Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-10
LEE MAY ASSUME /
STATE LEADERSHIP
Party Machinery in Maryland
Is Declared to Be in a Bad
Condition.
TALBOT BOOM FAILS
TO GAIN IN HEADWAY
Supporters Who Place Blame on
Senator Smith Show Revenge
full Spirit.
Special Correspondence OF The Star.

BALTIMORE, August Q, 1913
The state democratic machine Is in
bad shape. This was patent to the most
casual observer at the Rennert this
week. when the meeting OF tho state
central committee was held There was a
lack of harmony evident all along the
line, and the effort made to initiate the
boom OF Representative Talbot for the
short-term senatorship fell fat The
county leaders were awaiting the word
from their chief, Senator John Walter
Smith, but the word they waited never
came. Smith was listless over the can
didacy OF Talbot or that OF any other
man. and allowed things to drift along
The old-time get-together spirit was
lacking, and enthusiasm was an I'M
known quantity. The members of the
committee were there, and that about
lets 1t out.
Perhaps the most apt description OF
the old guard was that given by a Lee
adherent. who dubbed them "a bunch
of cutters" The progressive demo
Gratis, on the other hand. are elated over
the atmosphere that permeated the
meeting. and assert that the machine
| is on the run. And the organization
leaders throughout the state have a rod
In pickle for Smith.
6orman Nursing Grievance.
Among the bigwigs dissatisfied with
| Smith is Arthur p. German of Howard
county. who has surrendered all that
was dear to him politically to strengthen
the state organization. His friends point
to the fact that there had existed be-
tween German and Talbot bitter feud
that was as personal as it was political.
out the Howard county leader offered to
bury the Ratchet and get behind the
Baltimore county leader for the short
term When German made this sacrifice
of his personal feelings his friends say
that 1t was up to Smith to get out into
the open for Talbot against Lee, but
they assert that il Smith did SO no one
is aware of 1t up to the present time
One development Is certain as a re-
suit of the .'lay-down' of the organiza-
ton. and that Is the Lee wing OF the
party will endeayor to capture the chair
manship of the state central committee.
thus putting Murray Vandiver in the
political discard. There now seems to be
little question that Lee will control the
nominating convention. and will be thus
enabled to name the presiding officer,
who, in turn, will be in position to die
tate the new state chairman. There In
| a well defined rumor here to the effect
that Lees choice for the committees
head is Hope H. Barroll of Kent county.
| who is stanch supporter of the
| CWilson) democrats declare that the
machine is in close quarters. and that
| the failure to unite upon a man to OPP
pose Lee shows the weakness of the
| "old guard Therefore, the machine
need expect no fayors from the rev
| democracy, whose object, 1t is now clear.
| is not only to land Lee in the United
| States Senate, but to gobble the party
machinery as well. The city machine 10
chuckling over the dilemma in which
the state crowd finds itself The local
leaders will not sit up nights planning
| to save the Smith faction. On the con-
trary. they will sit complacently and
allow the fight to go on to its finish.