ancient Common wealth in the Senate of the United States.
 In future Maryland Is going to try the primary plan In choosing United States Senators, just as Alabama and several of the other Southern States do. Senator Whyte was appointed by Gov ernor Warfield a few days after the death of Senator German. It is gener- ally understood that Mir. Whyte will not enter the scramble in order to re- tain the seat The tussle will be be- tween two ex-Governors in all proba- bility and 1t may be that Governor WarheId will also enter the lists. but that Is uncertain at this writing. The ex-Governors believed to be hankering after the Senatorship are Frank Brown of Baltimore, and John Walter smith of worcester County, down in tho East ern Shore sectiou.
 They are known as "hummers" in politics, and so is former Representa- tive Josh" Miles, who lives in the ad- joining county to Smith. The friends of Miles want him to run, and Con- gressnian Fred" Talbott. who lives in Baltimore County, and has a part of the big city in district, has also an- nounced that he will be in the ring when the fight for the Senatorship be- gins.
 The Republican candidate for Cover nor this year is George R Gather of Baltimore. Fifteen years ago he was an intense Democrat. It Is claimed ho will receive a large number of Demo- cratic votes on account of social, per- sonal and business relations. His Dem ocratic opponent Is Judge Brothers, Of Cecil, one of the Eastern Shore coun- ties. The Judge is conceded to be a That hnv fhA independent vote will swing is some what problematical If it should go almost solidly for Gather he would be elected the Republicans claim. The Baltimore News is trying to have it support Gather, but the powerful old Baltimore Sun, which probably has more influence in Maryland than all the other papers combined, Is mighty sweet just now on the Democratic ticket and platform The Sun insists the Democrats have nominated good and strong men. their platform Ia spIendtd, and there Is no reason why the ticket should not score victory at the coming election.
 The Oyster Vote.
 In Maryland there are about 1000 votes which are affected keenly by the oyster legislation of the State. This vote in webbing around from year to year has been known to decide the re- suit in A state contest. It has way of Hopping every now and then. Each partv in the platforms adopted the oth- CT day has indorsed the Haman oyster law passed by the last Legislature and insists it should be given fair trial Neither party will, therefore, have an advantage in this respect. The large majority of the oystermen, their reia- lives and family connections are nat urally inclined to vote the Democratic ticket if the shell fish issue Is not sharply drawn, and those who are fa- miliar with the situation believe Re- publlcans will suffer in this contest.
 At the last election the Maryland Democrats were badly divided over the proposed constitutional amendment, the intention of which was to deprive on a wholesale plan the illiterats negroes of their votes. The shape in which the ouestion was presented three years ago raused Governor Warfield and most Of his influential friends to oppose the amendment, and leaders among the naturalized citizens of the State op- nosed it also on the ground that 1t was so drastic 1t would deprive many of inc Germans and Irish, as we'll as other foreign born men to lose their right to vote The Democrats expect to pre- sent this question in a new form, and if is believed they will draw an amendment that will be perfectly ac- ceptable to the naturalized citizens. IL will not go so far as the laws that have been passed in Mississippi, Louis lana, Virginia, Tennessee and North Carolina.
 Of late leaders among the Maryland negroes have appeared restless. They contend that the Republicans are not giving them the recognition they are entitled to, considering that the negro vote in the State is 65,00o. and is all most solidIy cast year after year for the Republican candidates. They are complaining SO bitterly that a move ment Is on foot to have a conference of the ablest men of the race and take steps to secure recognition. or cut loose from the party of Lincoln. Grant Mckinley and Roosevelt. Slowly but surely the Republicans are even crowd ing the negroes out as delegates al state County and district conventions They are getting to be lilly white gatherings like those of Alabama. Vir- ginia, North Carolina, Tennessee and other States in the South. These black Marylanders pretend to be getting tired