Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-05
Maryland Primary Campaign
Closed Last Night.
TAFT CONSIDERED WINNER
Presidents Supporters Declare He
Will Garry the State.
SPEAKER CLARK Is STRONG
Believed to Be Choice Of Democrats
for Voting Tomorrow-Preston
for Second Place.
Special Correspondence Of The star.

SSFeCiII Correspondence OF fNc StHi.
BALTIMORE. Nd. May 4. 1912.
The greatest political primary fight in
MARYLAND closed tonight. During the past
week four Of the leading aspirants for
the presidency of the United states nave
visited the city and addressed large audi
ences from the stage of the Lyric. 1t has
heen a great fight between Roosevelt and
Taft and an equally spirited contest be-
,ueap Clark. Wilson and Harmon. The
republican party is split into two camps.
each predicting victory Monday next The
democratic hosts are divided in three Sec
tions. and the adherents of each candi-
date profess to be absolutely confident
of success when the ballots shall have
been counted.
Viewed from an unbiased standpoint.
the indications point to a mighty close re-
suit as between Taft and Roosevelt. with
the chances just a shade in favor OF the
President For some reason or another
the former President has never been a
popular man in Baltimore, Whiie IaI.
has number of personal friends VINO
WELD tremendous influence politically. In
the western part of the state RooseVeil
will run strong and there Is little doubt
that he will carry the sixth district. Inc
eastern shore looks pretty SAFE Tor the
President who will also probably carr!
southern Maryland. In the north end OF
the state II will be nip and tuck between
Roosevelt and Taft.
clark looks tonight like an easy win
ner in Baltimore city. two districts at
least being conceded to the Speaker. VIII
son and Harmon both have large follow
ings in the other two districts, but the
Clark men claim the best the Ohio and
New Jersey governors can do will be to
split the silk-stocklng and independent
democratic vote. while Clark. they as
sert Will get the full regular vote and
carry the four legislative districts.
Great Interest in Contest.
The primary contests have aroused the
greatest interest in years. both men and
women here discussing the chances of the
several candidates. and even school Kid
dies proudly wearing buttons of the can
didates and ready to "betcha on their
fayorites. So great has become the in
tcrest that even the cloth is taking no.
tice. and several sermons have been
preached on the duties of good citizens In
relation to politics.
Chairman Darlington of tho Roosevelt
forces tonight expressed himself as GER
tain that the former President will sweep
the state Monday. Other leaders eX-
press the same confidence in the colonei
ability to win, and assert that his swing
through Maryland yesterday and today
and his speeches i'm Baltimore last night
have made him thousands of votes. In
short they claim it is all over except the
counting of the votes and the shouting.
The Taft leaders assert that the fight
is won and that the President will have
the MARYLAND delegation. The Presidents
victory in Massachusetts had tremen-
jous effect in steadying his forces here,
ard in consequence the counties in the
first and fifth congressional districts are
n1n an1