Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-01
MARYLAND POLITICS
No Friction Over Delegates to
Republican Convention.
INTERVIEW WITH STONE
Vital Question Of Local Option in
Baltimore.
MERIT SYSTEM FOR THE CITY
Progress Of Work on the Baltimore
Washington Electric Railway.
Cost of Equipment.
INTERVIEW WITH STONE
MERIT SYSTEM FOR THE CITY
Special Correspondence Of The Star.

Special Correspondence Of The Star.
BALTIMORE. Md, November 30. 1907.
The approaching meeting of the repub-
lican national committee in Washington
next week has started gossip over the
candidate to be favored by thu Maryland
delegation to the next national conven-
ton. Collector William r. Stone, lie
local leader. who Is isergeant-at-arms of
| the national committee. will leave here
next Wednesday for the Capital city.
When asked whom he regarded as the
favorite for the presidential nomination.
| and who in his judgment should be noml-
mated. Collector Stone begged to be ex-
cused from discussing that matter. 1t Is
generally known, however. that Mar. Stone
| is intensely loyal to the national admins
tration and will be governed entirely by
its wishes. Regarding the policy Of the
party leaders In this state, the collector
was more communicative. Il do not APP
prehend any friction whatever when the
time arrives to make nominations" he
said today. The party leaders in every
section of the state should get together
and thus insure unanfrnity of action. 1t
seems to me that there should be no diff
ficulty in the state convention In arriving
at selections for delegates at large and
alternates who will be entirely satisfac-
tory to the party as whole.
Feels Sure Of Harmony.
Il take it for granted" continued Col
lector Stone, that Representatives Mudd,
Pearre and Jackson. State Chairman Par
ran and National Committeeman Steven
son A. Williams and the various county
leaders are deeply interested in the work
Of the convention and that they are will
Ing and ready to get together, just as
they did in selecting our republican
as to present a harmonious front. So
far as the district delegates are concern
ed they are chosen by the several con-
gressional districts in conventions en-
mary election law has been so amended
by the legislature as to permit the hold
Ing of primaries for the selection of dele
gates to these conventions under ..-e aus
pices of the party organizations. and
our party constitution was SO amended
that house rule would prevail in the sew
eral districts OF the state. Hence each
district may choose such delegate to the
national convention as 1t may deem prop
er. and in my judgment these delegates
ministration."
Democrats Up a Tree.
The democrats. on the other hand, are
all at sea over the national situation in
their party. One thing. however. is as
sured. and that is that there will not be
a Bryan delegation selected. Those in
control Of the party machinery now do
not take kindly to the silver-tongued ora
tor from Nebraska-in fact absolutely re-
fused support on the two occasions when
the stay of Mr.. Bryan in this city last
Sunday not a single organization leader
of prominence called upon him. Repre-
sentative Talbot. who Is the national
committeeman from Maryland. returned
this week from visit to National Chair
man Taggart in Indiana, where a number
Of other national committeeman also WIS.,
tied Mr.. Taggart. When asked by The
Star correspondent II there was any great
sentiment for Bryan In lgos among the
quite number Of the national commit
teemen hold the view that the nominal
ton of Bryan would be inexpedient at
this time. The impression. however,
seemed to be general that If Bryan want
ed the nomination he could get it. but
there was a division of sentiment as to
whether he really wanted It," Mr.. Tai
bolt declined to discuss the man who
would be favored by the Maryland dela-
CATION. saying that the date for The con-
vention was too far off.
Local Option Plan.
One of the most knotty problems that
will confront the party leaders when the
democratic legislature meets are the de-
mands to be made by the Anti-Saloon
League and the local option advocates re-
garding Baltimore city. The political
leaders of influence are opposed to such
thing as ward or precinct local option,
and legislation along such lines will not
be passed If they can prevent it. The city
leaders have plan in mind which in
cludes the holding Of a special election to
decide whether local option shall prevail
all over the city. Those who favor such
plan assert that no part of the city has
the right to escape it's responsibility for
the existence of the saloon at the expense
Of any other part. 1t Is. therefore. right,
they claim, that the voters of the city
should settle the local option question as
one communicated they do not believe
that. the whole people will turn down the
saloons. By adopting this plan the poll
ticians say they can escape the RESPONSE
bility. as the people will be free to decide
for themselves.
Mayor Displeases Politicians.
Great impetus was given the local op-
tioi movement during the week by Mayor
Mahool, who declared in favor Of it. This
was jar to the local democratic leaders,
but they got more positive jolt when
Mayor MahOol went squarely on record in
favor of the merit system in the conduct
OF municipal affairs. The mayor at the
meeting of the electrical commission this
week fatty refused to sanction the whole
sale dismissal of employees simply b.
cause they happened to be republicans,
and the battle will be fought out at the
next meeting. The two other memb .rs of
the commission are City Register Thomas
and President Parrish Of tn, fire board,
who will dominate the commission when
the vote is taken. Report has 1t that
Thomas and Parrish will refuse to vote
for the reappointment Of the general fore
man. and locking Of horns with the
mayor is confidently expected. The lead
ers and ward heelers are watching the
fight with great interest, for the outcome
will decide whether the spoils or merit
system Is to prevail.
Intercity Railway Delayed.
Unavoidable delays, due principally to
BID weather. have caused another post
ponement of the opening of the Wash
ington, Baltimore and Annapolis electric
railway scheduled for tomorrow. 1t Is
now stated that the road cannot be ready
for operation before January / next and
possibly a month later. Practically all
of the work In Baltimore has been finish
ed excepting the stringing of wires The
executive offices of tine company were
moved this week from the MARYLAND