Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-06
No White House Dictation.

This statement coming from Marbury is
regarded as notice from the White House
that the national administration does not
propose to get into the senatorial fight
and 1T will have the effect Of hurting the
regular organization because of the fact
that the ward heelers have been led to
believe that the Lee-Marbury democracy
are engaged in a campaign to capture the
party machinery along with the two
togas. The people of Maryland have no
objection to the President expressing a
preference for any candidate. but there
are legions-and not hidebound ring dem
ocrats by any means-who would resent at
the polls any attempt on the part of the
national administration to dictate the two
men who shall occupy seats in the
Senate.
The Mahon wing in the city is still
perched on the fence. awaiting word
from Mayor Preston. Mahon is ready to
swing to Smith the moment the city exec
utive gives the word that he will not
oppose the senator. but that word has
not come and there are those who pro-
fess to see signs that Preston is going
after the long term. Such a move on
the part of the mayor would surely start
something. and great pressure is being
brought to bear on Preston to induce
him to enter the short term fight or else
keep out Of the primaries altogether
1t Is generally regarded here that the
mayor is gradually losing strength as a
result of his dilatory tactics. and it is
coming nettled over his long-drawn-out
star chamber conference with himself
Since the mayor let enough leak" to in
form the politicians that he was consid-
ering the long term he has not taken a
single friend into his confidence as to his
ultimate intentions.
Lee has also become a sphinx, and he,
too, has all the politicians of the "or-
gantzation" stripe guessing. Whether he
intends to get into the harness with
know. Even the Marburyites here are
up a tree, and they are beginning to get
busy with a campaign all their own. They
had hoped that Lee would attach their
candidacy to the tail of his kite, but up
to the present time Lee has not given
the slightest indication that he intends to
accept Marbury as his running mate.
Therefore. the senatorial situation closes
this week with Preston a clam, Lee a
sphinx, Smith silent and Marbury work.
ing his vocal cords overtime
Demand of Progressives.
State Chairman Darlington today made
formal demand upon the city supervisors
of elections that they appoint judges and
clerks from the progressive party in
stead OF from the republican party. This
new petition for mandamus against the
election officials. In this petition the
progressives will ask that the supervisors
be compelled to appoint bull moose cleo
ton officials, on the ground that the pro-
gressive party has superseded the repub-
lfcan as one of the two leading parties of
the state. This action will be based upon
the opinion handed down by Judge Ell
lott recently. when the court ruled that
the election of 1912 was general cleo
ton. and thereby had the effect of MAX
ing the progressive party. which polled
the second highest vote. the other leading
party.
The plan to demand patronage through
the supervisors was decided upon at q
conference of the state progressive ad-
visory committee yesterday afternoon.
Col. Darlington was instructed to make
the demand in writing and to report back
to the committee the answer Of the super
visors. 1t is a foregone conclusion that
the board of election supervisors will re-
fuse the demand. The supervisors are en-
tirely willing that the case shall go into
court, and no matter which way the
lower court decides, the issue will be
taken before the court Of appeals.