Evening star., 1913-12-07
TRIANGULAR FIGHT
FOR SMITHS SEAT
Maryland Political Prophets
Forecast Lively Times
at Annapolis.
BATTLE SEEMS CERTAIN
FOR u. S. SEMATORSHIP
Republican Leaders to Plan Reunion
With Progressives at Cumber-
land Dinner December II.
Special Correspondence of The Star.

StTtAdl correspondence or Inc star.
BALTIMORE, Md, December 6. 1918.
In trifie over three weeks the legisla-
tive session at Annapolis will be in full
swing and there is every indication that
lively times are ahead. 1t is going to be a
session replete with grandstand plays by
leaders anxious to climb the political lad
der and again by others who want to
stay on the ladder. Senator John Walter
Smith will take an active interest in the
goings on at the state capitol and will en-
deavor to see that his fences on the east
ern shore and in other parts Of the state
are repaired. He knows that he must
fight to hold his seat in the upper house
of Congress. 1t is certainly that he will
be opposed by Isaac Lobe Straus and
there is more than a chance that Mayor
Preston will cast his hat into the ring
The mayor is politically ambitious and
those close TO him assert that he will be
in the fight for Smiths seat The SEN
ator knows that both Preston and Straus
are stump fighters and that he would cut
a sorry figure In hustings campaign.
The hustings, however, is the form now
IN politics, but it's a game at which the
senator cannot play. Preston 5 in con-
troll of the city crowd at the present time
ana StTduS VIII make a play the CITY
crowds support, as will Smith. 1t is GER
tain that Smith will have the Kelly wing
with him to the last ditch, and thus will
split the forces.
II is at Annapolis that these three po-
litiCa aSpirants will make their plays, and
the man who can demonstrate the great
est strength in controlling the legislation
passed will have the inside track in the
senatorial primary. Preston is playing
his borough plan for Baltimore and that
Includes the taking over by the munich
palitN of four big suburban sections now
lying in Baltimore county. the home and
stronghold of Representative Talbot.
Now, Talbot has no use for the new
tangled borough plan advocated by Pres
ton and will line up his followers in a
solid phalanx against the plan. Talbot
will have Smith as an ally in the fight on
the borough plan.
Means Much for Smith.
If the Preston plan meets with defeat
In the legislature it. will mean much for
Z Smith in. a political way He is in a
position TO arouse hostility to Preston
throughout the state. and it is generally
conceded that Smiths friends will allow
no grass to grow beneath their feet when
the opportunity presents to knock the
mayor. The mayor also wants to take
the power of appointing the police and
: liquor boards out of the hands of the
state crowd. and right here he will meet
with another snag. 1t is understood that
Straus Will keep hands off in these con-
tests between Smith and Preston, and
will use what he can of their respective
moves against them in the primary to
follow.
The leaders of the republican party are
about to take steps looking to- the re-
iuyenation of the G. o. p. for the COM
ing campaign The first step will be
taken at a dinner to be given at the
: Queen City Hotel in Cumberland next
I Thursday night, when the future of the
party in Maryland and in the nation
will be discussed. Andrew. Ramsay a
prominent leader OF Aliegany county,
will be the host on the occasion, and
those invited to the conference are Gov.
Goldsborough, Senator Jackson, Chair
man Hanna and Secretary TAFT of the
state committee. William F. Stone, Col.
EDWARD C. Darlington, Col. w. Bladen
Lowndes, Gen. Felix Agnus. chairman
Padgett of the city committee, Charles