The citizen., 1913-05-30
BALTIMORE LETTER.

few weeks. To this conference it is pro-
posed that all the party leaders, together
with the members of the State Central
Committee, should be invited. In the
past it was customary for the party lead
ers to gather weeks in advance of pri-
mary election or State convention and
ascertain general conditions throughout
the State and also to discuss plans for the
good of the party. The time is fast APP
preaching, many Democrats believe
when such a conference should be held,
not with the purpose of arousing fac
tional fight or in behalf of any special
candidate or candidates, but for the OBJ
ject of bringing Democratic leaders and
workers together, SO that they can get a
good idea OF conditions throughout the
State. At this conference the Democrats
could also agree upon date for the pri-
mares. Those who are advocating the
conference will call upon Chairman Muir
ray Nandiver, of the State Central Com
mittee, within the next few days and give
him their views on the proposition. 1t is
believed it will meet with General Van
divers approval and, unless some unfor-
seen opposition should develop, the
probabilities are that the conference will
be held.
Both city and county Democrats are in
favor of late primaries. Under the pri-
mary election law, the primary must be
held on or before the first Monday in
September This. however, is Labor
Day, State holiday, and workers advo-
cate some other day The probabilities
are that General Nandiver will urge that
the primaries be held on the last Tuesday
in August, but this can only be selected,
providing it should be acceptable to
Chairman John B. Hanna, of the Repub-
lican State Central Committee. In the
past Mr.. Hanna has agreed upon the last
Tuesday in August. Under the law, the
primaries of all parties must be held sim
utaneously throughout the State and the
primaries are conducted the same as the
general election in every respect AT the
proposed general conference, it is also
proposed that efforts be made to get
full registration this year. There will be
supplemental registration in every pre-
cinct in the State and Democrats will
make vigorous efforts to get the names of
hundreds of voters enrolled. In Balti-
more City it is estimated that the books
do not contain the names of about A. 900
Democrats, while it is estimated that
about the same number are unregistered
in the counties. The registration work
always falls upon the shoulders of the
regular organization workers and it is
proposed that general State committee
should be appointed to have charge of
and supervise the registration throughout
the State. Efforts should also be made
by this committee, it is contended. to
h-, he hAa tl,.a, -
any person not legally entitled to vote.
The Supervisors of Elections IN Balti-
more City and the different counties are
preparing to appoint the judges and
clerks of registration and election. In
the past these appointments have always
been made upon the recommendations OF
the State Central Committee for the city
and each county and the same plan will
be adhered to this year. 1t is not
thought that the Democrats will have any
trouble in making their selections for
these places, but the indications are that
it will cause serious split among the
Republicans. Many Republicans are adj
vocating that none but men who stood
Loyalty by the party in the last national
campaign should be appointed judges
and clerks of election. The Progresslves
are. on the other hand, claiming tn er share
of these appointments. Politicians interest
ed in the amalgation of the Progressive
and Republican parties are advocating
that compromise be effected whereby
both Progressives and Republicans should
be given a share OF the appointments. In
Baltimore city ii has been announced that
none but registered Republicans will be
recommended by the City Committee for
these offices. If this is adhered to, men
who affiliated as Progressives will be
barred from getting the recommendation
of the City Committee. This, however,
will not include men who registered as
Republicans and voted the Progressive
ticket at the general election.
lust as President Wilson and the Dem
ocratc party made the tariff the para
mount in the last National campaign, SO
are President Wilson and the Democrats
IN Congress making It the paramount
question during the present extra session
of Congress. With this single issue at
stake, the President anc his party col
leagues in Congress are driving the fight
They consistently refuse TO let the oppon-
ents of the Democratic measure confuse
the situation by the injection of other
issues. The President and the Demo-
cratic members of the Senate and House
are determined to put the Underwood
Tariff Bill through Congress as soon as
possible They are also determined to
put the measure through without any
vital amendments. The Prolectionists
and High Tariff members of the Senate
have used all conceivable tactics to delay
the passage of the bill, but they have not
been very successful as the Democratic
majority has stood shoulder TO shoulder
behind the President and defeated their
moves. The bill is now before the Sen
ate Finance Committee and, according
to the reports from Washington, it will
be reported to the Senate within the
next two weeks Then the big fight will
begin. The Republicans and Protection
lists will attack it from every angle.
Hundreds of amendments will probably
be introduced and long -winded speeches
made against the bill. While the Demo-
Gratis realize that they will be up against
a bitter siege, yet thew are confident that
they will succeed in putting it through by
the first of August. While the tariff
| fight is on in the Senate, the Democrats
in the House will probably confer and de-
| wise currency bill which may also be
passed by the extra session, but it is not
thought that the fight on currency legis-
lation will actively begin until after the
tariff bill has been passed and approved
by the President.
A fight between the Talbot and Blddl-
son factions in Baltimore county is brew
!