The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-05-06
MARYLAND CONTEST
TO Be VERY CLOSE
Heavy Vote Is Being Polled
in the Primary Being
Held Today.
CNational News Association


the presidential candidates - both
Democrats and epublicans-claiming
victory Maryland today voted her first
presidential preference primary. With
sharp contests between both Demo
Gratis and Republicans heavy vote is
being polled all over the state. The pri-
mary has resulted in one of the most
important political contests in the
states history, because 1t has develop
ing. and, in some instances. less boss
ing and more following" than in any
other contest in recent years.
Both Roosevelt and Taft leaders de-
clare that the state is theirs, and in es-
timating majorities in the state con-
vention give out practically the same
figures. At the headquarters of the
Wilson, Clark and Harmon workers
statements claiming victory were al
so made by each faction. There are
hot judicial and congressional fights
in most of the counties, which will
make the vote heavy aside from the
interest in the presidential situation.
The Democratic organization is back.
ing Clark and claims he will carry the
state by a big majority. The united
support of Clark's own forces and
those of Governor Harmon, who has
no delegates in the field. will be be-
hind him. Friends of Governor Har-
mon in Baltomore and in the outlying
counties will vote for their preference.
whose name will appear on the bal
lot. and then they will vote for the
Clark delegates, whose names will ap-
pear on the ballots in each city and in
each county. This combination OF
strength, it is predicted will elec
Clark, delegates to the convention and
will defeat the Wilson candidates.
WASHINGTON, d. c., May 6.-The
eyes OF all politicians in the national
capital are turned today toward Mary
land, where primaries are being held
to determine who is to have the sup
port of the sixteen delegates from that
state in the contests for the Republi-
! can and Democratic presidential nomi-
nations. A majority of the politicians
who venture a prediction as to the
results seem to pick Taft and Clark
as the winners, but 1t is generally con-
ceded that the situation is so complex
that predictions are guesswork pure
and simple.
One particular feature Of Maryland's
primary law adds to the uncertain.
I ty OF the outcome. This Is the proyis-
ion for voting by county units. Ac
cording to this provision, IL county
goes for Roosevelt. the delegates to
the state convention will be morally
| bound to regard the trend indicated
! and If majority of the counties
should vote for Taft, for instance. then
the state convention is bound to Sc.
lect delegates who will be favorable
to hom. Maryland has "a counties and
! the interests of the various sections
| of the state are diverse, thus render
\ ing the results of the voting more diff
ficult to foretell with any degree OF
certainty.
The Taft and Roosevelt managers
appear equally sanguine of victory
The Roosevelt people confidently de
clare they will win In the primaries
and will have enough delegates to
swing the Maryland vote to the Colo
mel at Chicago. Governor Goldsbor
ough, former Senator Wellington and
a number of other prominent party
leaders are among the Roosevelt sup
porters. His campaign has been man
aged by Col. E. c. Darlington, mem
ber of the governors staff, and Gen. ]
Stuart Macdonald, who was naval OF
ficer at Baltimore during the Roose
welt administration.
| Despite the claims and the vigorous
fight made by the Roosevelt adherentf
the supporters of the president assert
that the Maryland delegation will be
solid for Taft Gen. Felix Angus ii
one of the prominent supporters OF
the president. Col. Henry B. Wilcox
a prominent Baltimore financier who
has directed the Taft campaign, Is op
timistic as to the outcome. and says
| that the administration forces viii
win down hands.