The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1917-07-30

Bitter Opposition - Stone And
Gold>boroueh Strongly Against
Him - Democrats Doing Little
/ Talking About Candidates.
Former Roads Chairman o. +
! Weller, who was the Republican
| candidate for Governor two years
| ago, is q candidate for the nomina-
ton two years hence, according to
the universal belief among politi-
clans. Mr.. Weller has not said that
he was a candidate, but that causes
no doubt among those in touch with
developments. His friends believe
! he is candidate, and his enemies
believe he is a candidate.
At this time it looks as if he has
4 most excellent chance to have the
support of former Senator William p.
Jackson. He and Mr.. Jackson are
| working in perfect harmony in par
~ affairs with Chairman TAFT, OF
the State Central Committee, and
Senator France And they seem TO
have pretty thorough control in the
State, for the time being, at least.
Under such circumstances, it APP
pears reasonable to suppose that Mr.
jackson will be with him in the
shake-down i'll 1919, especially as
Mr. Weller'S candidacy two years ago
brought him within approximately
5000 votes of election, and naturally
makes him an available for the next
fight, barring some very bad mis-
takes upon his part.
However, it is certain that he will
have vigorous opposition in the par
ty councils a year and half from
now, when things will be in process
of final shaping. Former Governor
GoIdsborough and former Collector
Of Customs William F. Stone both
are bitterly opposed to him. Their
friends say that opposition to Mr..
Weller as the next gubernatorlal
candidate was the one thing which
they expressly agreed Gpon at their
more or less celebrated coufeSencs
recently held. Mr.. Weller's enemies
insist that, in the end, the influence
of Mr.. Goldsborough and Mr.. Stone
viii draw Mr.. Jackson away from
him.
Some of them profess to believe
that no matter how completely Mr..
Weller has supplanted Mr.. Stone for
The present as the principal adviser
of Mr.. jackson, when the time for
choosing the candidate comes, Mr.,
Stone will gain the upper hand again.
Others argue that, with Mr.. Jack
sons very well-known tendency to
compromise and avoid fighting, Mr..
GOldsborough and Mr.. Stone will be
able to take him away from Mr..
Weller by the simple expedient of
offering to accept almost any other
friend OF Mr.. jackson.
Ehere is talk of other Republicans,
-4cluding W. Baden Lowndes, Chair
man Albert G. Towers, of the Public
Service Commission, and Mr.. Colds
borough. None of these men is re
garded as an active candidate, but
the general notion IS that if Mr..
LoWndes or Mr.. Towers sees half a
chance he will let no grass grow I'M
der his feet in embracing it. Mr..
Goldsborough, although now very
comfortably established as the head
of a big bank, probably would not
pass up a chance to be Governor
again.
However, he is so close to Mr.
Lowndes that it is believed he would
be glad to have the latter given the
first chance, if d situation arose in
which either of them could be chos-
en-. Mr.. Towers friends hope the
lightning will strike him, if Mr.. Stone
and Mr.. Goldsborough propose to Mr.
Jackson the nomination of anyone
other than Mr.. Weller, and Mr..
Jackson accepts, for the sake of har-
mony.
The Democrats apparently are wait
ing until after the next session OF
the Legislature before making UP
their minds. But no one questions
that Senator Smith and Mr.. Talbot
and most of their friends want State
Treasurer Dennis He is one Of the
inner circle; they like him personal
ly and politically a very great deal
and they think he would make a
good business Governor, while taking
cares of the organization. Comp
troller McMullen according to all re-
ports, thinks about the nomination
at least one hour each day, and a
notion is current that he has been
given encouragement in some quar-
tiers during these last few weeks,
when the State people have been urg-
ing him to be a candidate for re-
election. But the insiders in their
private Jalh 90 not seem TO lnlnk MI
McMullen will have much chance.
If the nomination goes to someone
outside the ranks of the distinctly
State organization men it Is believed
that Attorney General Richie will
come very close to being the lucky
man. He is not intimate with either
the State or the city organization
leaders and SO has no powerful po-
Iitical hackers. But there are a great
many people who want him to have
the nomination, especially among the
younger men.
Undoubtedly he enjoys a remark
able popularity throughout the State.
His friends claim that he could beat
any man the Republicans could NOM
mate and there are not many people
in politics who disagree with them.
That may win him the nomination
1t IS possible that the Democratic
party after the next session of the
Legislature is over may have to
nominate the man who can get the
most votes in the ballot box.