The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1916-03-16
PLAYING politics.

A factor that will have considerable
bearing upon the contest for the Sixth
District Republican nomination for
Congressman has just been put to work,
and that is the declared candidacy of
Hon. George L. Kaufman, State Sena-
tor from Frederick County, who yes
terday declared himself candidate for
the Congressional nomination. Sena-
tor Kaufman, coming from Mr.. Vein
berg's county, would seem to improve
the situation for Senator Zlhlman, but
one can never tell these days just how
one or another candidate is going to af-
feet the prospects of others in the field.
Senator Kaufman says he is not in the
fight so much to defeat either of the
other,two aspirants as he is to secure
the nomination himself. He stated
yesterday to The Republicans Anna
polls correspondent in declaring his
candidacy, that he intends to make a
thorough and vigorous canvas of the
Sixth District and expects to meet
most of the voters in the larger towns
at least. Senator Kaufman stated
that Mr.. Weinberg is not an acceptable
candidate to the rank and file of the
Republican party, and that he (Kauff-
mani expects to represent that large
element of Republican voters.
BOUND TO WEAKEN WEINBERG.
Nevertheless, Senator Kaufman
candidacy, however much the Vein
berg managers try to belittle and ridi-
cule it will have considerable bearing
upon Mr.. Weinberg's future standing,
and will to a greater or less extent
weaken his chances. Senator Kauff-
man will divide the vote in Frederick
County, and what he receives undoubt-
eddy would go to Weinberg. But the
most serious feature is that with a
contest in his own county Mr.. Vein
berg will now be in the position of be-
ing an unwise selection as a candidate
in the interest of united party in the
election, as it is always desirable to
have candidate who is the unanimous
choice of his own county.
SENATOR ZIHLMAN ANSWERS WEINBERG.
Senator Zihlman, of AlIegany county,
candidate for the Republican congress
sional nomination in the Sixth District,
yesterday sent the following letter to
MIR. Weinberg at Frederick.
Annapolis, March 18th. 1916.
Hon. Leo Weinberg,
Frederick, Maryland.
My dear Mr. Weinberg
81 have received your letter of the
2nd instant, in which you request me to
Join you in a joint debate in order that
the people of the Sixth Congressional
District may be informed as to our
respective fitness to represent them in
Congress.
'In reply, would say that this chal-
lenge came as complete surprise to
me, as we are both Republicans, and,
in the event of either of US being nomi-
mated. we will. of course, be bound by
the provisions of the Republican Plat
form to be adopted at Chicago, in June.
This being true, | can see no ques-
ton open between US for discussion, as
to enter into Joint debate suggests a
difference of principles between the
parties to that discussion, and so far as
| am informed, it would be an anomaly
for two men to debate and both take
the same side of the question.
''Since, then, there are no public
questions open for debate, there would
be nothing left for discussion but our
own personal merits or dement's, and, |
am sure, it would not be in good taste
or enlightening to the public, or con-
ductive to party harmony at the No
vember election, for US each to pro-
claim in pretended debate, our own
merits or indulge in detraction of each
other.
You also suggest that the cost of
this advertising plan be equally divided
between US. The legitimate and neces-
sary expenses of the campaign | am
ready to discharge as candidate, but
being, as you probably know. a man of
very moderate means (having been a
working man up until a few years ago)
| do not feel called upon to bear the
large expense necessary to provide halls,
music, etc, for the entertainment OF
the voters, which you seem so anxious
to provide.
81 am, at present, confined to Anna.
polls on account of my duties both as
the State Senator from Allegany anc
as the Republican Floor Leader Ear
honor which my colleagues kindly con.
ferred upon mel, hence, | will be in nc
way free until well along in April, OIL
only a matter of days before the Pri.
mary Election takes place, and, there
fore, am forced to decline your in.
vitation to joint discussion, and viii
occupy the limited time left me after
the legislative session is over, in person.
ally meeting the voters of the Sixth
District.
I'm the meantime, 1t is natural that
Won should desire TO get ont and meet