Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-14
TRY TO REVIVE PARTY
Former Governor Brown is
Making a Strenuous Effort.
DEMOCRATS IN BAD WAY
Ranks Are Scattered Far and Wide
in State of Maryland.
BY NO MEANS HOPELESS TASK
Former Governor Thinks He Can Pull
Them Together-Another Con-
ference to Be Held.
NO MEANS HOPELESS TASK

BALTIMORE, February 14.-The serious
ness of the present situation from Demo-
cratic viewpoint, which has been greatly In
creased since the withdrawal from the
field as a candidate of City Solicitor Bruce,
has so impressed ex-Gov. Frank Brown that
he has decided to exert himself in an enort
to straighten out the tangle into which the
party has gotten and to unite 1t behind
winning candidate for the mayoralty
Eight years ago Mr.. Brown succeeded IN
doing just what he hopes to do this time,
although the conditions then were not
nearly as bad as they are now. The result
of his efforts at that time led to the noml,
nation and election OF ex-Mayor Hayes ana
established for him reputation as man
with the ability and energy to start ana
manage a winning fight.
The ex-governor did not intend to take
any active or leading part in the present
campaign, but the conditions now exlstihs
in the party the failure of the organization
to get behind any candidate IN the prinia-
ries and the general hopelessness with "hich n
many democrats are beginning to view the
situation have convinced him that umess
something is done quickly to solidify sent,-
ment behind the strongest ana most NaI-
able man there is nothing ahead put de-
feat. Under these conditions his interest IN
the success of the party as well as his IN
terest in the welfare of the city In "nlcn
he Is one of the largest taxpayers mas oe.
termined him to again make the atteHpt
to get the party together
Having made UP his MIND 10 TINS enee'
Mr.. Brown lost no time in going into ACTON.
He had a dozen and more conferences yes
terday with influential democratic ponti-
clans as well as with some Democrats wlo
are not politicians, but who want 10 see
the party win Some of those with Whom
the ex-governor conferred are connected
with the organization and some the party.
Organization in Doubt.
Mr.. Brown ascertained definitely that
the organization neither has a candldate
now for the nomination nor has it one In
view. From the men whom he saw he
verified the fact that the party through
out the city is in uncertain and unsatis1ac-
tory shape, and that thousands of demo-
Gratis are waiting for Developments, iuiis
Convinced that unless some good. strong
man is put to the front the republicans
will elect the next mayor 49,
The idea that the corporations are at.
tempting to take hand in the politics OF
both parties, and the effect this would
have upon the public mind should the be
lief ever gain. general credence was dis
cussed Some of the organization men
with whom Mr.. Brown talked were frank
in confessir that it would now be ex-
ceedingly difficult to elect any man
brought out directly under the auspices
of the organization leaders.
More Conferences Today.
The conferences with democrats which
the ex-governor is now seeking will be
continued. His purpose is to find out
from those men who are supposed TO
have influence in their different wards
whether or not they are prepared to fall
in line and support the man in the pr1-
maries shown to be. the strongest and
with whom the party stands the best
chance of winning. II they nave any
wants
them If they have not any and agree
with him that the party is in rather a
precarious position, then he wants TO
know if they are willing to stop knock
in the court of the next two or three
days he will be able to get together the
men who compose the bone and slneW OF
the organization, as wei! as the strong
men in other factions and convince them
of the necessity Of concerted and mar
moniouS action.
If he is successful in this-and from
the manner in which those with whom he
talked yesterday expressed themselves
there Is every reason to believe he Will
be-eX-Governor Brown will immediate
ly begin his search for the strongest
candidate. 1t is not his intention to pick
out the man himself, and he asserts with
the strongest emphasis that his activity
is not in the interest of any candidate,
nor has he any man in view as a pros
pective candidate.
Cali Want is a Winner"
"All want" said Mr.. Brown. sis to get
winner. Certainly, if some one does not
take hold here and make an effort to get
the different elements of the party together
behind one man, we are going 10 De IN
grave danger of losing the city. Both as a
democrat and as a taxpayer l would re-
gard the election of either one of the re-
publican candidates as little short of a
calamity.
80 far as the democratic aspirants 70,
this place are concerned, l have absolutely
nothing against any of them. and nearly
any man who has been mentioned In this
connection would suit me II he can win
That is what l want-a man who can win
None of those who either are in the field
now or who have been spoken of as prob
able candidates can win If the party Is go.
ing to be split up in the primaries in the
way it now threatens to be. The organiZa-
ton should get behind some candidate. II
strongest man, let them get behind him. II
some other man can be found who Is
stronger than any Of these. then let that
man be gotten, let the organization line VI
behind him and solidify the rank and file.
Wants a Democrat Elected.
Millions Of dollars will be spent b. the
city in the next four years, and a humble,
of vitality important problems will have tc
be decided by the mayor. 1t is to the In.
terest of the city. In my judgment, that
the expenditure of this money and the de.
termination of these problems should be in
the hands of an honest, able, capable and
experienced democrat. That is the only in.
terest I have in the whole business.
don't like to see the party drifting on te
the rocks the way 1t is going now, and ]
have interest enough in it to do what car
to get 1t into shape.
Il have taken hold Of the thing now. and
I have seen today q number Of pretty
well-known party men who agree with mi
that the time for drifting has passed and
the time for action has come. These mer
have expressed their willingness to supper
any man who has behind him the publ.
sentiment and personal strength to win
What we want to do now Is to find tina
man. don't propose to pick him out my
self, but in the next three or four days
expect to formulate a plan which will b,
a pretty thorough test OF who is and whit
is not the strongest man.
Would Unite the Party.
"If can demonstrate to the people v h.
will prove in the general election tn,
candidate fhoro should h,