Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-24
PARTY BADLY SPLIT
Democrats Finht to Control
Maryland Legislature.
REGULARS LIKELY TO WIN
But Progressives, Headed by Blair
Lee, Keep Up Contest.
JOBS WILL NOT BE STOLEN
Nothing More Is Heard Of Plan to
Rob Goldsborough Of All His
Appointments.
REGULARS LIKELY TO WIN
JOBS WILL NOT BE STOLEN
special Correspondence Of The star.

Special Correspondence Of The Star
BALTIMORE, Nd. December %, 1911.
The two wings of the democratic party
-progressives and regulars-are in open
battle array over the organization of
the incoming general assembly. and that
the fight will be hot one is admitted
on both sides. It is generally believed.
however, that the progressives, led by
Senator Lee and Delegate Osborn OF
Hartford county, will go down to defeat,
and that the organization will put its
slate through.
Osborn, candidate for speaker Of the
house. has opened headquarters at the
Rennert, and will conduct his campaign
here until the opening day of the legisla-
ture Is at hand. 1t is reported that
Blair Lee will also open headquarters
here and direct his campaign for the
presidency of the Senate. Tho friends Of
Senator Price. the organization candi-
date. assert that he will win the presi-
dency hands down, and that Ogic Mar
bury of Prince Georges will be the next
speaker of the house. The progressives.
will find that they are up against a
snag, and that a greater surprise than
the result of the gubernatorial primary
awaits the ''od guard 1t is known
tndt tTOtneTS ana Leo UNDERSTAND edCn
other in the game ahead. and that Fred
Talbot. the easy boss Of the second con-
gressiona1 district, Is not unwilling to
lend hand in swatting the Smith ma
chine.
Wilson Law Repeal.
1t is now foregone conclusion that the
Wilson law will be repealed early in the
session, most likely prior to the induc-
ton Of Gov. Goldsborough into Office. In
any event. it is the plan that Gov Croth-
ers wants to put through in the first six
days Of the session, ana the prevailing
impression here is that he will be able
to put this program through. Crothers
is Of the opinion that the democrats
would be playing good politics to repeal
the law while he is still governor, and
thus make tho legislation thoroughly
democratic. IT Is commended that such u
move would place the credit to the side
OF democracy. which would not be pos
sible If action were delayed until after
GOldSbOrough had become the chief ex-
ecutive Of the state.
Many or the most prominent leaders of
the democracy assert that the frauds per-
petrated under the operations of the Will
son law, which was made the paramount
issue by the republicans, contributed
largely to the defeat of Senator German,
and they claim that If the party will do
the right thing Immediately upon the as
SemDilng or the legislature It will make
Maryland safely democratic in the flu
ture, taking the state in its entirety.
Steal Plan Abandoned.
The plan suggested some time ago by
unterrified" democrats that Crothers
make all appointments and have them
confirmed by the senate before the new
governor took the oath is as dead as
door nail. Leading independent and reg
ular democrats came out strongly against
any such methods, and vigorously de-
those leaders who had suggested
it, Senator German openly declined to
be a party to any such political skull
duggery, and voiced his opposition in no
terms. Former Gov Brown
made a ringing denunciation of the
scheme and exposed the fact that when
he was in office the party leaders had
endeavored to induce him to become a