The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1908-05-29
Movement to Down Clagett.

Unless negotiations now pending
looking to the adjusting of a perplexing
situation existing among leading Dem
ocrats in Prince Georges county are
speedily brought to a successful termi-
nation one ofthe most stubborn primary
contests in the history of the county
will take place May Both. While many
collateral considerations are featuring
the controversy, it is generally agreed
that the real object of the fight is to
down the present organization forces in
the county, headed by State Senator
William B. Clagett, chairman of the
county central committee.
The head and front of the opposition
to the Senator is conceded to be George
5. Dove, of Spaldings district. regarded
as one of the shrewdest politicians in
his part of the State. The report is
current that Doves antagonism to the
senator results from the the latter's
failure TO secure Doves appointment
IS tobacco inspector for Southern Mary
aud The Senator does not deny that
~ae promised to use his influence in
Doves behalf, but declares that subse-
quent events made it impossible for
lin to secure the appointment for the
5palding district politician.
During the recent local option con-
est in this county, when Senator Clag
ett's bill submitting the question as to
whether or not Intoxicating liquors
should be sold in the county after Sep
semter /, 1908. was voted upon, Spald-
ings district gave a majority for liquor
If 157, and Dove made the boast that he
md his friends would carry the district
| for the "wets" by at least $50 majority
He more than made good. That Dove
took the side of the liquor interests in
he hope of weakening the Senator's in
duence is generally admitted. Local
option was defeated in the county by q
| ma ority of 265, but it was through no
| tault of Senator Clagett, who made a
determined fight for the adoption of his
DILL The defeat of the bill in no way
essened the Senator's influence, it is
contended, but rather served to strength
en- it.
The next development in the situa-
lion was meeting of Democrats in
Washington, when it was decided to
make contest in the primaries, with q
view to securing the Endorsement of
Fillmore Beall, of Evansville district by
he county convention for judge Of the
Seventh Judicial circuit, to succeed
Judge George c. Merrick, who reaches
the age limit Of retirement next spring,
| 1t being generally reported that Senator
| Clagett favored the appointment of T.
Van Clagett, of Mellwood, the natural
| Inference was drawn that the real con-
test was against the organization head
ed by the senator, and that Dove and
| his adherents were mainly responsible
for bringing on the contest, and hoped,
| by placing Mr.. Beall in the vanguard,
TO muster the support of Mr.. Beall and
his host of friends in the attempt to
draw the organization.
| The friends of Senator Clagett are
| lnsistent that this is no time to bring
up the matter of the appointment of a
successor to Judge Merrick, that the
| convention on June 2 next is for the
sole purpose of selecting delegates to
the national, state and congressional
| district convention, and that no one
should be endorsed for the judgship at
this time. The followers of Mr.. Bea!l
contend that it is perfectly proper for
the convention to express, by resolution,
its preference in the premises, and that
the probabilities are that Governor
Crothers will be guided in his appoint
ment by the action of the convention.
This opinion, however, is not shared
| by all the Democrats in the county,
some of whom believe that the Govern
or would ignore the action of the con-
vention and would appoint some man
not directly interested in the political
| contest.-Sundav American.