Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-03
Both Parties Interested in the
Events of the Week.
CONVENTION AFTERMATH
Republican Gathering Most Harmo-
NOUS Held in Years.
DEMOCRATS ARE LUKEWARM
Feel the Benumbing influence of the
Bryan Movement-State's Drift
Toward Republieanism.
Special Correspondence Of The Star.


Special Correspondence Of The Star.
BALTIMORE. Md. May 2. 1908.
The past week was full of interesting
political developments for democrats and
republicans alike The regular repub-
lican organization won out in the state
convention. as was predicted in these
letters to The Star. and the state delega-
ton TO the national republican conven-
ton will vote solid for Secretary Taft.
The democratic machine at the meeting
of the state central committee sent the
Bryan boomers into the tan timbers and
an unnstructed delegation will go to
Denver.
The convention of the republican was
the most harmonious held in years, and
this was due to the fact that all differ
ences between the regulars and insur-
gents were settled i'm conference prior to
the meeting of the state body. The battle
between the Stone Pearre and Mudd-
Jackson forces was lively one during
the night preceding and on the morning
Of the convention. but after II was all
over the victOrs and vanquished buried
the Ratchet and clasped hands. The sit
nation today within the republican ranks
therefore augurs we'll for success next
fall. and il will come in the nature of
q surprise If Taft fails to carry the state.
Democrats Lukewarm.
The democratic leaders not taking
much interest in the national game of
politics. because they feel confident that
Bryan will be the party nominee Inc
Nebraskan is not at all popular with the
men in control of party affairs and will
receive the cold shoulder from the state
committee in the event of his nomination
During his previous campaigns In Mary
land Bryan was practically without
support from the state committee. and the
only effOfts made in his behalf were en-
gineered by S. s. Field the Bryan leader
I'm Maryland. Not only did the state COM
mittee lie down, but prominent democratic
business men with large financial in
terests worked openly against the Ne
braskan and for the republican candidate.
with the result that Maryland was found
in the republican column at both cleo
Idttfng aside Bryan and the policies for
which he stands, Maryland has been
drifting into the republican column on
Judge Parker was the candidate against
President Roosevelt. the vote of the state
In the electoral college was split. With
Bryan the candidate. therefore. it is
reasonable to assume that the republicans
will carry Maryland by greater ma jority
than Mckinley did in 1900. At that cleo
ton, too. the republicans were far from
being a united party being in the midst
of fierce factiOnal fight. with one United
States senator openly opposing the candi-
dacy OF the party nominee.
For the Amendment.
The democratic machine leaders are in
terested in only one thing this fall. and
that the passage of the disfranchisement
amendment. With this amendment rati-
fed and on the statute books, and under
the operation Of the vicious primary cleo
ton law passed by the last legislature.
the democratic machine would be in COM
plete and absolute control of the state.
The new big four in Maryland consists of
Senator Smith. State Treasurer Vandver
State Senator German and the city boss,
John j. Mahon.
One of the pet plans of the machine is
to send young German to the United
States Senate. and this can easily be ac-
complished with the amendment on the
statute books. The boom for young Cor
man was launched during the week at
banquet in honor of the state senator at
EllicOtt City. which was in effect the
serving of formal notice upon Senator
Rayner that it was to be war to the
knife in the event that he is candidate
for reelection.
ator Smith. would be thrown TO German
in such contest. because Smith has not
forgotten that 1t was Rayner who Won
the seat in the Senate which had been
promised him by the elder German. Ray
ner. however. is a fighter. and when the
time rolls around the fur may be expected
to fly.
Reform League Active.
Already the independent democrats are
planning a campaign against the new
suffrage amendment. which will be SUBJ
n he Of
fall. The Reform League at it's annual
meeting this week made hot attack on
the amendment and declared that it is
not bona fide effort to raise the stand
ard OF the electorate: that it is parti-
san measure aimed at DISTINGUISHING col
Ored voters and few or no white voters:
that it is cunninsiy framed to defeat the
purposes of the fifteenth amendment and
it probably will and is intended to convert
Maryland into a one party state. in which
case The people will have no redress
from the Vaccinations of scheming and
corrupt politicians within that party"
that it was brought forward and advo-
Gated mainly by the same political clique
which for more than generation has
been INSCRIPTIONS in prosttuting the
purI ose of obtaining power and which
required political revolution to dis
lodge in 1895
The league also condemned the passage
ny inc legislature OF the primary and
senatorial laws and the laws extending
the provisions of the Wilson law to Queen
Anne and Dorchester counties. 1t states
that 1.-The Wilson law is a fraud upon
certain OF the voters and is so intended
to be-
City Hall Graft Scandal.
The sensation of the week has been the
hearing before Mayor Mahool of the
graft charges against James H. Manise
and j. Arthur Wickham. who. ii is al
legged. received 81. 100 from a street paw
ing company for a contract. Manise and
Wickham are members of the board of
commissioners for opening streets and
have been suspended from office by Mayor
Mahool Still more sensational than the
graft charges was that Harry Welles
Rusk, chairman of the democratic city
committee and for several terms repre-
sentative in Congress from the third
Maryland district. admitted on the stand
that he had received the $500 from a
representative of the paving concern and
had turned the money over To Manise.
Mr.. Rusk is therefore placed i'm the posi-
tion of acting ''gO-between' i'm cor
rupting a public official.
Rusk keenly realizes the position in
which he finds himself placed. and even
his closest personal and political friends
admit that he must step down from his
position in the democratic organization
The loss of his place with the party or
ganization would be little thing were
IL not for the sacrifice of the esteem OF
MANY peODle for there wero ~, -