Evening star., 1909-05-09
FRANCHISE IS ISSUE
Straus Amendment to Fore in
Maryland Campaign.
TALBOT FOR DIRECT VOTE
Baltimore County Leader Out for
Crawford County System.
PROHIBITIONISTS IN SESSION
State Wide Law Advocated as Party
Policy-Industrial Peace in
Prospect.
pecial Correspopdcnce of The Star.

BALTIMORE, Md. May s. 1899.
The democratic party leaders are brave
ly. If reluctantly, facing the paramount
issue in the fall campaign-the disfran-
chisement amendment. They are facing
the issue because they have been driven
into a corner by good generalship on the
part of the republican leaders.
If the democratic bosses had been al
| lowed to make the campaign issue the
Straus suffrage plan would never have
been in the limelight for an instant.
Those democratic leaders are willy poll
ticians, heroes of many hard-fought
battle of the ballots. and they know full
well that there is a great and general
sentiment against the amendment.
They had planned to run the amend
ment on the ballot as a sort of side
issue generally and a party measure in
particular. In other words, the suffrage
amendment was not intended TO be "tea-
tured''
The aggressive attitude of the republi-
cans, under the leadership of William r.
Stone. however, has changed these plans
Realizing that the republicans have de-
cided to make the Straus amendment the
principal feature of the approaching cam
paign, the democratic machine has de-
cided to meet the issue and make last
stand for political supremacy. with the
"old guard the captains OF the
game" in the event of success.
Murray Vandiver chairman of the DEM
ocratic state central committee. has,
therefore. sent out the announcement
that support of the amendment will be
the test of democracy
Talbot for Direct Primary.
One of the most surprising announce
ments of the week was that Representa-
tive j. F. c. Talbot. the easy boss" of
Baltimore county, is in favor of the
Crawford county system in the primaries
this fall. This decision the part of
the representative was made known after
a consultation between Mr.. Talbot Wal
ter r. Townsend and James Rittenhouse.
members of the state central committee
This means that the nominations for
the various county offices shall be made
by the direct vote of the people 1t Was
decided, however. by the triumvirate to
defer the call for the official primaries
until a conference is held next week with
the county democratic executive COM
mittee.
Representative Talbot. in explaining
the action OF the members of the state
central committee for Baltimore county,
said that 1t is plainly evident that
large majority of the democrats of the
county favor the Crawford county sys-
tenn and that the popular will of the
people should prevail This decision will
bring a large number of candidates into
the primaries.
The principal fight will be between Will
liam F. Cole, the incumbent, and q. Al
bert Mays of the seventh district for
clerk of the circuit court. 1t is generally
understood that James Rittenhouse can
have the nomination for sheriff without
opposition If he desires to make the run.
N. Bosley Merryman. the incumbent;
c. Lyon Rogers of the third district,
John E. Green of the fifteenth district
and Thomas c. Hunter of the seventh
district are aspirants for the nomination
for county treasurer.
Primaries in Baltimore county have
been held only once under the Crawford
county system, and that was twenty-four
years ago.
Prohibition Convention.
The state convention of the prohibi-
tionists was held here during the week
and declared itself for statewide prohi-
bition of a permanent character. One of
the most important matters discussed
was the policy of the party in the com
ing legislative campaign in the matter
Of the local option BILL The prohibi-
| tionists decided to stand for the principle
of total prohibition by state enactment
or constitutional amendment, and do not
consider a local option bill as an ade-
quate solution Of the liquor question.
One of the most interesting reports was
that of the chairman of the Allegany
county committee, who stated that the
prohibitionists were alive economically to
| the prohibition question in that section.
| and that those who now use liquor are
ready If they get the opportunity to vote
| the drink evil out.
The reports from all the county chair
men stated that prohibition was gaining
ground and that 1t would eventually
demoralize both the democratic and re-
publican parties.
There will be a unique feature in the
prohibition campaign, as the result of an
| offer made by Luther F. Messick of Som
| erset county. He said that if the party
would supply him with a speaker he and
his family would go into every city. town
and hamlet in Maryland in the interest
of the prohibition party.
| Mr. Messick and his family are noted
singers, and the plan is to hold mass
meetings that will combine oratory. sing
| ing and music.
For Industrial Peace.
There is a prospect that Baltimore will
ho of fhn No