Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1915-12-17
Political Fighting Ahead For State.
Baltimore Evening Sun.

having JUST emerged from one year OF
unusual political activity, Maryland is
preparing to plunge into another that in
all probability will prove to be even more
strenuous. The dullness of the present
situation-and seldom has a situation been
duller-appears to be but the lull before
the storm-a storm that is expected to
break early in January and rage with I'M
abated fury until after the election next
November.
Those who are familiar with what is to
come will need no argument to convince
them that politics soon will be at white
heat. For the benefit of the benighted the
order of the approaching proceedings will
be set forth. They can then Judge for them
selves whether or not something is about
to happen.
The ball will start to rolling on the night
of the first Tuesday in January, when both
the Democratic and Republican members
of the General Assembly will caucus-the
former being in the majority. to agree
upon candidates for President of the SEN
ate and Speaker of the House, and the
latter to select a floor leader for each
branch.
LEGISLATURE Soon STARTS.
The next day, that is on the first We'd
nesday in January, the Legislature will
convene in its regular 90-day session. A
week later to the day the new Governor
will be inaugurated. Thereafter, and while
the legislative pot is boiling. the executive
appointments will have to be made. At
the same time. in another ring, the can
didates for the nominations for the United
States Senate and the House of Represen-
tatives as well as those who desire to be
named as delegates to the State conven-
lions which, in turn. will name delegates to
the Democratic and Republican National
Conventions, will be performing.
The Legislature will end its activities,
or rather, by constitutional limitation, will
be forced to adjourn sine die on the first
May following the Presidential. Senatorial
and Congressional primaries will be held.
Some time later, but not very much later,
the State conventions of the Democratic
and Republican parties will be held for
the purpose of selecting delegates to the
national conventions. and naming those
who will be placed upon the ticket in No
vember as Presidential and Vice-Presi- |
dental electors.
NATIONAL CONVENTIONS JUNE AND Ia.
On June the Republican National Con-
vention will take place in the city of Chi
cago, and on June IA the Democratic Ma
tional Convention will be held in ST. Louis.
The conventions out of the way. the !
campaign will then begin in earnest. And
the present indications are that it is going
to be a hot one in every sense of the word
AS near as one can figure it out there
will be no rest for the politicians until the |
election in November.
FIGHTS COMING In LEGISLATURE.
Getting back to the Legislature. There
is no telling at this time what issues will |
provide the biggest fights, but it looks now
as if there will be fights plenty. For one
thing, it looks as if there may be a real
fight in the Democratic caucus, especially
the House caucus. There are number of
candidates for Speaker. Each has fol- |
lowing and anyone of them may be in
position to start trouble The two factions
the Lee and the so-called Harrington
factions-are pretty evenly divided. On
the face of things the Harrington people
seem to have slight advantage, but any
detection in their ranks may place the
other faction in control. And threats of
going over to the other side are now being
made by some of the supposed Harrington
followers.
After the Legislature is organized it will
take real team work upon the part of the
Democrats to get their party measures
through. They have majority of but
votes in the House. certainly not enough
to be able to stand much of a split in their
ranks. Nor is their majority in the Senate
so big that they can afford to have much
division. They have 16 of the 27 mem
bers, or a majority of S.
TROUBLE With LEGISLATORS.
The carrying out of the economy and
efficiency program that Governor-elect Har-
rington advocates should occasion but little
trouble if both parties really desire to full
fill their platform pledges. But there are
generally good many men in the General
Assembly who don't give hang for plat
forms once they get into office. And there
are undoubtedly good many men who will
sit in the next Legislature who can't bear
the thought of abolishing anything so useful
to the politicians as useless offices.
However, it is assumed that the budget |
system and other reforms will be provided |
for, albeit brutal pressure may have to be |
applied in some instances before certain !
members will see the light. There might |.
not be so much trouble with the members
if the outside influences would let them
alone, but the outsiders will be breaking
all presidents if they do anything of the
kind.
Row OVER ANNEXATION.
OF course, there is going be an awful
row over annexation. The city delegation
is going to Annapolis prepared to fight for
what Mayor Preston asserts Baltimore
must have If its progress is not to be
strangled The Baltimore county and Anne
Arundel county delegations will go there
to spike the Mayors guns in every way.
At this time it is too early to predict what
the outcome is going to be.
Prohibition is looked to to provide the sub
ject for the big fight. The Anti-Saloon
League forces have declared for State
wide prohibition or bust" Some members
Of the General Assembly say they will
have to content themselves with a local
option bill, the thing they fought for sew
| IL d.