The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1913-09-11
PREPARING TO !
FIGHT vANDNER|.
Friends of Blair Lee Intend to
Oppose Vandiver in State Con-
vention.

friends of Blair Lee and other op-
ponents of Gen. Murray VandlVel
| by no means concede his reelection
as chairman of the Democratic State
Central Committee and are prepar-
| ing to carry the fight against him
to the State Convention, which will
meet in Baltimore next Tuesday, and
| will elect the State Chairman.
In Mondays primary the forces
of the old State organization car
ried most of the counties and upon
! the face of the returns 1t appeared
that they would have in the con.
vention in the neighborhood of so
votes, which could be swung to
Gem Vandiver by Sen. Smith, Ar
thur p. German, Congressman Tai
bolt and the city machine.
The progressives claim that
among the organization votes are a
large number that are against Gen.
Vandiver's reelection. In several
counties, it is said, there are dele
gates to the State Convention al
lied with the old organization who
either publicly OF privately are
pledged to vote against General
Vandiver's reelection.
The out-and-out progressive votes,
plus the anti-Vandiver votes in the
organization forces, it is claimed.
total approximately SIS. To defeat
Gen. Vandiver in the convention,
65 votes will be needed, and it is
contended that there is strong
indication that the votes needed
can be obtained.
This claim is based upon reports
of opposition among the rank and
file of the party to the Generals
reelection. 1t is said that while
the organization forces succeeded
in electing a majority of the dele
gates to the State convention that
was done in spite of the feeling
against Gen. Vandiver and not be-
cause of popular support of him.
Caroline county is pointed to as
an example of the feeling among
the rank and file. While the Lew
is-Goldsborough forces were COM
pletely routed by the organization,
led by former Congressman Thomas
A. Smith, the latter's delegates are
said to be pledged against Vandiyer
to a man. The Dorchester county
delegates and some of those FROM
Kent, it is also said. will be against:
him If there is chance TO win. =.
Friends of Blair Lee say. this
anti-Vand1ver feeling in some of
the counties which elected organi-
Zation tickets is SO strong that
there will be a considerable num-
Der of organization delegates who
will want to go on record as hav-,
ing voted for change in the man
agement of the State Central Com
mittee.
Whom the anti-Vandiver forces
will centre upon as candidate Ii
not certain They are talking Of
w Mitchell Digses. OF cnz11
county; State Insurance Commits.
sioner w. Mason Shehan. OF Tall
bot, and number of other county
men who are personally popular
with all elements and have been
identified with the progressive
in the State.
Gen. Vandiver and his friends.
profess to be certain of his re-elec-
ton. They say the large lead of
the organization forces in the con-
vention will be held In line for
him by Sen. Smith and other
friends among the State and city
leaders of the organization.
The practical certainty that the.
Lee people and their allies in the
will fight to the fin.
ish against Gen. Vandiver promises
about the only excitement in the
State Convention. 1t is not be-
lieved the organization people will
oppose a clear-cut progressive plat
form and it is not thought likely
the organization will have troubles
in electing its choice for chairman
of the convention. In former years
the convention chairman named the
chairman of the State Central Com
mittee. Under the primary law of
1912 the convention itself elects
the chairman of the committee.