The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1913-03-05
A FIGHT FOR ITS LIFE
Machine Faces Powerful Comb.
nation in Senatorial Campaign

bury-Lee Senatorial fight has not
yet sunk in upon the politicians on
the other side. Nor has the real
strength of the lineup behind these
two candidates been realized.
The combination, with what it has
behind it, is infinitely more power
full than was the Lee, Crothers-Mar-
bury-Talbott alliance in the Guber-
Material primaries of 1911. Then
Blair Lee, as the standard-bearer of
the progressive Democracy of the
State, came within single vote of
controlling the State Convention and
gaining the nomination for Cover
nor. He had the whole force OF
the city and State machines against
him, so far as Preston and Mahon
could throw that force in the city,
and Smith and German in the coun-
ties. 1t is conceded by everyone
that had Lee been nominated, he
would have been elected and the
State would not now have a Repub-
lican Governor who has filled the
offices, held for IL years by Demo-
Gratis, with Republicans.
For this condition of affairs the
responsibility cannot be shifted
from the shoulders of the machine
leaders who are now opposing Mar
bury and Lee. Senator Smith per-
mitted the city ring to force him
to support German against his judg-
ment and against the advice of prac-
tically every disinterested friend he
has. The forces behind German
damned him through by the slim
NEST kind of a margin and as a
direct result of this policy upon the
part of the machine leaders the
Democratic party was defeated, a
Republican Governor chosen and
several thousands of Democratic Of
ficeholders throughout the State
were thrown out in the cold.
1t is upon the men who brought
about this condition that Woodrow
Wilson has turned his back in this
fight. The selfish. sightless, silly
kind of politics which they have
played in the past and which they
are playing now is as different from
the Wilson type of Democracy as
day is from night, and this fact Is
likely to be made so clear before
the campaign closes that the most
benighted voter will understand.
Since the Gorman-Lee primaries
there has been a tremendous growth
in the progressive Democracy of
the State. The nomination Of Will
son at the Baltimore Convention, the
smashing of the Democratic bosses
who opposed him and the inspiring
campaign ending with his election,
that followed, have all tended to
stimulate and strengthen the pro-
gressiye element of the party.
Then, too, the election of Cover
nor Goldsborough and the know
ledge of just who was responsible,
together with the character of the
present city administration and the
brazenness with which the local
ring goes about its municipal bond
ing, contracting and paving enter
prises. has given many regular
Democrats in counties and city a
strong distaste for reactionary lead
ership in the State and corrupt lead
ership in the city.
Now. both Lee and Marbury have
a recognized strength of their own
in the Democratic party. Before
Senator Lee announced his candi-
dacy for the Senate it was generally
conceded that he could be the next
Governor of Maryland. Since he
entered the Senatorial field the
widespread belief has been that he
would be victorious over any OPP
ponent for the short term.
Mr.. Marbury campaigned the
State for Crothers and for Lee and
in these campaigns made for him
self many staunch friends in the
Democratic ranks throughout the
State. He has always been strong
in Southern Maryland, where he
was born and where his Democracy
is recognized as the unauthorized
brand. In the city his standing as
a citizen and as lawyer, as well
as Democrat, has given him
following that few individual Demo-
Gratis not actually engaged in poll
tics or in holding public office have.
But, even were Senator Lee and
Mr.. Marbury devoid of individual
strength, their allied Senatorial can
didacy would be formidable. This
is true because behind it. squarely
and aggressively, is the President of
the United States. This means that
the whole weight of the Federal ad-
min!stration is behind them, and
the only possible deduction from
this is that so far as the Federal
patronage for Maryland is concern
ed II Will De distributed wholly up
on the recommendation of the Lee
Marbury element Of the party and
not Of the other element.
These facts would give force to
the candidacy of any decent man,
but there IS more than that to the
Wilson support in this case. The
main thing is the personality of
Woodrow Wilson himself. He has
made this his fight. He has de-
clared to his friends that he de-
Esrres the election of Mr.. Marbury
and Mr.. Lee because they stand for
the kind Of Democracy he stands for
and because with them tn the SEN
ate he can count upon real help in
carrying out his policies and the
Democratic PLATFORM pledges. He