The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1911-08-29

parties were held throughout the
State.
The Republicans, with no rival
ries for the principal nominations on
their State ticket, have shown little
activity The Democrats, on the 9TH
er hand, have been aroused by bit
ter factional contests for the nomi-
nations. This, added to the fact that
it is the first time that nominations
for State Offices in Maryland have
been made by the direct system of
voting, causes the results of the pri-
mary balloting to be awaited with
the keenest public interest.
Interest centers almost wholly in
the fight between State Senator Ar
thur P. German of Howard county,
son of the late United States Sena-
tor German, and State Senator Blair
Lee of Montgomery county for the
Democratic nomination for governor.
Not only the gubernatorial nominal
ton but a 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 gov
ernorship the stepping stone to the
United States senate in succession to
Senator Isador Ravner. The real di-
rector of the German fight is Sena-
tor John Walter Smith, the leader of
the State organization, with John ].
Mahon, the Baltimore city leader, as
chief lieutenant.
The opposition, variously termed
as the insurgents or progressives, is
headed by Congressman ]. Fred Tai
bott, Governor Austin l.. Crothers,
who withdrew from his candidacy
for reelection to help 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 Sem
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 gubernatorial nominal
ton and doing his utmost to defeat
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 we'll
known ambition to enter the United
State senate. After the death of
United States Senator German Con-
gresham Talbot espired .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 firm hold on the State Or
bolt again seeks to wrest the party
leadership from Senator Smith 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 patron
age of his Office, all-powerful weap-
ons with which to beat down the old
organization, create new one, and
retire Senator Smith to private life.
Lees success, according to the gen
eral understanding, would mean the
election of Congressman Talbot as
the next United States senator from
Maryland.
The Republicans appear 10 be we'll
satisfied with the situation. They
contend that whether German or Lee
is defeated in the primary the Dem
ocratic party will be split wide open
and that the nominee will be knitted
to such an extent that the Republi-
can ticket should be able to win out
handily.
There are no contests for the Re-
publican nominations The State