Franklin's paper the statesman., 1911-04-08
By FRANKLIN F. JOHNSON.

BY FRANKLIN F. JOHNSON.
Baltimore.-One of the most i'm
portant primary campaigns ever held
here will take place the first Tuesday
In April. when candidates of both of
the leading political parties will be
selected by the voters at a direct pri-
mary. In the Democratic party
Mayor Mahool is the anti-organization
candidate. while James II. Preston is
the rings choice. Mahool owes his
election four years ago in part to the
fact that many colored voters refused
to support Z. Clay Timanus. the Re
publican standard bearer. who was
regarded as inimical to the interests
Of the race. Should Mahool again be
nominated he cannot rely on much
colored support, as he has favored
disfranchisement and the proposed
law segregating the race to certain
residence districts.
The Republican machine is again
supporting Timanus for the nomina-
ton, but he is not making any active
campaign. He met a number Of lead
ing colored residents at the home Of
City Councilman Harry S. Cummings
a few weeks ago. when he made some
roseate promises to the colored people
should he be elected.
Since then his stock has declined
among the colored voters somewhat
because OF the fact that he caused the
arrest of a colored man who asked
him to change fifty dollar bill. The
-
authorities. as they found that the
money belonged to him.
Timanus is being opposed for the
nomination by Charles H. Torsch, one
of the most successful business men
In the city. Mr.. Torsch is making an
energetic campaign of high order.
He is ready letter writer. and each
day something from his pen has ap-
peared In the papers He rendered
signal service to the race in both of
his anti-amendment campaigns. when
he paid the newspapers of the city to
place his views against the iniquitous
measures in their advertising columns.
The fights of deepest interest to the
race are the councilmanic ones in the
Seventeenth and Fifth wards. William
+. Allen. n contractor and builder Is
running against n white Republican
for the nomination from the latter
ward. He is fifty-seven years of age
and has been interested in politics for
years. In the Seventeenth ward Louis
II. Davenport is contesting with Harry
S. Cummings for the nomination
Mr.. Davenport was born in Virginia
IN 10 T.
an early age and was educated In the
public schools of that state. He has
been a resident of this city since 1877
and has been active In business and
political circles. He started out in the
grocery business. was for a number of
years engaged in the produce business
and is now running successful new
and secondhand furniture establish
mcnt He Is also large stockholder
in local insurance company. as well
us being chief paymaster for the same.
He is n member of the Masonic fra
ternity. the Odd Fellows. the Naza-
rites. the Order of Moses. OF which be
Is the grand orator. and other so
cieties. He is trustee of the Union
Baptist church. Rev. DR.. Harvey
Johnson pastor. He has long been
interested ID politics aud is familiar
figure at conventions. During the
four years he served rs a member of
the Republican state central commit
tee he made u successful fight for col
ored men as election officials by con-
,inuing TO send up the names OF col
ored men for the same until the Demo
cratic officials opposed to the same
accepted them. Four years ago he
was n candidate for the councilmanic
nomination. He Is credited with rails
ing the largest amount with but one
exception that any colored man raised
to help fight the disfranchisement
propaganda and Is also one of the
contributors to the recent money
raised by the colored people here to
test the grandfather clause" in the
United States supreme court.
Harry S. Cummings was born In
this city in 1866 He was educated In
the public schools of the city. Lincoln
university and the law school of the
University of Maryland. being one of
the two colored members of the class
of 1889. He was first elected to the
city council in 1890. 1t was on a
councilmanic junket to Boston that he
gained favor by delivering one of the
best speeches Mt banquet in that city
to Baltimore's solons.
He wns the author Of the law which
established the old Colored Poly.
technic institute. He delivered one OF
the speeches nominating President
Roosevelt at the Chicago convention
In 1900 and in a number Of national
campaigns has spoken In various SEC
tions Of the country. He IL attorney
general for the Grand United Order
Of Odd Fellows and 4 member Of thu