Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-06
THINGS ALL ASKEW
Baltimore Democracy at Log
qerheads Over Maho0l.
COGS SLIP IN THE MACHINE
Harmony Needed to Insure Success
of Disfranchisement.
AUTHORITARIAN IN VIEW
Ex-Gov. Brown Factor to Be Reck-
oned With-Some Fears That He
May Bolt Party.
COGS SLIP IN THE MACHINE
GET.TOGETHER-PLAN IN VIEW
speeial Correspondence Of The Star.

Special Correspondence OF The Star.
BALTIMORE. Md. December =, 1908
The second move of the democratic city
organization TO down Mayor Mahool in
So far as a denomination is concerned
came this week. It took the form of an
attack on former Gov. Frank Brown, now
city collector, and consisted of an Ordi-
nance in the city council to reduce that
officials salary from $4,000 to 5000
year The introduction of the ordinance
created a great sensation and the general
consensus OF opinion is that the meas
ure was fathered by Sonny" Mahon, the
city boss who is said to be anxious to
drive Frank Brown out of city politics.
The first sign of a breach between
Brown and Mahon came about six months
ago. when Brown. without any apparent
cause, sumnaril removed two bailins in
the tax department. men who for years
had been faithful henchmen of Sonny"
Mahon. When those two men were
fired" the machine raised a howl and the
matter was brought to the attention of
Mayor Mahool, who promised to look
into the matter as soon as Gov. Brown
returned from Europe"
Brown came back, had chat with the
mayor. and the Mahon henchmen remain
ed outside the city hall. The machine
ledQerS were thoroughly
Brown Won out and vowed vengeance. 1t
is stated upon good authority that the
Mahon organization only supported the
loans in the last campaign for the pur-
pose OF having them passed and then
exposing the so-called secret agreement
between a corporation and the city Off
Gals for the purchase of reservoir site.
Trouble Ahead
The situation today is fraught with pos
sibilities, and It seems to forecast serious
trouble within the ranks of the city de-
mocracy next fall And trouble is the
one thing in all Maryland the state lead
ers had hoped to avoid. 1t is an open Sc
cret that the big chiefs of the democracy
a-e looking for fight next fall On the
whole ticket because of the fact that
once again a DISTINGUISHING amendment
will be up for ratification and a United
States seratorship. a state treasurer, CON
troll of the legislature and the entire To-
cal judiciary and court clerk tickets will
be at stake.
1t is conceded among the democrats
that harmony must be established to in
sure the disfranchisement amendment
some sort of chance for ratification.
While the republicans will make a bitter
tight against the amendment the demo-
cratic bosses are OF the opinion that this
can DE overcome with solicited party
behind the measure. But split within
amendment fight will certainly sound
again the knel of the amendment.
1t will be recalled that during last win
ter the party bosses called conference
of all the prominent democratic leaders
in the city and state, who had opposed
the Poe measure. 10 secure their views
and adopt an amendment which would
he satisfactory to- all, and when the bill
was passed by tile legislature last Feb
ruary 1t was stated by the rganization
m a n
the state and city leaders.
Fear Brown May Bolt
1t is wei, known that Frank Brown
has long been an advocate of the dis
Establishment proposition. and so no par
ticular trouble along that line is antici-
pated from the ex-governor, and the state
leaders are satisfied on this point. Among
the city leaders. however, it is admitted
that if Brown dons his fighting toys and
proceeds to make war on the Mahon
machine he will be in a psition to make
a troublesome fight and indeed might
defeat the Mahon gang. which is not as
yet SO strongly intrenched that 1t can
stand a hard battle and possible defeat
Next fall the local ticket viii include a
sheriff. one of the latest plums within
the gift Of the bosses; two court clerks,
register OF wills and three judges of the
supreme bench OF Baltimore city. So
far as the judicial posts are concerned
there is a movement on foot, and 1t has
gained considerable ground, to have a
non-partisan judSeship campaign the
democrats nominating two incumb znts
whose terms expire and the republicans
one. BY keeping further candidates out
OF the fed it is generally conceded that
a big stride in the right direction to
keep the bench out OF politics will have
been made.
May Contest in Primary.
For the other offices it is assumed that
the Mahon machine Will name its own
men. Keen politicians admit that Brown
would be able To pat up candidates and
make very stiff light in the primaries
with a good chance Of defeating the Ma
hon candidates, not because he has any
thing against the men personally or polit-
ically but because the exigences of the
situation might call for this move to es-
tab'isi his right TO control local political
affairs. The politicians and candidates
know that primary fights are expensive