Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-16
POLITICS IN MARYLAND
Democratic PoW-W0Ws Fail to
Heal the Breaches.
MACHINE VS.. WAKEFIELD
Situation Reported to Be Worse Than
the Surface Shows.
SMITHS SENATORIAL CHANCES
Comment Over the Notification Act.
Big Plans for the Homecoming
Week Celebration.
SMITHS SENATORIAL CHANCES
Special Correspondence of The Star.

tlou anu forces. 10 the
| most casual observer of political events ir
| this state 1T must become apparent that
| every move made by the old democratic
| machine is against Warfield. And this at.
| titude of the rngleaders is only making
brighter each day the chances for repub-
| lican success. So eager are the machine
| leaders to down Warfield as a political fac.
tor in Maryland that at times 1t seems as
| though they lose sight of the fact that the
| gubernatorial chair and the legislature is al
stake.
The situation within the democrati,
party Is really worse than appears on the
surface. The machine is a unit only on one
proposition, and that Is Down with War
field On this the "old guard stands az
one man. Aside from this, however, the
leaders are on still hunts for choice of posi-
ton anent the United States senatorship.
1t is generally agreed that Senator Whyte
shall have the short term in the event of
democratic success, but there Is not the
slightest chance of agreement on who shall
receive the long term.
Smith Has Best Chance.
The old guard leaders VINO assisted in de-
feating Col. John Walter Smith for the Sem
ate in 1904 realize that the former governor
has the best chance of winning out if the
democrats capture the legislature. Three
years ago the machine felt strong enough
to give the sage of Snow Hill good swift
kick and retire him to the shades of private
life in Worcester county. Times have
changed since then. however German and
Rasin have both passed away and the for
mer governor, who was ever ready to do
their bidding, Is in the saddle in state poll
tics and with Austin l.. Crothers as the
candidate for governor the old guard must
look to Col. Smith to finance the campaign.
They dare not openly antagonize the aspra-
tons of Smith for the Senate because in SO
doing they would lose on both ends in case
of Crothers' election.
If the democrats win this fall Smith will
be absolute political boss Of Maryland. The
governor and controller would both be con-
trolled by Col. Smith, and through them he
would be in control of the board Of public
works. which is composed of the governor,
controller and state treasurer. 1t will be
readily seen that Col Smith, now in the
saddle because of his willingness to finance
the fight, would still be in the saddle be-
cause of his absolute control Of the execu-
tive officers of the state in the event Of
democratic success
Act Of Modification.
The action taken by the democratic state
central committee last Tuesday practically
nullifies the resolution introduced by Gov.
Warfield and adopted by the democratic
state convention providing for direct vote
for the United States Senate. Gov. War
field, State Senator Blair Lee and former
Representative Miles made a strong fight
for the adoption of a resolution providing
that the candidates receiving the highest
number Of votes in the whole state should
be recommended to the members of the
next legislature for election to the United
States Senate for the long and short terms.
respectively. This resolution was defeated
and one cut, dried and prepared by John P.
Poe, for years the legal political adviser to
the old machine, was adopted. This resolu-
ton provides primaries for only favorite
cnpo hat &c to I1n-,
next legislature are obligated to vote only
for those candidates who receive the high
est number of votes in the senatorial pri-
mary in those districts OF Baltimore city
and in the several counties which the demo-
cratic members of the legislature represent
1t Is patent that under the resolution
adopted the spirit Of Gov. Warfield's popu-
lar election OF senator's resolution is multi
fed. The way on the other hand is paved
for deadlocks and the doors left wide open
for the use Of money If any candidate de-
sires to purchase the seat in the upper
house Of Congress. The effect Of the pri-
maries as agreed upon will leave the situa-
ton as clear as mud as to who is the popu-
lar choice for the United States Senate.
Warfeld May Withdraw.
Among the close friends of Gov Warfeld
the impression prevails that he will with
draw from the race. The governor fully
realizes that he enjoys the cordial and I'M
stinted hatred Of every member Of the old
Gorman-Rasin machine and that these men
will bring Into play every trick that their
political cunning can devise to defeat any
ambition which Gov. Warfeld may cherish.
They had longed for the governor to init
mate that he would enter the fight for the
Senate, so that they might set up machin
cry to snow him under. When Warfield did
announce that he would enter the lists the
ringsters became frightened. fearing that
his popularit.' with the better class of citi-
Zens might make possible his success.
Therefore, John P. Poe called upon to
help the old guard out. and his production
the favorite son resoutiOn-was certainly
work of political black art and all that any
enemy Of War1eld could desire. In the face
of existing conditions, with every chance
against his success in a fight for the Sem
ate, it would seem that Gov. Warfield
would be justified in withdrawing from the
primaries. The governor has declined to
make any statement as to whether he will
formally announce his candidacy with
draw from the field until next week.
Home Week Plans.
There is every indication that the greatest
crowd Of former Marylanders will come
from Washington during the old home week
celebration next month. For the past week
a corps of clerks have been kept busy send
ing out invitations from the Governor of
Maryland to former residents of this state
now residing in the District of Columbia
Thousands of names have been sent into
headquarters from Washington and each
person named has received or will receive
an invitation to come to Baltimore and
take part in the weeks celebration One of
the big features of the week will be fra
ternaI day October 10, and number of fra
ternal orders from Washington will take
part in the great parade, which, it is as
sured will be the largest and most spectac-
uar procession ever witnessed in Baltt-
more. There will be over fifty bands in
line and twice many floats. From re-
ports received from the forty orders that
will participate the grand marshal esti-
mates that there will be not less than %, 900
marchers in line This parade will be re-
viewed by Gov. Warfield and staff and
Mayor Mahool, and will be followed by an
| invitation ball at the Fifth Regiment ar
| mory, to which 1900 invitations have been
issued. This ball will be attended by all
| the state and city officials. and the cleo
trical effects in the ballroom will be on a
| gorgeous scale. j. NJ D.
Sunday Service at Miles Church.