Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-04-12
His Control of Maryland Re-
publican Organization.
ONLY TWO RECALCITRANTS
Placement of These From State
Committee Looked For.
FIGHT ON STRAUs AMENDMENT
Real Battle Ahead, With Party
Having the Better of Argument,
if Not Of Munitions.
Special Correspondence Of The Star.

Special Correspondence or Inc star.
BALTIMORE Md, April Il. 1902
The republican party, for the first time
in many years. has a state leader. he IS
William F. Stone, collector of the port
OF Baltimore. That Mr.. Stone, who mas
: been the city leader for some years, had
succeeded in capturing the state organi-
: zation was known to those in his conn-
: denee. last Saturday night, but even MS
neutrality-suspicious. were loyal, and not an
linking of the event to come became
public When the clans began to gather
for the meeting on last Wednesday noses
!: were counted. and 1t was found that Mr..
Stone was in control.
Thomas Parran, the former chairman,
became somewhat excited when he
reached the city on Tuesday and openly
announced that he proposed to try con-
illusions on the floor with John Is. hanna,
who had been tipped off as his prooaDie
successor Mr.. Parran, 1t must be con-
fessed. was angry and he had friends
who would have been with MIN 10 the
end win or lose. But Mr.. Parran is
sagacious, likewise affable and deDon-
nair. He slept over the situation, ana on
the mornings Weakening found that he
had concluded to accept retirement IN
graceful manner, and accordingly refused
TO allow his name to go before the com
mittee. Mr.. Parran perhaps remembered
Hanna was given a real surprise ana
seat in the rear row in place OF the cnalr-
mahship On that occasion MI hanna
took his sleeping potion with the pest VI
grace and hied himself to the wilds OIL
Hartford county, where he devoted his en-
ergies to county politics.
Will Come Later.
Only two members of the committee
are still In a recalcitrant mood. and un-
xrill IN
members of the state organization at an
early date Billy Stone, it can be
stated autforitatively, will be the leader
in fact as we'll as in name. And the re-
publican party for years past has been
sorely in need of real leader. The
party has a real battle ahead, one that
win require all the acumen and general
ship necessary to succesSful pollticai
end The fight this year will be against
the Straus amendment. and the republic
cans wifi have all the best of the argu-
ment. but they will likewise have all the
worst of the money end of the campaign.
The republicans have no state or mu-
nicipal employees upon whom to draw Tor
the "sinews of war; The city hall and
state offices are filed with the ''unterri-
cracks the purse strings open-from street
cleaners to the heads of the big depart
ments.
The democracy also has a grip upon
the big corporations. and can always
on the side of the ring" This grip
upon the corporations is due to control
of the legislature. The caliber of some
of the men who go to the legislature can
be judged from the fact that, while the
salary only amounts to $3.50, many of the
members of the legislature have been
known to spend as high as 5000 for the
'henor. 1t is this condition of affairs
which permits the ring to control the
machinery and deliver such goods as
the corporations may demand.
The Democracy Unterrifed.
The democracy is facing the issue of
the amendment bravely. The leaders
claim that there is not the slightest doubt
that the amendment will win out. At the
meeting Of the state central committee this
torney General w. s. Bryan got up in
open meeting and announced that he was
in favor of the amendment. Mr.. Bryan.
who was Gov. Warfield's law officer, was
bitterly opposed to the Poe amendment.
He took the stump against the measure
and fought it tooth and nail. Mr.. Bryan,
his enemies say. has seen a light" They
assert that Mr.. Bryan has his weather
eye cooked on the gubernatorial nomi-
nation, and that he Is anxious to get
on the band wagon again.
Mr.. Bryan, 1t Is well known, Is ambi-
tious politically and his action did not
come as a great surprise to the organi-
cation leaders. In this connection it may
be stated that Mr.. Bryan. when attorney
general. rendered a great service to l.
1t is recalled that about the same time
Gov. WarfieId himself began to read all
bills passed by the legislature, prior to
affixing his signature. And thereafter
and Mr.. Warfield. which lasted until the
administration came a close.