Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-15
AFFAIRS IN MARYLAND.
New Election Law Works in
Interest of Honesty.
BOTH PARTIES PLEASED
Rayner Seems Sure to Succeed Him
self in Senate.
GORMAN MAY OPPOSE HIM
But Son of Former Wearer Of Toga
Has Small Following Outside
of Own District.
BOTH PARTIES PLEASED
GORMAN MAY OPPOSE HIM
s,eci,l Correspondence Of The Star.

Special Correspondence Of The Star.
BALTIMORE. Md. November IA. 1908.
The presidential election was the first
ever held under corrupt practices law
in Maryland.
Politicians of both parties express them
selves we'll pleased with the results.
GOV. Crothers in discussing the late cleo
ton Wit. The Star correspondent today
said the result was a complete vindica-
ton for the new law as an instrument
for civic righteousness.
II have received letters he said, from
representative men in both parties giving
me to understand that the last election
was the cleancst and fairest Maryland
has experienced in many years. and these
letters came from all sections of the
state.
found in the new law. but this was to
he expected in its first test. We shall,
therefore proceed at the next session
Of the legislature to remedy these de-
fectS and make the corrupt practices
law even more effective than it is at
present. Some minor amendments will
be proposed but in the main the law will
stand practically as it is on the statute
books today.
II have no hesitation in saying that far
less money changed hands in the last
election and infinitely less whisky was
used than in any Maryland election within
fidence that in the next election there
will be even less of both used.
That Prohibition Wave.
GOV. Crothers remark about the use
of whisky on election days brings to
mind the fact that both the republican
and democratic party leaders are begin
ming to sit up and take notice of the
progress OF the temperance movement in
this state. AS a matter of fact the lead
erS are already on the quiet figuring
what part this issue will play in the
election of the members of the legislature
next fall.
The politicians are fully cognizant of
the fact that practically all the southern
states and many of those in the middle
west have already had a struggle with
prohibition in one form or other as an
issue. and that the ground lost by the
water wagon advocates in some quarters
has been gained by them in others.
There is every reason to believe. the
politicians now admit, that the dominant
parties In Maryland will have a wrestle
with this issue in the next state election.
The chairman of the democratic state
central committee Murray Vandiver. was
non-committal when asked for an opinion
by The Star correspondent. Republican
State Chairman Thomas Parran was not
in the city today.
But prominent republican leader de-
clared he did not believe that either party
would he willing to espouse the cause of
temperance in Maryland in the form of
statewide prohibition. He said that the
prohibitionists, in order to gain a footing
would have to make their fights locally
by indorsing or opposing the individual
candidates for the general assembly in
the various legislative districts.
One Year Hence.
In the fall Of 1909 the democrats will
present to the voters the constitutional
amendment, which is supposed to be a
proposition to disfranchise the colored
vote. but in reality a scheme to put the
state more absolutely under the control
of the democratic oligarchy. which now Is
in the saddle.
the democratic bosses whole lot of trou-
BILE. because it is the same measure in a
new dress which was showed under by
10000 majority in 1906. The leaders real
iZe that there is considerable opposition
within the party to the measure and have
already begun the work of next falls
campaign.
1t was with the end in view of winning
the Bryan democrats over to the regular
organization that caused State Chairman
Vandiver. to take off his coat and roll up
his sleeves for the Nebraskan in the
presidential campaign. The regular
ganiZation throughout the state worked
I'm harmony and Zealously for Bryan. and
the result was three-fourths of the cleo
toral college votes for the democratic
nominee.
position to call upon the Bryanites to aid
in the coming disfranchisement fight.
Against this amendment are practically
the same forces which opposed Bryan
Ia ind
pendent democrats. and these elements
carried the state for Taft on the popular
vote by over 600 votes. Added to these
elements are the thousands of democrats
balk when ii comes to handing the right
of suffrage throughout Maryland over to
a coterie of ring politicians. who are now
using a crooked election law to defeat
the actual intent OF voters.
United States Senatorship.
The Legislature to be elected next fall
will choose a United States senator to
succeed Isidor Rayner. 1t is generally
known that Senator Rayner desires to
succeed himself, and he has made it plain
that he intends to retain his seat in the
upper house of Congress.
And in this connection it Is pointed
out that Rayner played good politics
during the presidential campaign when he
remained in Maryland and stumped the
entire state for the democratic presidential
ticket 1t had been planned that Rayner
should go to New York and stump that
state for Bryan, but on the advice of his
close friends he remained at home.
As a result Rayner today has the Bryan
element behind him and with his personal
following is the most formidable candi-
date at this day.
II will be remembered that Rayner in
1901 licked the old German machine and
won the senatorship. And the remnants
OF the "old guard" are somewhat chary
about trotting out a candidate against
him.
There has been a great deal of talk
about State Senator German entering the
lists for the United States Senate, and 1t Is
said that he would have the earnest sup
port of the state boss, Senator John
Walter Smith. But the Bryanites claim
that young German Laid down" on Bryan
In Howard county and point to the figures
in the gubernatorial contest last year and
the presidential election this year to prove
their assertions.
Outside of his home county, as a mat
ter OF fact, Senator German has a mighty
small following and would make a poor
showing against Rayner in a direct pri-
mary vote.
Independence Party Plans.
According to Charles A. Briscoe. ma
tional committeeman for the independ-
ence party in Maryland. the Hearst ma
chine will enter the state campaign next
year with vigor, and that Il would in al,