Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-16
Clagett and Local Option.


ater Clagett's power in the county has
diminished as the result of the local OPP
ton fight. In which he figured promi-
nently. Senator Clagett introduced the
bill submitting the question as to whether
or not intoxicating liquors should be sold
in the county after September I. 1908.
The bill was submitted at special cleo
ton Tuesday last. and. as reported in
The Star. was defeated. the VETS Sc
curing a majority Of 266. The senator
made several speeches in favor of the
adoption of his bill. but 1t was a notice
able circumstance that many OF his lieu
tenants were openly opposed to local op-
ton Tt was also observed that several
of the senator's political opponents. es-
pecially In Spauldings district. came out
boldly in favor Of the saloon element.
this district giving majority Of 1a1 for
liquor, the largest wet" victory in any
of the districts
II was reported during the campaign
that his enemies In this district were OPP
posed to the local option bill in the hope
that, if ii were defeated at the polls. il
would weaken the senator in the county
Politicians generally do not take this
view of the situation. They point to the
fact that at the same time the local OPP
ton bill was passed Senator Carter Sc
cured the passage OF a law creating
board of liquor license commissioners for
Prince George county.
The Saloon Interests.
The power Of this commission is practi-
cally unlimited so far as concerns the
granting of liquor licenses in the county.
The men composing the board are sup
posed to he Senator Clagetts appointees:
at least they were named in the bill ere
ating the board.
1t is therefore argued that should the
senator see fit to do so he might make
trouble for the saloon people in the coun-
~ who use their influence in the COM
ing primaries to bring about his defeat.
In other words. should he be defeated.
and he could place the blame for his de-
feat upon the shoulders of any or
more saloon keepers in the county. the
chances of these particular prOprietors Sc
curing licenses would be extremely pre-
carious On the other hand. the temper
ance element in the democratic party are
regarded as In duty bound to assist the
senator in the coming contest since he
showed by his action in the local option
fight that he was their friend
The county convention Will be held here
Tuesday. June =. and will select delegates
TO the state convention in Baltimore and
also to the national convention In Den
Yer.
Delegates to Be Selected.
Delegates to the congressional conven-
tion tn he held in Marlboro in September
will also he chosen AS Yet the democrats
in the fifth congressional district have
not decided upon a candidate to oppose
Representative Sydney Mudd. who was
nominated at the convention recently
held In Hyattsville
It. is believed that should ne deslre 10
again oppose Mr.. Mudd. George NJ. Smith
of Bowie district. Prince George county.
could secure the nomination. MT Smith
was Mr. Mudds opponent In 1905 and
was defeated by several thousand major
ity states Attorney B. Harris Camalicr
of ST Mary county. tWic" def ated by
Representative Mudd. will hardly consent
to undertake the rigors Of campaign
against the La Plata statesman lie has
an envious eye on the JOB no" neiu ..
Iudpe Crane OF ST. Mary county. who
retires in August Of this year. Mr.. CANA
lier Is recognized as the logical successor
of Judge Crane. and Gov crothers VIII. II
is believed. appoint him to serve until the
general election in 1904