Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-17
CR0THERS WINS OUT
Discounts Combine That
Planned His Retirement.
ASSUMES THE LEADERSHIP
Takes Advantage Of the Falling Out
of German and Smith and Directs
Work Of Legislature.

Special Correspondence OF The Star.
BALTIMORE, Md, April 16, 1910.
The big thing in the eyes OF the poll |
ticians today is the makeup Of the public |
utilities commission to be named by Gov. |
Crothers. This commission is vested I'M |
der the law with wide powers and the
governor has the option of making the
body one that will be worth while to the
people or one that will lay the foundation
for a great political machine with Austin
l.. Crothers as its boss. Just what the
governor will do Is the absorbing ques-
ton of the hour. And to get line on
what Mr. Crothers will do. it is neces-
sary to go back to the beginning of the
session of the legislature in January.
At that time the governor assumed the
role of watchdog of the treasury and
made an endeavor to cut down the iegis-
lative expenses. At that time he met
with bitter opposition on the part OF the
president of the senate. Arthur P. Cor
man, who stood as defender or the
system that required a five-doliar-a-day
Job for every senator and delegate. Mr..
German at that time had the support
of the state leader, United States Senator
John Walter Smith, and the fight between
Mr.. German and Gov Crothers resulted
i'm rout for the governor. The legislative
session has gone into history as one OF
the most expensive that the state OF
Maryland has known, and so strong had
public sentiment become aroused that the
men responsible for the appropriations
concluded at the last hour to make cut
of 80 per cent in the salaries Of certain
Jobs that meant for the holders no harder
work than the signing of the pay roll.
Gorman-Smith Break.
This came about In measure through
the parting Of the ways between Senator
Smith and young Mr.. German. How the
breach occurred cannot be told here, but
suffice it to say that the dictatorial meth
DDS of the young Howard county leader
had much to do with the dissolution OF
political partnership between senator
Smith and himself.
Senator German, always austere. COOL
and methodical in his political tours,
early in the session began to show signs
of nervousness that worried his friends
and closest advisers. and this conddion
of health kept UP until the close OF the
session. Mr.. German. in fact, seemed
to be laboring under a stress that changed
his personality completely, and this STU
alton reached Its climax In the closing
hours Of the legislature, when he left the
presiding officers chair and on the moor
OF the Senate made the announcement
in a dramatic manner that he was ready /!
to retire from politics and would tender
his resignation as president OF the senate |
If his colleagues SO desired.
At the time Senator German made this |
speech the situation politically had cleared |
somewhat, and those on the inside knew
that Smith and German had parted COM
pany. Certain moves had been MADE
within the party councils that puzzled
those not in the confidence Of the real
leaders These men had been working
under the impression that Smith and Cor
man would work together forever and
day. They knew that German had been
picked as the successor of Gov. Crothers
in 1912, and supposed that this would
prove stepping stone to the seat occu-
pied by Isidor Rayner In the United
States Senate.
Crothers Takes Leadership.
The story that Smith and German had
parted company gradually 'eaked out
and soon the machine lieutenants were
looking for the right man to follow. The
breach widened and wtdened until finally
Gov Crothers saw his opportunity and
stepped in What was accomplished by the
governor in the closing hours of the leg
islature made the old-tfme politicians
sit up and take notice. Crothers, realiz-
mig that the legislature was running
without a leader. simply stepped from
the executive mansion to the legislative
halls and took personal command. lie
knew that with German and Smith at
odds he held the master key, and he |
mand to force through certain measures
that the old machine had practically de-
cided should never become a part of the |
statutes of Maryland. One OF these was
the public utilities bill and the other was
the primary election law. The Digges |
bills were allowed to pass by the COVER
nor in order to get through the two
measures mentioned. but the governor |
gave no promise that he. would not veto |
these bills when they came before him.
Gov Crothers therefore. today stands |
in the position of a man who has won out
against a combine that had planned his
retirement before his term expired In the
opinion Of close students OF the political
game he had played good, clean politics,
and there are not a few of the old-timers
who are willing to follow where Crothers
shall lead: Already there is heard talk
of a second term for the governor. and
the present incumbent of the guberna-
torial chair Is in position to bring about
Just such condition should he desire
to occupy the chair again for four years.