Semi-weekly herald., 1911-08-31
DEMOCRATIC FIGHT
IN MARYLAND.

.hai iohu sehi Aaoiii cru 10 enu IOi
more than three months closed las,
night in a whirlwind finish and toda,
the primaries of both parties were
held throughout the state.
The Republicans, with no rivalries
for the principal nominations of their
state ticket, have shown little activity
The Democrats, on the other hand
have been aroused by bitter factional
contests for the nominations. This,
added to the fact that it is the first
time that nominations for state off
GERS in Maryland have been made by
the direct system of voting, causes
the results of the primary balloting
to be awaited with the keenest public
interest.
Interest centers almost wholly in
the fight between state Senator
Arthur P. German of Howard county.
son of the late United States senator
German, and state Senator Blair Lee
of Montgomery county for the Demo-
cratic nomination for governor. Not
only the gubernational nomination
but the bitter fight for the control
of the Democratic state organization
is involved in the contest for the
head of the ticket.
German is backed by the regular
state organization and hopes if nom
mated and elected to make the govern
orship the stepping stone to the Unit
ed States senate in succession to
senator Isidor Rayner The real di-
rector of the German fight is senator
John Walter Smith, the leader of the
state organization, with John j. Ma
hon, the Baltimore city leader, as
chief lieutenant.
Tho opposition, variously termed
as the insurgents or the progressives,
ia headed by congressman ]. Fred
Talbot, Governor Austin l.. Crothers,
who withdrew from the candidacy for
reelection for Blair Lee, and former
Governor Edwin Warfield.
Congressman Talbot is the real
leader in the fight against German.
Member of the national committee,
boss of Baltimore county, and life
long organization man, Talbot was
a trusted lieutenant of the late SEN
ator German, and followed the lead
of the great state boss for a quarter
of century without question. To-
day he is found leading the support
OF Lee for the gubernational nom
nation and doing his utmost to de-
feat the son of his former chief.
The real secret of Talbott's turn
about-face in the political arena is
to be found in young Germans well
known ambition to enter the United
States senate. After the death of
United States senator German con-
gresham Talbot aspired to succeed
to the toga, but was defeated in his
ambition by John Walter Smith, who
had the support of the younger Cor
man and who has since managed to
retain a firm hold on the state organ
ization. In the present fight Talbot
again seeks to wrest the party leader
ship by defeating the latter's choice
for the head of the state ticket. If
Lee wins the nomination for governor,
and is elected, he will have, in the pat
ronage of his office, all-powerful
weapons with which to beat down the
old organization, create new one,
and retire senator Smith to private
life. Lees success, according to the
general understanding, would mean
the election of Congressman Talbot
as the next United States senator
from Maryland.
The Republicans appear to be we'll
satisfied with the situation. They
contend that whether German or Lee
is defeated in the primary the Demo-
cratic party will be split wide open
and that the nominee will be knitted
to such an extent that the Republican
ticket should be able to win out hand
lily.
There are no contests for the Re-
publican nominations. The state tick
ct was agreed upon in conference
and will be named in the state con-
vention without opposition.
Philips Lee Goldsborough of Dor
chester is the choice for governor,
W. II. Cunningham Of Carol county
for state controller and Morris A.
Soper of Baltimore for attorney gen.
eral. The ticket is regarded as ex-
ceptionally strong, representing as it
does both the younger Republicans
and the older element of the party.
Mr.. Goldsborough, who is to be the
nominee for governor, is native OF
Somerset county, and lawyer by
profession In 1896, when the Repub-
Leans were in control of the legis-
lature, he made strong fight for
United States senator, but was de-
feated by George l.. Wellington. Ir
1897 he was elected state controller
1