The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1917-08-30
GOVERNOR REFUSES TO
DISCUSS ANNEXATION
Not Prepared II This il.asc 4" Ni','>t
Sla1enatnt-tactio RnM va.
Cause state People ." kvir:tin
From Committing Parry.

Replying yesterday 10 dlTeC'
question as 10 now his influence Wi.
be used when the annexation queS
ton is raised, Governor Harrington
said that he was not prepared 20
make a statement He gave no ind
cation, for public or private use. .
his views upon this question. MhIcL
will be the oyershauoWing issue o.
the campaign.
Il anu not ready TO make 4 state
ment upon that question. said the
Governor.
will you make one before The
convention meets?
Il am not certain as to that.
There is great deal OF curiosity
as to whether the Governor joins IL,
the purpose which other prOminen7
State Democrats are known TO 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 lntimates
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.
far in his own mind as others have
in planning to make the hatreC
count in the annexation ngn..
1t is possible that he VIII be car
ried along by the other State people
who are understood TO have set thell
jaws against annexation. Again, /,
is possible that he Will seek middle
ground by getting behind the BIZ
which State Senator Ogden is prepar
ing Ogden has been one of the
Governor StalWartS, ana 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 viii 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 Well-balanceC
and able lawyers, both city and coun-
ty men, after weeks of careful study,
and is the one bill which most fair
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 Oh
annexation while Mr.. Preston is III
the City Hall, but he will not pan
very widely, for the chances are
that most of the people who have
been making the fight for annexation
would regard the Ogden bill as a fu-
tility, and its passage instead of the
leagues annexation bill would be
hailed as practical trimph over the
city by the State people. If he for
gets personal and factional 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 county
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
1t has clearly proved that it is en-
titled to extend its boundaries as o.
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 1t that the
party is brought to its senses in the
next Gubernatorial election.
: Level-headed county men, hoWey-
er much they dislike Mayor Preston,
do not believe that the wise way to
lob hi -
ures because he fayors them. They
understand that in fighting for an
nexation the Mayor is fighting for
the best interests of the city, and Ill
timately 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.
). 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 will prove his friendship
for 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 conceiy-
able. 1t is not believed that Senator