The Washington times., 1913-07-30
THE MARYLAND SENATORSHIP.

begins TO be dScernlble. Mr.. Lee has the nelo
himself thus far but his enemies desperately try
ing to bring out strong candidate against him, 70
the primaries which will take place September
The anti-Lee organization in Montgomery county
reported especially active in the effort to bring OF
an opposing candidate. Congressman Talbot is jus
now being urged
Analysis of the Maryland situation makes it plai
what is really back of these anpulations. First tn
old Tory Democracy of Maryland doesn't want Let
He is too progressive. If he wins now, it means tina
John Walter Smith will be defeated later
The State primary is September 8. Suppose lie
and Talbot run for the Democratic nomination. Sur
pose Lee wins over Talbot by rather a close vote
and it probably would be close, for the old machine
all the State would exert every ounce of pre-:
for Talbot And suppose, finally, that Lee, wiz
ming in the State as a whole, should be defeated i
his home county of Montgomery and have his enc
mics, allied with the Smith machine, nominate tn
legislative ticket for the county. What then?
The primary of September is Of uncertain le
gaty, so far as concerns nominating United State
Senator. The governor has ordered that the name
of candidates for Senator shall be placed the pr
mary ballots; but there is no law to sustain him.
matter of right and sense he is perfectly correc
of the land the Maryland legislature has had no
sion to amend the State primary law into conformit
with the popular election plan. So the governor
using plain horse sense, has ordered the place
on the ballots. This means that the man who sha
be nominated on September will have his nam
printed on the general election ballots in Novembe
as the Democratic candidate for Senator; if he get
the largest VOTE he will be Senator for two years.
But there is hole in the skinner. The anti-Le
crowd have been protesting against Governor Colds
boroughs right to order the placed on the bal
lot, without law of the State to authorize it. Th
question is nice It's of the sort of tech
nicalities that often invalidate electons-especia
when they must be passed on by courts that hav
factonal affiliations.
Suppose, then, that after Lee is nominated OF
September 8, or after he is elected in November
a court holds that the election was irregular an;
must be set aside? What happens then?
The legislature must meet pass Senatoria
election law, and new primary and election mus
be held under it. Again, let it be presumed Lee
and Talbot would be the opposing candidates.
Lee would be greatly weakened in this seconc
contest if it could be shown that he had lost his home
countys legislative ticket in the first fight The
changes would be rung from end to end of the State
that the Montgomery leaders leadership was
busted institution; that he had lost the conidenc,
of his home county, and therefore could not deserve
that of the State.
Not only would Lee be seriously handicapped b,
this argument, which his enemies would use remorse
lessly-which they right now planning to be able
TO use-but they would have other advantages II
the September primary and November election are
Invalidated and the legislature has to pass specia
e IL.
county is represented by an ant-Lee delegation
then how much chance will there be for the passage
of elections laws fair to Lee?
1t is as plain as daylight that in that situation
Lee would be jobbed out of his chance; the legs
lation would be set up with the general purpose o.
defeating Lee and electng his opponent. With ths
law drawn for the very purpose of beating him
with the legislative delegation from his home count,
helping to knife him, with his enemies braggins
about the fact that he had failed, in direct fight
to control his home county-how much chance woulc
Blair Lee then have to be United States Senator
How much chance would Montgomery county have
to provide the State with Senator? How Ion.
would retain the position of which it is now proud
as leader of the progressive sentiment of the State
These are the things that Montgomery count,
Democrats need to ponder before they decide tha
they will turn down Blair Lees legislative ticket
1t means something to Montgomery county to have
Senator. The county adjoins Washington Its
interests are common with those of the Capital Its
growth and development will parallel and refec
the growth and development of the Capital The
counys road system should be kept in harmony witt
the Districts. The county wants the best possible
opportunity in the markets, the traffic. the genera
business, of Washington. How better could it serve
that interest than by helping make Montgomer,
county man Senator?