The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1917-08-30
GOVERNOR REFUSES TO
DISCUSS ANNEXATION
Not Prepared ri This Fine - Nl''N"
Statcn,tnt--fa&tion Row Va.
Cause state People - k,lrsiu
From Committing farlt.

Replying EtSIerUa! 10 uiIeC'
question as to now his influence Wi.
be used hen >he annexation 4ueS
ton is raised. Governor Harrington
said that he was not prepared 10
make Il statement. He gave no Indl
cation, Tor public or private use. o
his views upon this question. WhlcL
will be the Swallowing issue o.
the campaign.
Il am not ready TO make 4 state
ment upon that question. said tn
Governor.
viii you make one before The
convention meets?
Il am not certain as to that.
There is a great deal OF curiosity
as to whether the Governor Joins IL
the purpose which other promincn;
State Democrats are known 10 have,
to kill, if possible, any real anneNa
ton measure so long as Mayor Pres
ton is in office. No one seems 20
know The Governors intimate@
say that he has refrained from any
definite expression of his Intentions.
He hates Mayor Preston as much a
any other of the State leaders, but
so far as known, he has not gone a
in planning to make the hatreC
count in the annexation ng;--
Il is possible that he VIII be car
ried along by the other State people
who are understood to have set theil
jaws against annexation Again, /,
is possible that he Will seek middle
ground by getting behind the bi:
which State Senator Ogden is prcpar
ing. Ogden has been one of the
Governors stalwartS, and his views
have been submitted to the Governor
frequently and lately. Or, it is pos
sible, but not overly probable at this
time, that the Governor will throw
factional and personal feelings to the
winds and get behind the annexation
bill of the non-PartiSan Greater Balti
more Extension League, because that
is the one bill which has been pre-
pared by a group OF WeIl-balanceC
and able lawyers, both city and coun-
ty men, after weeks of careful study,
and is the one bill which most fail
and open-minded people will ap
proach with confidence.
Ii the Governor gets behind the
Ogden bill he probably viii part
company slightly with other State
leaders who are against any sort o.
annexation while Mr.. Preston is il
the City Hall, but he will not par
very widely. for the chances are
that most of the people who have
been making the fight Tor annexation
would regard the Ogden bill as a flu
tility, and its passage instead of the
leagues annexation bill would be
hailed as a practical trimph over the
city by the State people. If he for
gets personal and fractional feelings
and gets behind the league bill he
will part from his associates. Then
will come the test whether he OF
they can control most of the COUNT
people.
1t happens that many of the coun-
ty leaders are favorable to anneXa-
ton. They have become convinced
in their own minds that Baltimore
city should have annexation because
it has clearly proved that it is en-
titled to extend its boundaries as OF
right.
Also many of them are tired Of the
sort of politics that places personal
grudges above the public welfare
They think the wisest politics for the
Democratic party now is tC drop per
sonal hatreds and concentrate upon
constructive public service Other
wise, they believe that the voters not
any machine, Will see to it that the
party is brought to its senses in the
next Gubernatorial election
:. Level-headed county men, hoWev-
er much they dislike Mayor Preston.
do not believe that the wise way to
nght him is to beat meritorious meas
ures because he fayors them. They
understand that in fighting for an
nexatlon the Mayor is lighting for
the best interests Of the city, and III
tlmately OF the State, and that IN
the fight he stands side by side with
the clearest thinkers and the most
patriotic among the citizens of the
city and State.
Just what is Senator Smiths atti-
tude on annexation, no one seems to
know. And he has carefully refrain
ed from giving any intimation lately.
1t is known, however, that Senator
Smith deeply resented the lntimation
that he was not sincerely for annex
alton at the last session of the Legis-
lature, and his friends insisted ana
still insist that the Furst bill would
nave passed but for the changes
made at the last minute in it by S.
5. Field. Those close to him say
that Senator Smith believes Balti-
more should be given the annexation
1t demands, and that when the time
comes he viii prove his friendship
Tor the city and disprove the charge
that he is hostile to its interests
Some of his friends here in the city.
however, are talking in a way tna-
means no annexation of any sort at
the next session. That the Demo-
cratic State Convention, in view of its
stand two years ago. should refuse to
give any Endorsement at all. to the
annexation issue, is hardly conceiv-
able. 1t is not believed that Senator
II n