Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-02
FACTIONS TO FIGHT
Marbury Candidacy Clarifies
Senatorial Contest.
REGULAR VS.. PROGRESSIVE
Maryland Primary Battle to Be
Between Contending Wings of
State Democracy.
BALTIMORE. Md. Marc
ecial Correspondence Of The Star

BALTIMORE. Md. March 1, 1913.
The entry of William L. Marbury into
the senatorial fight in this state has
greatly clarified the political situation. 1t
makes certain a fight between the regu-
lars and '.progressiveS' for state con-
troll 1T also removes Preston as an OPP
pOnent of Smith for the long term and
forces the mayor into a combination with
Smith. The mayor will now become the
antagonist of Blair Lee for the short
term. 1t is understood that Representa-
tive Talbot will not under the existing
conditions enter the fight for the short
term, as he had contemplated doing. This
will leave the field clear for the Smith
Preston ticket to goEble the organZa-
ton support. The mayor is credited
with having the city vote An his vest
pocket and the leaders will be more than
willing to throw their influence to Smith
now that it is certain that the machine
must fight for it's very life.
The coming primary will not be so
much a battle Of men as it will be pat
tie between contestinS wings OF Tue
democracy. The regulars Know that
the progressive democrats Will make
every effort in the coming campaign TO
wrest control of the party machinery
from the odd guard and place the
new democracy in the saddle. In TINS
effort the progressves are banking on all
the moral support that friendly admin
istration at Washington may mean, LOT
II Is an expressed opinion mere tnat the
next President of the United States does
not look with favor upon the type "
nol,tictans as represented by either Smith
or Preston 1t is claimed that MarDury
and Lee represent the type of pubic men
that Wilson would nave In the odleu
States Senate, and the friends OF these
n0f n
two candidates are not AN a.o ~, ats
ing the news that the incoming PRESIDENT
is said to look with favor upon their
favorites.
Meeting the Issue Squarely.
The Organization, on the other hahd'
is ,neetinp the issue squarely and is ready
70 MAKO the fight on the lines laid down.
They know that the progressives will
fight every inch and every minute or the
campaign, and the party workers are
even at this early day being whipped into
line Of the approaching contest. me
real work Of the Organization campaign
will not get under way until the return
of +ha nayor from Hot Springs Monday
NEXT when there will be at conference
Of the big wigs and the machine Will
get down to brass tacks ana lay the INES
for the fight that means SO much TO the
Preston intends to stump the entire state
and will vigorously assail certain leaders
among the progressive element, ana Will
level his heaviest artillery at Charles
HGrasty, the close personal 1rlend ana
sponsor for Marbury
The advent of Marbury into the fight
has placed former Attorney General
Straus in a peculiar position. Straus en-
tered the race some weeks ago ana mas
been waging a bitter campaign against
Smith, and 1t was seheraaiy uluels'o 100
that he would have the support OF the
progressives, but now 1t seems that
Straus need expect no aid from the new
democracy and must make ms campaign
independent and alone. Ii Will De remem-
bered that Straus said at the time ne
entered the contest that he might with
draw in the event that new and strong
candidate came out against Smith, and
the politicians are asking whether Straus
considers Marbury "a new ana stfonS
candidate against smith,
Want Straus to Retire.
The progressive leaders are very anxious
that Straus should eliminate himself from
the contest for they know that all the
votes Straus may poll must come from
the ranks of the progressive democrats.
They say that should Straus remain in
the race he could only be regarded as an
ally of the regulars and that If he is
sincere in his desire to see smith retired
from the Senate he Will at an early date
announce his withdrawal from the con-
test. The friends of Straus, however.
do not look on the matter in this light,
and some of them even hint that Marbury
should have kept out OF the race and
thrown his support to Straus.
The regulars Of course, are delighted
to have Stratus in the field as an indie
pendent progressive candidate against
Smith because they assert that Straus
has no chance of winning and that every
vote that Stratus polls in the primary will
mean just one less for Smiths really
formidable antagonist. Marbury. 1t is
said that certain influences among the
progressive leaders are at work on Straus
and that the former attorney general will
retire from the race at an early date. Mr..
Stratus. however, says that he will not
withdraw, but, on the contrary, will make