Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-01
Subject Shares With Senator
ship the Spotlight at
Annapolis.
TIDEWATER MEMBERS
FOR OLD-TIME METHODS
Odd Feature Of Lineup in Coming
Senatorial Primary-Kelly and
Linthicum Arc Busy.
Special Correspondence Of The Star.

Special Correspondence Of The Star.
BALTIMORE. Md, February Is, 1914.
The oyster industry and a United States
senatorship occupied the spotlight during
the past week. The tdewater legislators
want to repeal tho Hannah law. cut out
scientific growing Of oysters and go back
to the old-time methods. The methods of
days gone by almost resulted in irrepara-
BILE damage to the oyster and the oyster
bottoms. Tho tidewater people want the
oyster bottoms open to all tongers and
dredgers and no restrictions placed on
territory where the oysters may be OBJ
tanned
When the legislature adjourned It was
generally conceded that all hope for an
absolute repeal Of the oyster-planting law
had been abandoned. and the best that
the tidewater people hoped for was the
passage OF the compromise bill. The sit
uation presents many opportunities for
trades, deals and dickers. and the party
leaders will not overlook a bet-of that
all may be certain.
The fight of the past week developed
one thing Of interest to the city people
It uncovered the hand Of Frank" Kelly,
the West Baltimore leader, who swung
his delegates from the city to the oyster
mems side Of the contest. The attitude
Of the kelly men, in the legislature on
the oyster question indicates that the
west-end boss has made deal with Sen
ator John Walter Smith.
Those on the inside of the political
game here assert that Kelly will stick
hard to Smith in the coming senatorial
primary. This looks to be good dope. !"
for 1t is known that Kelly is great ad-
mirer and supporter Of Representative
Linthicum. Linthicum has the guberna-
torial bee buzzing in his bonnet, and the
wiseacres say that the attitude OF Kelly
means that the west-end machine and
many other political workers throughout
the city will line up for Smith In the SEN
atorial primary.
In return for. the work done by Kelly in
the coming fight 1t is figured that Smith
will thrown his influence in the counties
to Linthicum for the gubernatorial nomi-
nation. Right here 1t might not be amiss
to state that Kelly is the most as poll
tician in this old burg today. His friends
are legion and his word is his bond. He
Is what may be called clean boss" and
he would rather go down to defeat with a
friend than to victory with an enemy.
Letter Regarded Blind.
An odd feature Of the Kelly lineup
with the Smith forces is being discussed.
1t is now recalled that at the mass meet
ing held here last Wednesday night in
the interest Of the mass-vote bill for the
senatorial primaries. Representative Lin
thicum sent letter stating that he was
in favor Of the mass-vote bill. It may be
that the move was a blind to cover
Keliys hand in the oyster fight, as it is
not thought that Linthicum would go out
Of his way to injure KelIy's friend
Smith.
Getting down to brass lacks in politics
it's Linthicum's play to line up with
Smith If he really desires to go to the
gubernatorial chair. He knows that Kelly
is the biggest factor politically among
the bhoys, and that Kelly can worl
the Eastern Shore for him through
Smith. There is little that Mayor Pres
then it is said that Preston looks to the
gubernatorial chair also. II the legis
lature passes the county-unit bill-ant
Indications at this time point to it-ther
cannot get into the senatorial fight witt
ghost of show Of even making 6
good showing. and with Kelly in favor
of Linthicum for governor he does no
even get a look-in there.
In other words. if the plans now beint
made by certain wings of the democratic
party materialize there's nothing left fol
Preston except another try at the
mayoralty There has been a rumor cur
rent to the effect that Preston was ready
to enter into a deal to secure the passage
Of certain legislation by the legislature
On this point the mayortsaid today:
Preston Makes a Statement.
II have made no deal or bargains OF
arrangements on oyster legislation. OF
on anything else, and am not going
to make any. believe in fighting fol
what is right on the merits of each
individual measure, and I will take the
ter question I stand on the democratic
platform"
The plank in the platform to which the
mayor referred provides that 1.-The demo
cratic party pledges itself to guard zeal
ously the rights of the oystermen an6
all of those who earn their livelihood
out Of the waters of our state, and we
do hereby pledge our party representa-
tives at the next legislature of Maryland
to enact such legislation as will protect
or restore their rights.
'1n order to guarantee fully that no nat
ural oyster bottoms shall be leased by
the state for private planting, We spe
officially promise the passage of a Law
duly authorizing and empowering thu
shell fish commissioners, upon proper
| and reasonable complaint, and after due
notice to the party complaining, to make
REORGANIZATION of the bottoms com
be we'll founded, to amend the surve,
heretofore made that to the fullest ex
tent, under the spirit Of the law, ne
natural oyster bed. bar or rock shall b.
left out of said survey or become sub
ject to private leasing"