Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-25
H|NTSOF SCANDAL
STIR LEGISLATORS
Talk Heard at Annapolis in
Connection With Recount
of Votes.
COMMUTE TO SIFT
BALLOT BOX CHARGES
Democratic Leaders Submit Two Bills
on Primary Issue-Covington
to Fight for Seat

BALI lhoSf>, MD. January -. I9lI
Hints of scandal in connection with
the ballot boxes used at the election for
state senator last November cropped up
in the closing hours of the legislature
this week. 1t all came about when the
senate elections committee decided to
have a recount of the votes in the Har-
rison-Ashburn contest, which grew out
of the election held in Worcester county.
When Senator Ashburn heard of the ac-
ton taken by the committee, he said:
At the proper time / viii charge that
some of the ballot boxes were not prop
erly sealed after the election. and that
the boxes remained open until the Friday
after election. l shall also produce wit
ncsses to testify to that effect.
The recount will take place next week,
and the party leaders plan that there
shall he the fullest publicity given the
proceedings. Chairman Beck tkent conn-
ty' of the elections committee said today,
in discussing the recount: No matter
where the chips may fall. | propose TO
new close to the line laid down by the
court of appeals. | shall also see to 1t
that the widest publicity shall be given
the recount. | do not propose To have
Worcester county politicians filing the
committee room. but the recount will be
open tn the two interested parties. their
attorneys and the newspaper representa-
lives. And. furthermore. want the
newspaper men To see every ballot when
il is examined and counted.
The senatorial direct primary law. to
be enacted by the legislature, continues
To be the big thing among the legislators
and the leaders. 1t is generally conceded
that the question of county unit or
mass vote will be decided by Blair
Lees attitude. and the votes of his adj
herents i'll the general assembly. The
party steering committee submitted
TWO bills TO the lawmakers. thereby
straddliIg the question and pleasing both
wings of the party 1t is only make
shift. however, on the part OF the com
mittee. before the fight Is over the
senator's delegates, whips. leaders and
bosses will have TO come out into the
open for or against the mass vote
plan.
Senator John Walter Smith is deter
mined that the county unit system bill
shall be passed by the Legislature. While
Mayor Preston and the city crowd are
behind the mass system. Former State
Senator German is in favor of the mass
plan, and SO is Isaac Lobe Stratus. Pres
ton and Straus are both tentative candl-
dates for the toga now held down by
smith. and that's why there is harmony
between them on this question.
Attitude of Republicans.
The attitude of the republicans on the
Two system is not definiteluy fixed, but a
majority of the minority members of
the legislatu re will back the mass vote
bill. in view of the fact that their party
platform commits them to direct
primaries This then. brings the situa-
ton squareiy up to Senator Lee. Lee. in
the past. has favored the county unit
system for governor ana other state Of
fees. Up to the present time he has
kept his own counsel. although there
are those who assert that Lee will be
with the Smith forces for the county
unit bill.
Should Lee declare for the mass plan.
then the Lee men. together with the re-
publicans and the city democrats. could
defeat the county unit plan bill advo-
Gated by the adherents of Senator smith.
Should the senior senator fail to pass
his bill then he would be retired to
private life.
Reports come from the eastern shore
10 the effect that Representative ].
Harry .Covington may have the fight of
his political life to hang onto that seat
in the lower house of Congress 1t is
stated that a wel-known Queen Annes
county man is thinking about getting
into the fight. and it is known that a
Cecil county member of the house OF
delegates has been requested to feel out
the opposition to Covington in his home
county. 1t is admitted that Covington
had made a good representative in Con-
greSs, but there is a feeling among the
eastern leaders opposed to him that il
is time for him to step aside and allow
another good democrat of the same old
eastern shore to bag the $500 year
No Walkaway for Smith.
The adherents of Covington are de.
Tending him against the attacks of his
political enemies and insist that his work
in Congress in behalf of the state and his
constituents entities him to another term
They assert that the fight now being
made on Covingon is due to the position
Talbot county man has taken ir