Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-04
OLD GUARD CONTROLS
The Present Situation of the
Maryland Democracy. :.
CONVENTION ON THURSDAY
Some Unique Features Of Guberna-
torial Fight.
GOSSIP ABOUT THE CANDIDATES
Factors in Lively Contest for State
Control-Warfeld Regarded Man
of the Hour.
CONVENTION ON THURSDAY
GOSSIP ABOUT THE CANDIDATES

Speoiai correspondence OF The Star.
BALTIMORE. Md. August g. 1907
On Thursday next the democratic state
convention will meet and nominate a cand-
date for governor. The "old guard is in
absolute control Of the machinery and can.
throw the nomination to any man they may
desire. But it is indeed very doubtful If
they will have the nerve to use the power
within their hands If two United States
senatorships were not at stake these "o!d
guard veterans would rule the convention
with rod of iron. as in byg6ne days but
IN view of existing conditions and the gen.
eral trend of the people to crush out ring
rue it seems most likely that the aspirants
will be permitted to fight it out on the floor
of the convention.
peculiar feature Is the fact that the
old guard is without a Candidate upon
whom all can agree, and even IL they could,
1t Is doubtful If they would present his
name 1t looks today that the choice will
lie between former Gov. Frank Brown,
Joseph D. Baker of Frederick county and
CITY Colls/tor Henry Williams Of this city
Or City Collector w. Cabell Bruce. also of
Balt><ore. STILL there Is a possibility of a
paddock and the chance Of a dark horse
being named In such an event Mayor Ma
kool and Vice Mayor Numsen Of Baltimore
would he the most formidable in the bal
ioting. Then again the entire trend Of
events may change before Thursday and
an eastern shore man-possibly former
Gov. Jackson-may loom up as a winner
The situation today, SO far as the guberna-
tortal nomination Is concerned is highly
proolemat1cal. and even men who have
made democratic politics in Maryland a
study confess themselves at sea when
asked who will be the nominee
Situation UNPARALLELED.
The situation within the democratic party
today is unparalleled In the history of the
party OF Maryland. Organization, admins
tration and independent democrats are I'D
a tree. One wing, the "old guard" has the
power to cut the knot. but dare not use it.
while the other two demand that the best
man be named and are holding club over
the head of the organization forces The
party today finds itself in need of German
or Rasin to solve the problem, and in the
ranks of the 'old guard not a single man
can measure up to the requirements Of
state leadership. Representative J. Fred c.
Talbot Is at best only an afternoon shadow
of his chief the late Senator German. and
Is playing Foxy CUTLER game. He cares
not who shall be governor so lon, as he
captures the long term In the United States
Senate
Former Gov. Brown Is also casting covet-
Gus eyes-indeed. Is an avowed candidate
Tor the Senate. and Is playing the game
solely with that end in View Former Gov
Jackson has yearning for seat in the
upper house of Congress. and the fact that
he has permitted himself to be nominated
Tor the state senate shows plainly that he
Is In the fight to finish.
Col John Walter Smith, likewise former
governor. has senatorial aspirations He
once played the game for the party by call
ing an extra session to pass the present
election law in order to return German to
the Senate. IN return for which bo
was promised the seat now occupied by
Isdcr Rayner. This time II Is only human
to suppose that Col. Smith will play the
game for Col Smith. and former Gov
Smith Is power on the eastern shore
Seth a Factor.
1t Is an axiom that the counties are al
ways agin the city. and rather than see the
nomination carried off by a city man the
counties may unite on Gen. Joseph B. Seth.
who was president OF the last state senate.
Seth Is very close to former Gov Jackson,
and his nomination and election would in
sure one Of the togas going to Jackson
Former Gov. Jackson has money to burn,
and while a cautious business-lik man.
the nomination of Gen. Seth. Jackson is
the only member OF the ''old guard" in good
standing who has a great big bar'l and is
willing to tap 1t II things will come hts way
ton in determining who shall be the nomi-
nee. II he cares to make the move he can
put on the observation-disclosures supplying
the campaign fund-and practically domi-
nate the convention. The party today must
bend the knee to the man with the bari
for the corporations have agreed that there
will be nothing doing in the way Of cam
paign contributions this coming fight
Warheld Man Of the Hour.
If the democratic ring wanted to play
clean politics and give the tate a good ad-
ministradon for four years more the oppor-
tunity Is within Its grasp. 1t holds the
machinery subject to orders and could. by
sending word down the line. rally all demo-
Gratis around Gov. Warfleld for renomina-
ton: but. by the mere fact that they are
unalteraby against Warfleld, 1t is clear
that a clean administration of state affairs
freed from all graft and scandal is not
wanted by the democratic ringsters If
these odd guard veterans are sincere in
their protestations that they want q man
who will give clean administration why
don't they declare for Warf1eld? 1t Ia true
that the governor has announced that he
is not candidate under any conditions,
but The Star correspondent feels safe In
asserting that II a denomination were ten
dered Warf1eld unanimously he would ac-
cept. Gov. Warfleld has stated on several
occasions that it is mans duty to accept
public office at personal sacrifice. and n
the "old guard" Is sincere let them present
the nomination to Warfield. and it's dollars
to doughnuts that Warfleld will accept. The
"old guard" has simply driven Gov. War
field from the field.
Col. Oswald Ttlghman. secretary of state
is authority for the assertion that Gov
Warfeld cherished ambition to be the
only governor since the civil war honored
with a second term. but Gov Warf1eld
realizes that the cards have been Stacked
against him and he has avoided falling into
any of the pitfalls that have been laid FOR
him.
Home Week Is Assured.
That Maryland will have an "o!d home-
coming week" from October IA to 49, inclu
sive. is an assured fact. A working organi-
cation has been perfected and everything
points to the affair being one Of the most
successful ever held within the state. The
Maryland Society Of New York has prom
Used to send a delegation OF 900. and have
already secured quarters at the Belyidere
Hotel. The Maryland Society OF Ohio will
send at least 200 former Marylanders ac-
cording to reports from the secretary
The executive committee in charge of tho
affair has been completed. and is Composed
OF the following gentlemen ]. Charles Lin
thicum chairman; Mayor Mahool, Gen.
Clinton L. Riggs, John NJ Deoonai former