Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-07-05
LEADERS PLAYING
POLITICS SLOWLY
Concerted Move in Maryland
Democracy for Harmony
in Ranks.
SITUATION IS ROSEATE
FOR SENATOR SMITH
His Friends Want Him to Take No
Hand in the First District Con-
gressional Skirmish.

Special Correspondence Of The Star.
BALTIMORE, Md. July 4.-The demo-
cratic leaders of the city and state are
playing the game of politics with sure
and slow hands. For some reason or
other there seems to be a concerted move
to bring about harmony within the party.
and to be in shape to present a solid front
at the coming fall and spring elections.
The city bigwigs are already agreed in
the event Of a certain contingency, and
that is that the Kelly wing will sup
port Preston for a second term for the
mayoralty If that worthy desires to go
back and the Mahon wing is ready to do
yeoman work for Smith for the United
States Senate. 1t is not known that
Preston wants another four years as
chief executive Of the city; those on the
inside say that he has intimated to the
big fellows that he would like to see
the Organization" kept in such position
that he could be sure of support in case
he makes up his mind to run again.
1t is now pretty generally agreed that
Smith will win out in the primary next
fall. His friends point to the fact that
he will have the undivided support of the
city machine as whole, and that he is
almost certain to carry more than a ma
jority of the counties. They say that
Straus has no chance in the city and
that the counties will not support a
city man when there's a county candi-
date in the field.
At enc time it looked as though the
men who were bolstering up the opposi-
ton to the senior senator might succeed
the fight. but the man willing to oppose
Smith could not be found. AS a result
today there seems to be a general feel
ing that the senator will be returned
without any trouble In the primary or the
general election.
There is only one thing that is worry
ing the friends Of Senator Smith, They
don't want him to take hand in the
fight for the nomination in the first dis
trict. and the indications at this writing
aspirants for the nomination conferred
among themselves over the situation.
First District in Limelight.
/ The only avowed candidate in the field
is James G. Bright of Queen Anne coun-
ty- The others, who appear to be in a
Bark1s frame Of mind, are State Senator
Price of Wicomico State Senator Cooper
OF Caroline and Jerome Hannah Of Queen
Anne county. In the past few weeks
there has been a decided change of atti-
tude on the part of Senator Price At
first he was inclined to keep out Of the
race, and even went so far as to issue a
statement that the only condition which
could induce him to enter the contest
would be party exigency. Now, however
he seems to be hot foot after the nomina-
ton. In his home county petitions have
been circulated asking him to get into
the race and signatures have been SO nu-
merous as to lead him to believe that he
would have the democrats of his county
solid behind him So 1t may be taken for
granted that Price is in the fight to the
finish.
Then along comes Omar Crothers OF
later in the week, closely followed FRIDAY
by John H. Kimble. another Cecil coun-
ty aspirant. OF the three last-named en-
trants Kinble seems the most available
because of his strength with the agricul-
tural interests. his freedom from fac
tional handicaps and his generally good
record and standing in that neck of the
state.
The multiplicity of candidates great
ly complexities the situation, and the
leaders realize that it will be peces-
sary to get behind the strongest man
In the primary fight regardless of the
feeling of this or that leader or fac
ton.
Anxious Over Smiths Attitude.
II the leaders In the district feel
that Price is the strongest man in
sight and that the interests of the
party demand his candidacy, he will be
strongly backed. II such a condition