Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-29
maryland POLITICS
State and City Machines Plan
ming for Future.
AFTER Mr.. MAHOOL'S SCALP
Baltimore Mayoralty Object Of a
Secret Deal.
OLD TIMERS IN A SCHEME
Some Interesting Revelations Of
Former Campaigns-Keen Poll
tics Played by Present Mayor.
Id TIMERS IN A SCHEME
Special Correspondence of The Star.

BALTIMORE, Md. November 90, 1908.
The Maryland democratic machine has
recovered from the attack of self-congrat-
ulation on carrying the state for Bryan
and is just now busying itself with plans
for the future. The state end of the Or
ganization is preparing for the suffrage
amendment battle and the capture of the
next legislature. The city end has its
eye on the municipal fleshpots and has
ambitions to own two years hence every
thing in office from the mayor to a street
cleaner.
1t is notorious fact that the demo-
cratic machine in Maryland, like death,
loves shining mark. 1t has demon
recent being the retirement from political
life of Edwin Warfield, one of the best
governors that ever presided over the af-
fairs OF the state at Annapolis. Just now
the city end of the democratic organiza
ton is preparing to put Mayor Mahool
ont Of the running in SO far as the next
mayoraty term is concerned. Two at
tempts have already been made to i'm
pugn the personal integrity Of the ma jor-
ity. One fell fiat and the second. charge
that a secret deal had been made with
company looking to the purchase Of its
property in the event of the passage of
the water loan. which was ratified by the
voters last November.
Beginning of Trouble.
The beginning of the trouble between
Mayor Mahool and the Sonny Mahon
machine started early in the administra-
ton Of Mahool, when he named former
Gov. Brown as tax collector. But to start
at the beginning: When Gov. Brown
brought out City Councilman Mahool to
be the mayoralty standard bearer for the
democrats there was considerable sur
|
man Rasin, the charge of the campaign
devolved upon the shoulders OF Frank
Brown, and the former governor. always
liking, power, he took to the task as mu-
cilage to brush. Apparently the leader
Of the local democratic forces he devel
oped a campaign that brought Mahool in
under the wire winner. AS a reward
for this duty Mahool. upon assuming the
mayOralty, named Frank Brown for tax
collector, one of the best-paying jobs in
ly accepted. From then on Mahools
troubles with the local democratic organ
iZation started.
While Frank Brown was apparently the
leader of the city democracy. all the men
who were working in the game knew. or
believed, that under the cover of Brown
Sonny" Mahon was the actual. practical
boss, and it was left to Mahon to straighten
out trouble and attend to the practical
work of landing Mahool in the city hall.
After the election ii was only natural that
the organization should ask for favors
from Mahooi. The Mahon machine pre-
scented the names of number of men for
important posts in the city hall-men of
such prominence as TO take the heads of
departments.
Wanted Hayes Mems Scalp.
There was no secret about the fact that
the organization wanted the men who
were appointed by Mayor HAYES and
hold mt during the
administrations and who. as the machine
leaders claimed, never helped the demo-
cratic party. removed from Office. Ma
hool. however. could not see things in
departmental head went into the basket.
To say that the ringsters We're sore
is putting it mildly. They were angry
enough to bite off the ears of Mahool. and
vowed all sorts of revenge: These being
practical sort of people and realizing that
they could not get the departmental
heads they Immediately lined up to place
organization workers in the less impor-
tant posts and offices in the city hall.
The machine was partially successful
but nothing like what they expected
or had dreamed A terrible howl went
up from the ranks Of the machine when
the henchmen realized that the leaders
were up against it, to use the YER
reason doubtless why their appeals for men
for minor positions received so little
attention was that the heads of de-
partments knew that the leaders had been
after their political heads and conse-
quently had no great love for them or any
keen desire to fulfill their desires for I'M
important posts. which might not have
been the best politics, but which at all
events was truly human.
Mahool Turns Trick.
Time passed on. The organization,
never wearying of landing few minor
jobs. kept tab on the situation and al
most daily Sonny Mahon .or one of his
cabinet workers invaded the city hall in
the effort to place some man in some
little job. But the results We're most
unsatisfactory. Then came the election.
Mahool determined that the water and
subway loans should pass. realized that
in very quiet manner the Mahon ma
chine was fighting the loans. Then
Mahool played the keenest politics that
has been played in the city hall for
many years. He put the city democratic
and republican leaders on record as in
favor of the loans. One by one he called
in the refractory ward executives and
talked to them. Meanwhile his office
force was sending tons of literature out
to the voters. regardless of affiliations and
regardless Of views.
Practically every voter in the city heard
from the mayor personally during the
campaign. Unable TO secure the services
of the machine spellbinders for the towns
campaign. the mayor went into his own
working force and put nearly all the de-
partment heads on the stump. although
these men had rarely if ever been on po-
litical platform before. He employed the
moving picture and stereop.icon ma
chimes in the campaign, inaugurated
speechmaking from wagons for the loans,
and then when everything looked rosy,
the Federation of Labor came out I'M
aualihediy aga INST the loans. But this
awaited naught and the loans won out by
substantial ma jorities.
Feared the Mayor.
From The moment the loans were rati-
fed he city leaders knew Mahool was
in a position 10 build a powerful machine,
and they became wise and foxy They
said nothing, but on the inside it was
admitted that Mahool held the deck and
could deal the cards pretty much as he
saw fit 1t seemed as though the Mahon
machine was due for another bump so
far landing anything was concerned.
And the silence was fraught with under
standing, for the city leaders knew or be-
l.eved that with the experienced hand Of
Frank Brown to guide him, and with
Browns money to help out incidentally,
that with the inauguration of the work
under the two loans Mahool would be in
position to form a most effective organ-
cation an dto be able to make the pr-
mary fight not only costly, but most I'M
certain, and they did not like the looks
of things bit.
Then came the secret-deal- for property
exposure 1t Is needless to bother about