Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1911-06-30
Lee Working Among The Rank And
File-Gormah Among Politicians.
From the Baltimore News,

From the Baltimore News.
Maryland politics wait on United States
Senator Smith. One word from him will,
many think settle the Gubernatorial prob
lem as far as the nominee is concerned.
1t is, however, within his power to calm
the political undercurrent; it is also within
his power to bring about one of the bit
terest primary campaigns ever known in
Maryland politics.
What Senator Smith intends to do, no
one really knows, He has plenty of time
in which to act, for the primaries, in all
likelihood, will not be held until August
20. Friends say he has little intention of
doing anything just at present He will
wait until public sentiment indicates a
decided leaning and he will then. it is be-
eved. throw his strength to the man most
acceptable to the public.
He may take no stand whatever If he
waits until public sentiment has lined up
with some man in the field, until no doubt
exists of the result, he can afford to let the
whole thing alone.
Senator Smith is a sphinx these days.
He refuses to talk. Those close to him
are full of surmises concerning his inten-
tons regarding the Gubernatorial cam
paign. Men whose political fortunes are
in great measure wrapped up with his
have talked politics with him, freely giving
their views. Men who are in a measure
Independent of him in politics have also
given him their idea of what should be
dohe. The result has always been the
same-he has listened, but he has never
discussed the situation with them.
Blair Lee, of Montgomery, is the only
avowed candidate at this time for the
Gubernatorial nomination, although State
Senator German has been very active in
his quest Of support and Gov Crothers has
been feeling out the situation with view
to going after the nomination.
Senator German began with the politi-
clans, to work down to the rank and file
of the party. Senator Lee began his cam
paign with the rank and file, intending to
work up to the politicians. Their moves
simply indicate their different ideas of
politics. Senator Lee believes that senti-
ment should begin below and work up.
Senator German thinks the better plan is
to start at the top and work down. His
plan is the one that has been in vogue in
the politics of Maryland for many years.
Thus far Senator Germans campaign
has not progressed to the point where his
friends can claim for him strong public
sentiment. He had Baltimore city, so faI
as the politicians are concerned, and his
home county Howard-from the start
Friends are believed to have brought Wi.
c0mico into line. But there his boom has
hung fire, and there it will stop, il is
thought, unless Senator Smith comes tC
his aid. He has scattered support among
the politicians in all parts of the State
but the public has given no indication Of
warming up.
Moreover, there are men powerful in the
Democratic organization who are distinctly
hostile to Mr. German but are willing to q
along with Senator Smith behind any othel
man.
Hence fight for Senator German mean.
trouble in the Democratic organization
from one end of the State to the other
Senator Lee is distributing a pamphlet
to the voters, giving his political record
AS soon as he gets the literature off hi
hands he will begin tour of the counties
starting probably in the western part o
the State. 1t seems to be pretty well con
coded that every county in the Sixth dis
trct will line up behind him, although the
supporters of Senator German have put il
a claim for Allegany. Friends of his who
live in the county can only predict a close
hard fight for him. with uncertainty in the
result Part of the organization in Allie.
gany is with Mr.. German, but it is moi
united. Moreover, the Allegany organiza-
ton only shows up well when it is moi
opposed.
Men who carried the county for Con
gresham Talbot when he was candi-
date for the United States Senate have, ii
is said. united behind Senator Lee, and
they have part of the regular Organiza-
ton with them, Moreover. Congressman
Lewis Ia out in the open for Senator Lee.
Although the Sixth district is Republi-
II
so it has to be considered in a State cam
paign Moreover, il has 27 votes in the
State Convention. so the man that has il
solidly behind him is sure 10 be factor
in the fight.