Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-26
RULES STATE
GOVERNOR QUIETLY PULLS
WIRES AS HE WILL.
Senator Smiths Grip Weak-Hughes
Put Forward to Gust
''Ross" Mahon.
Special Correspondence OF The Star.


BALTIMORE. Md, June %, 1910.
The rank and file of the democratic
party in both city and state are up in
the air, all because runors fly thick and
fast that there is to be a new deal in
politics throughout the city and state.
That a condition of unrest exists cannot
be denied Even those closest to the
men in the saddle" will admit that the
bosses are fighting for their political lives.
Gov. Crothers has played his hand and
is resting on his oars. awaiting develop
ments He is today in control of the
state machinery and Is able to dominate
and dictate every move that may be
made on the political chessboard.
Keeps in Background.
But he is not out in the open, posing
as the party boss. Therein lies the
greatest element Of his strength.
He knows that any move he desires to
be made will be followed out through
the many state boards that he has named
and the commissions that he has Great
ed. Therefore, he has not made any
effort to impress upon the rank and me
or the public, for tnat matter. that he is
III control.
He has preferred rather to bIce his time
and allow conditions to f1oat along,
knowing that at any time. should 1t Ne
necessary. he can turn the tide OF AFFAIRS
within the party and set the machinery
! motion to suit himself and bring about
such results he may desire.
Senator John Walter Smith has lost his
grip on state affairs to great extent
ana does not give evidence OF the sight
est desire to tnwart Gov. Crothers. And
this Is just the thing that puzzles the
men who have followed his leadership
through defeat for years and remained
steaOIast until they saw him reach the
goal of his ambitlon, when he was elect
ed to the United States senate.
Takes His Medicine.
The senator has remained quiescent
since the legislature adjourned, in the
closing hours of which he was beaten in
many Of his pet projects. And beaten.
too. by Gov. Crothers. the man whom
he placed in the executive chair at An
napolis.
These conditions cannot be explained
by the closest student OF politics in Mary
land. But the men who have followed
the leadership of Smith are still behino
him, and cannot be won away by any
promises OF political pfeferment mat
may be held out by those who aspire to
control the political destinies OF the state.
Just who will be the boss in the next
state campaign is far guess. That
CrOtherS VIII be ON the jOD' seems to
be the prevailing impression.
Mahon Rule Fought.
In the city the Mahon machine Is not
on the best Of terms with the whirligig
of time The men closest to Mahon in
party management are today under pre-
sentiment by the grand jury and technic-
ally under arrest, having been released
on 5000 bail each.
From certain quarters there comes d
demand that Mahon shall be endorsed
and placed on q siding, and that a new
leader shall be chosen to carry the demo-
cratic cohort through the fall campaign
1t has even gone so far that a man has
been named to take up the reins Of
party management. That. man Is none
other than j. Albert Hughes, vice pres.-
dent of the Third National Bank of this
city. and one OF the prominent business
men.
Mr. Hughes. in discussing the movement
of his friends to place him in the saddle
in city politics. said to The Star CORE
spondent today:
Several friends have been urging me
to take the party leadership In the city.
1 have almost made up my mind to go
after il.
II realize that no one can be boosted
into the leadership. nor can he retain it
II the voters do not want him. but my
friends persuade me that l can count
upon the backing Of the people.
1T i find this to be true 1 will fight