New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-07
Controls State Convention by
Single Vote Only, and Will
Get the Sixteen National
Delegates to Chicago.
CLARK BEATS GOV. WILSON
Sneaker and the Colonel Carry
Baltimore - New Primary
Law Leads Taft's Sup
porters to Hope for
Advantage,
rBv telegram TO The Tribu

Baltimore. May 6-Maryland's sixteen
votes in the national conventions Will be
cast for Theodore Roosevelt and Speaker
Champ Clark. unless the few election dis
tricts still TO be heard from change the
result registered to-day by the state
first Presidential primaries.
The result was close and Colonel
Roosevelt on the face of the returns. had
only one more than the number OF votes
necessary to control the state conven-
ton. The primaries divided the dele
gates to the state conventions as FOL
lows:
Republicans: Roosevelt, 66; Taft, e3.
Democrats: Clark, 72; Wilson, a.;
Harmon. 4; in doubt. g.
Majority necessary to control the con-
vention, 65.
The state delegates elected are bound
TO choose a delegation TO the national
conventions favorable to the Presiden-
tial candidates for whom the people to-
dav expressed their preference. Al
though the popular preference vote ot
the state as a whole did not determine
the result, it favored Roosevelt ana
Clark by pluralities more conclusive
than the division of state delegates
based on the county preference vote.
This was due largely to the sweep which
both successful candidates made in the
city Of Baltimore.
Speaker Clark led steadily from the
time the first returns arrived from the
Baltimore wards. Early in the evening
il looked as if Colonel Roosevelt would
win BY an equally large majority, but
shortly before midnight returns from
the strong Taft counties in Southern
and Eastern Maryland put the PRESIDENT
suddenly ahead, with 63 delegates 10 ms
opponents 81. It was Prince George
County that decided. Both sides claimed
IFS five votes until late conclusive re-
turns placed it in the Roosevelt column
The Taft leaders assert that the hNe
Taft delegates chosen in Baltimore city
although obliged by their instructions TO
vote for Roosevelt, may give the Ialt
svmpathizers control of the state con-
vention and enable them to elect dele
would be ready to abandon Roosevelt
as soon as released from the obligation
imposed by the law.
Such a situation might arise at the
national convention, they say. if several
ballots failed to result in a choice.
Won saItimore's Twenty eight
clark and Roosevelt leaped into the
lead early with complete delegations
from Baltimore city. which gave them
och - delegates. Clarks prefer
ential vote in this city was greater than
that of Harmon and Wilson combined.
He defeated Wilson by nearly three 10
one and the New Jersey Governor was
ahead Of Governor Harmon by two to
one
The small vote polled by Governor
Harmon removed the possibility that the
Democratic fight might be settled IN the
state convention. Had none OF the
Democratic candidates won majority
of the delegates, the delegates instructed
for the candidate with the smallest fol-
lowing would have been free TO swing u
one Of the other candidates and control
the convention after the first ballot.
The first district Of Baltimore city
vent for Roosevelt oh the preferential
vote. but four Of the seven delegates 10
the state convention chosen in this dis
trict are for Taft Under the new prl-
mary Law. however. the delegates CHOSEN
IN each legislative district whether Iatt
or Roosevelt, must vote for the prefer
entail choice Of the voters in that dis
trict The Taft delegates elected in the
first district must therefore, vote Tor
Roosevelt in the state convention.
Democratic Machine Wins.
While the Republican city organiza-
t,on was defeated, the Democratic state
and city machines triumphed. Governor
Wilson was supported by the independ-
ent and conservative Democratic ele-
ment and the leading Democratic news
papers Clark had the support OF the
powerful Baltimore city machine and or
most Of the state leaders Mayor Preston
Of Baltimore City who has announced
himself a candidate for the Democratic
nomination for Vice-President. had prac-
tcal charge Of the Clark campaign. III
Clark is successful in the national con-
ventiop Mayor Preston will be Mary
lands favorite son for second place on
the ticket
The popular preferential vote was lost
sight Of tonight and probably viii not
be tabulated until tomorrow. Under
the MARYLAND law the affiliated voters
Of the two parties instructed the dele
gates 10 the state convention by the
preference vote Of each county. ma
tority OF this vote in a county instructed
that countys delegates accordingly.
The delegates TO the state convention
must vote as instructed for "A solid dele
cation to the national convention. This
means that the successful candidates
carry to the national conventions sixteen
votes in a block bound by the law to
stand by them as long as In their con-
scientious judgment there Is a possibility
OF their being nominated.
Oyster Bay N. Y. May 6-ColoncI Roose-
Welt heard Of the early returns from the
Maryland primaries, which indicated lead
In his favor. with unmistakabe pleasure.
lie remarked that, at any rate. his can
didacy had not been disgrsced but he de-
clded 10 make no formal comment until he
had learned the outcome in the whole state.
The colonel did not remain up for the
late returns. and had retired when the
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