Evening star., 1915-09-20
Will Give Cordial Support to
Emerson C. Harrington for
Governor, 1t Is Said.
REPORTED LEE FACTION
WILL KNIFE OPPONENT
Administration Is Very Desirous Re-
publican Should Not Be
Elected This Fall.

Political lieutenants of the admins
l tration today said there is no doubt
President Wilson and his political ad-
| visers will give their cordial support
to Emerson C. Harrington, the demo-
| cratic nominee for Governor Of Mary
land. regardless Of reports that the
Lee faction in the state will knife
Harrington.
| Ever since the defeat Of Senator
Blair Lee for the democratic nomina-
i ton and tho success Of Mr.. Harrfng-
ton. backed by the friends and sup
porters Of Senator John Walter Smith.
reports have been flying thick and
| fast that the Lee people were too sore
to fall In line for Harrington, and that
the national administration, through
sympathy for Senator Lee, would ex-
/ tend no help to the democratic candi-
date for governor.
President Wilson and his close politi-
cal advisers have never meddled in
state politics. but wherever a state
contest has had a bearing on national
party prospects the administration has
extended a helping hand in the way of
a letter from the President or the
presence of speakers of national note
sent by him.
Election of Importance.
1t is candidly admitted by friends Of
the President that the Maryland state
election in November next will be
Of moro Importance than an ordinary
state fight. Coming ON the eve of the
presidential fight Of next year, demo-
Gratis contend, it would be bad judg-
ment to permit the republicans to carry
the state and let the impression go
| through the country that the democrats
were unable to hold a democratic state
at critical time. For that reason,
and the fact that the President has
not shown hostility to Senator Smith,
although most kindly disposed to Sen
ator Lee, personal friend and sup
porter at the Baltimore convention in
1912, President Wilson Is expected to
pass the word into Maryland that he
| wishes to see all democrats and every
friend of his get into line for Harring-
tom
AS between Senators Lee and Smith,
in patronage affairs. the President has
Lee, who has obtained many good
places in the government service for
friends, but there has not been dis
elimination that was publicly notice.
able, and in. the distribution of the
large political plums the President
compelled the two senators to get to-
gether and practically divide the pat
ronage, each man receiving a share.
Took No Side in Primaries.
The President did not take sides in
the recent fight in the primaries be-
tween Senator Lee and Mr.. Harrington.
the latter backed by Senator Smith.
Under ordinary conditions he would not
take a hand in the election, but the
circumstances, it is believed, are going
to necessitate his showing a sympathy
favorable to the election Of Harring-
ton and desire to have the Maryland
factions work in harmony in November
next.
1t is doubtful If the President will
make any speeches in the state. but he
Will be asked to do SO. II he went into
the Maryland campaign he would prob
iably have to go into several other states
in which governors are elected in No
vember, one of them being Kentucky.
where state wide prohibition is live
issue and full OF dynamite. There will
be no difficulty, though, about giving
recognition to Harrington and sug-
gesting to the Lee men throughout the
state, who are disposed to be hostile,
that the administration does not want
a republican elected governor in q DEM
ocratic state this fall.