Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-12
MARYLAND AND BRYAN
Republicans Confident of Taft
Carrying the State.
DEMOCRATIC DIVISION
Some Facts to Contribute to Repub-
lican Success.
ROW OVER LIQUOR QUESTION
Attitude of Saloon Men in Baltimore
Hard Fight Ahead on the Dis
reimbursement Amendment.
De- OCRATIC DIVISION
ROW OVER LIQUOR QUESTION
Special Correspondence "f The Star


Special Correspondence "f The Star.
BALTIMORE. Nd July H. 1905
The nomination Of William Jennings
Bryan at Denver has made MARYLAND "A
sure thing for William H. Taft Hun
dredS of independents have openly stated
that they will vote the republican ticket
fhis fall. while the republican voters are
unit for William II. Taft. The nrgani
nation democrats are fearful that i'll the
landslide. which tbey say is sure tn come
this fall. the congressional districts now
conaolled 10y democrats may N, lost
The democratic machine in Baltimore
Is in mighty bad shape AT the present
time. Many of the old followers of Boss
Rasin do not like the new boss. Sonny
Aahon. They assert that Rasiu and
Nahon We're enemies and that the. breach
between the two had never been healed.
They say that il was the dying wish of
Rasin that former Gov. Brown should
BECOME the city leader. and they resent
what they term the turning over of the
party machine by Brown To Mahon.
barge number of the ward executives are
disposed to kick over the Mahon traces.
and the boss Is about to begin
process OF elimination. This fact became
known since the delegation lett for Den
One of the ward executives charges
rilat he was double-crossed by the Mahon
machine in the selection of district
delegate This executive was told that a
certain well known business man III his
ward would be chosen as delegate 10
Denver but when the convention met
This mans name was not even mentioned.
and the honor went TO a man from an
other faction in the ward. The eXecu-
tive demanded explanation FOR the
action. and was CURLY told that ne had
better look out for his own scalp When
tAe time rolled around for the selection
~ new city. committees.
This executive had for years been one
Of Rasir's trusted lieutenantS. had always
carried his ward and was Known as a
straight man in ward affairs. rms is
only one of many cases that nlSht oe
,-ited showing how Mahon Is getting ready
10 remove the old Rasin ward executives
and place men of his own selection IN
control. This action has aroused much
hostility among the rank and ME OF tle
old Rasin machine. and the prospects are
excellent for a bitter interneclne fSht
this fall.
Wide-Open Town.
Another factor that will initiate against
the democrats is the new liquor law IN
der its provisions a hotel may keep open
bar during twentyfour hours Baltimore
is now "a wide-open town and primarily
lighted bars with front doors swinging
wide omen are now familiar sights in this
city from midnight until daybreak IL Is
,Iaimed by the organization democrats
that this condition is due To an error III
The wording of the new law: t!fat IL was
framed for the purpose OF putting tle
lid down tight The blame is placed upon
The legislature for the miscarriage of the
law. but the respectable element place
the blame upon the organization
II is pointed out that Mahon ana MS
agents were constantly at the state cap
itol during the session of the legislature
closely scrutinizing all bills which afected
Baltimore city. and il is asserted that the
error was knowingly made for the ptlr-
bose of throwing a sop To the liquor eie-
1nent bring that element solidlN IN line
with the democratic organization. The
democratic ma jority in the legislature was
forced to pass the high license law be-
csuse public opinion demanded It's pass
age.
When it became known that the bosses
had decided to pass the high license law
the liquor element got busy and word was
sent 10 the organization crowd that the
democrats would at the first opportunity
he knitted by the saloon element. This
caused alarm in the machine councils and
the liquor men We're told that things
would be made AL right. Just what all
right meant was not known 1T that
time, but recent developments show plain
" that "all right meant the placing of
a snake" in the new liquor law.
The liquor element in this city plays an
important part in democratic politics.
much OF the revenue for campaigns com
ing from the saloons. The saloon element
has always been with the democratic or
Sanization and each saloon is credited
with being good for five votes election
days In return for this good work the
saloons were allowed certain privileges
not included in the provisions of the
liquor law. Arrests for violations of the
law were few and far between and only
small fines followed convictions.
Lid Was on Tight
During the past four years however
there was a great change in conditions
and the police department rigdIy enforced
the Law. The states attorney was Vigor-
Gus and convictions and heavy fines came
thick and fast. The sa loon element was
iliSt beginning realize that the law
must he obeyed and u month ago Il few
places that had not closed side doors for
years went dry after midnight. The
ssloonkeepers were up in arms against
what they termed the in2ratitude of the
machine and We're making al manner OF
lareatS. Then somebody discovered that
grave error had been made n fran
ing the law and hat instead of putting
the lid the statute made Baltimore Il
vide open town. The liquor men. as a
result are jubilanI and will again line up
with their old allies, the democratic
BOSSES. when election day rolls around
The legislature Will not meet again until
1910 and so for two years the saloonktep-
ers will enjoy the fruits of that error
in the liquor law
The democratic party will have hard
tights on its hands in the spring and fall
elections next year. aud the leaders are
already at work paving the way for sue
cess. IL is already conceded that the dis
franchiscment amendment VIII be beaten
next November. because the measure ~
practically the same the Poe amend
iaent which was showed under by over
81 aSb majority. The independent demo
Gratis are dead set against the amendment
and as they hold the balance of power in
MARYLAND one need not be = political
prophet forecast the result. Summing
up the entire situation the prospects of
the democracy are indeed dark both in
the national fight this year and the state
and municipal contests in 1902. The party
lacks state leader who can lead and
the city boss is not in absolute control by
any means j. NJ. ID.
IMnIAN nIITRREAK EEAREn