The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1910-04-14
GOVERNOR CROTHERs
AS A REAL BOSS
He Has Forged to the Front in His
Party.

/ y
tournment last week have put Governor
| Crothers at the front in the Democratic
party. He may be regarded henceforth
1 as a real boss and not as a me too" of
the party. lie has long harbored a de-
sire to break away from some of his
erstwhile partners, and while not desr-
ing to go into business alone and for
himself only, he has had an ambition to
be considered a full-hedged member of
/ the political firm now controlling the
destinies of the Democratic.sp party in
Maryland.
/ Attorney General Isaac Lobe Straus
is also admitted into full partnership in
the firm.
Senator German has voluntarily quit
the political business after an unpleas-
ant experience with some of his part
ners from whom he had right to ex-
pect better, fairer and more frank
treatment 1t will be the simple life
for him. He will devote his time and
energy to his law practice, to his farm
and to management of his extensive
private interests.
Gen. Murray Vandiver, chairman of
the Democratic State Central Commit
tee, may look forward to a combined
assault upon him all along the line.
United States Senator John Walter
Smith. who combined his forces with
those Of Governor Crothers in time of
the latter's battles. while his known at
titude on the Straus primary election
bill demanded fight on his own line,
will be able to take care of himself.
He will be backed by the Eastern
Shore, with the possible exception Of
two or three counties, IN any political
understanding into which he may en-
bark Because of illness followed by
death in his family circle he banished
politics entirely from his mind during
the last two or three weeks Of the Cen
eral Assembly and since its adjourn
ment
Mr.. John J. Mahon will be storm
center IN city politics. He has been
under fire during the last month or two.
This is a taste of what is to come He
has been under fire before and is not
apt to run. He is not a gutter.
Whether his party is a winner or a
loser, he will still head the organization
in Baltimore. Those who are irving to
Lnhorse him will find him to be very
desirable and necessary factor in a
political campaign. The Democratic
party was defeated in 1895, and again
in 1907, in both state and city, but Mr..
German did not relax his hold upon the
state organization, nor did Mr.. Rasin
lose his grip on the city machine. Mr..
Mahon will continue to be on the job.
The lesser lights in the party will
keep their ears close to the ground.
When the time comes for them to act
they viii find the conditions imposed
upon them by the new crowd" to be
too harsh to be accepted or tolerated,
and they will cast in their lot with the
"old crowd, even though they may go
down to defeat
Who will come to the front, if there
are changes in the Democratic manage
ment, remains to be seen. A certain
Baltimore retormer in 1895 said he
create conditions in the Democratic
party by defeating the party, and would
await the time when the new conditions
would create new leaders
The Democratic party was defeated
and new conditions were created, but
Mr.. German and Mr. Rasin held on just
the same.
The fact must not be lost sight Of
that Governor Crothers has stood in
with the Democratic organization in
Baltimore and it has been loyal to him.
BY Withholding his approval from the
Digges bills Governor Crothers made
a bold stroke to help his own political
fortunes. If these bills had been APP
proved and if the negroes had been de-
MED the right to vote the Democratic
leaders would have been so sure of their
future safety that they would have nom
mated whom they pleased for governor
and that man would not have been
Austin Lane Crothers. He may not
want to be governor again. In fact he
has said it is his ambition to retire to
private life upon the expiration of his
term as governor Indeed, he has gone
50 far as to say that he will not again
be candidate for governor. Others
just as sincere have said the same thing
and have then yielded to what they
termed party calls" There may be a
party CALI for Governor Crothers.
Its leaders and prospective new leaders
may think that he will be the strongest
candidate and he may be induced to try
his luck again despite the fact that nc
man has been twice elected governor Of