Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-24
POLITICS IN MARYLAND
Democrats in fractional Fights
Over Local Patronage.
SENATOR SMITHS METHODS
Small Leaders Dissatisfied at Being
Ignored in Councils.
GOSSIP OVER THE AMENDMENT
Graft Scandal in Baltimore Excites
Interest Throughout the State.
Trouble for Mr.. Talbot.
GOSSIP OVER THE AMENDMENT
Sneeial Correspondence Of The Star.

Sp<cial Correspondence Of The Star.
BALTIMORE. Md. May %, 1908.
The democratic party in Maryland is
An mighty bad shape today. There are
faet;onal differences in many parts OF
the state and an especially bitter fight
is being waged in Dorchester county
which is on the eastern shore. tie strong
hold of the state boss, Senst tor Smith.
Much comment has been aroused over
the fact that Senator Smith has not
taken a hand in the row and erected
compromise The effect of the fight Will
be TO encourage factional contests all
over the state. as there is much dis
satisfaction prevailing with the existing
order of things in many of the counties.
Senator Smith has failed TO develop these
elements of leadership which coun. lol
success. He lacks tact and fails 10
grasp opportunities to cement the party.
And as a result signs of disintegration IN
the new machine are already apparent.
The democratic nominees will have
hard fight to win this year. because the
organiza ton is not a compact, harmoni-
Gus working body. Too little attention
has been paid to the small leaders, the
men who do the actual work of vote get
ting on election day. These little local
being treated like herd of sheep and
they naturally resent it. The circle of
Smiths advisers is a very charmed and
select one and only a few can get the
workers have become disgruntled and
are taking little or no interest in the
political game.
Effect on the Amendment.
This condition wherein the party will
have its greatest effect upon the pet
scheme of the Smith machine-the dis
Reimbursement amendment. The party
bosses within the charmed circle have
set their hearts upon the ratification Of
this measure at the polls next November
and seem to have forgotten that the pie
must be made before 1t can be eaten
The amendment was put through the
legislature with such ease under the
party whip that the state boss seems to
have forgotten that the voters of the
state have an inning coming to them.
On the day Of its passage the amendment
had little show of being ratified at the
polls and today 1t seems almost a fore
gone conclusion that it will be defeated
by an overwhelming majority. Against
the amendment in the campaign this fall
viii be found many democrats who have
the confidence of the people and a solid
and united republican party.
1t would not cause much surprise if the
amendment went down under a ma jority
as heavy as that which buried the Poe
amendment several years ago. when Gov
Warheld took his stand with the people
as against the bosses. 1t is expected that
LWarfield will again take up the cudgels
to defeat the amendment and lead the in
dependent democrats in the fight.
Much Adverse Criticism.
During the week the board of election
supervisors made two appointments which
have aroused much adverse criticism
The board named for positions in the Of
flee George Lewis. who was for years the
handy man. of Free Rasin, and John
Mahon. jr.. the son of the new boss of
Baltimore town. In discussing these ap-
Howard of the Reform League said to
The Star correspondent today:
1t seems TO me that the appointments
speak rather eloquently for themselves.
do not know just what is meant by the
ONCE of general utility man. or what the
duties OF this office are. Of George Lewis
/ need not speak. for he is well. although
not favorably. known. Young Mahon is
not known TO me. but we have frequently
heard of Mr.. Mahon, ST.. and therefore
the young man is not recommended by
reason of his parentage. Abraham Lin
coin once said: For people who like that
sort OF thing. that Is the sort of thing
that those people like. This would APP
Ply u TIE present SITUATION. l sincerely
nope that the situation is satisfactory to
the supervisors of elections who have the
peoples interests in charge"
The Graft Scandal.
The democratic leaders in Baltimore are
much concerned over the coming trial of
Wickham and Marine. the dismissed city
officials who are under indictment for ac-
cepting brides from street paving con-
tractors. On his own admission Harry
Welles Rusk. who was chairman of the
city democratic committee until forced to
resign by the graft revelations was the
go-between and thus the party organ
izatlon must bear the burden of suspi-
cion OF holding up contractors on city
work. During the trial of the officials be-
fore Mayor Mahool there were sensa-
tlonal revelations, and it is known that
the states attorney will probe deep when
Marine and Wickham face trial in the
criminal court. The graft scandal devel-
oped at most inopportune time for the
democratic organization. which has thus
been placed in an unenviable light and
must move cautiously in the coming cam
paign. in so far as the selection of candi-
dates for office is concerned. At the pres
ent time the open support of the organ
ization would be a handicap rather than
an aid in either the primary or general
election.
Fight Against Talbot.
There is trouble brewing for Represen-
tative Talbot in the second district. and
he may have to fight hard TO secure re-
nomination. The forces arraigned asains.
Talbot have filed with Chairman Hanni-
bal of the local state central committee
rival list of delegates from the fifteenth
ward to the congressional convention of
the second district with the view to ioin-
Ing forces with Hartford and Carroll
counties to beat the easy boss of Bal
timore county for the nominal ton in case
the delegation should win out in the pri-
marfes next Thursday. Eleven votes CON
stitute majority. and the anti-Talbott
people say that by winning in the pri-
mares and joining forces with Hartford
ana carroll counties they can control the
convention. which will meet at Havre de
Grace June =, and defeat Talbot for a
denomination.
Men behind the anti-Talbott delegation
In the fifteenth ward say its success is
pretty well assured. most of the active
party workers are in favor of Ii and will
they say. appeal TO the democratic voters
OF the ward who have not in the past
been closely allied with the workers The
action on the part of the fifteenth ward
politicians came like bolt out OF
clear sky. the denomination of Tai
bolt had been practically conceded from
the first. Robert Garrett will in all like
lihood be the republican nominee