The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1917-12-27
MAHON'S HOLD ON
LEGISLATURE GONE
Big Measures Pending And Bal
timOre Boss Can Figure
Only On Five Votes.


When the Maryland Legislature meets
next month for It's session it will be the
first such assemhlage since 1906 IN
which John j. Mahon has not been an
important factor. AT each of the last
five sessions-those of 1903, 1910, 1912, |
1914 and 19l6-he mas had the biggest
bunch Of votes of any single boss IN the
State in either party. In the coming
session he will have less than handful.
This fact is today being commented on
by those who are figuring as to what
the Legislature Enay do with. this big
question or that.
In 1906 |. Freeman Rasin was alive, .
and though weary of politics, was
still the biggest factor in party control .
in the city of Baltimore. The next year,
1907, it was for the parts to pick can
didate who could beat E. Clay Timanus.
who had succeeded to the Mayoralty on
the death of Robert NJ, McClane il I.
1904. Mr.. Timanus was a popular
Mayor and had won considerable indie /
pendent support because he refused to
GUST all the Democrats that had been
appointed by Mr. McLane.
The Democrats were puzzled as to
candidate. and Mr.. Rasin, tired of
squabbles. did not want to make a
choice. he task was turned over to
Ex-Governor Frank Brown. The latter
picked j. Barry Mahool, at that time
President OF the First Branch of the
City Council, Rasin approved the 7e-
lection, went home, was stricken with
apoplexy and in a few DAYS was dead.
. Thereupon Mahon, who had for years
been on the outs with Rasin, set up
shop for himself. lie opened an office
in the Calvert Building, just as Rasin
had long had one in the Law Building.
He had doorkeeper, as had Rasin.
and all the FILINGS, but somehow it did
not suit. and IN few months he de-
serted the Office and gave it up. But
from that time he vas boss. He gath .
cred around him Rasin old ieutenants.
or many of them, and the organization
was carried along the old way.
In the succeeding Legislature that
Of 1908 Mahon was first a conspicuous
figure in the corridors Of the State
House. When absent lie was repre-
scented by several lieutenants, and at
every succeeding session he has been
conspicuous in the corridors with the
exception of the last regular session.
that of 1916 At the latter he was not
so much in personal evidence, but
moved through his TRUSTEES, who were
always on hand
Mahon's strength has been mainly IN
the House, though he has never been
without representatives in the Senate.
In the House he has usually had any
where from 10 to 20 votes that he could
count on through thick and thin, and
sometimes even more. And had the
Democratic ticket gone through in the
last election he would have been as
strong as ever. as nearly every Demo-
cratic candidate for the House in the
first three districts was selected With
his approval.
Bat now with the Legislature about
to meet there are only eight Democrats
in the House from Baltimore city.
Three of these are accounted Kelly
men. So that at most Mahon can
muster no more than five. And If he
is able to muster these five every time
he wants them he will be doing wonders
far greater wonders than he is ex-
pected to accomplish If those WHO are
on the other side OF the House can
guess intelligently.
There are the biggest kind of meas.
Ures to come up-Hquor, race tracks
and few more These would under
ordinary conditions be OF great interest
to the boss, but what is a boss with
only d handful Of votes? What is
Sampson with his locks shorn? What
is Kerensky since Lenle and Trotzky
got the upper hand? That's the ques-
ton small politicians ask just now. VIII
John J. s name be Kerensky for good?