Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1918-01-02
REPUBLICANS PLEDGED
TO ANNEXATION
Republican Caucus Indorses Nom
partisan League Bill
CHANCES BRIGHT FOR PASSAGE
indications Are That Majority Can Be
Secured In Senate Court Con-
solidation Also Favored.

The expected happened last night
when the Republicans hit the line
hard in the interest Of annexation al
their caucus in the State House when
they overwhelmingly adopted a reso-
luton indorsing the annexation bill
of the Non-Partisan Greater Baltimore
Extension League In the same reso-
luton, the Republican delegates in
dorsed the bill prepared by the Bar
Association for consolidation of the
city courts
This action of the Republicans in
favor of real annexation probably
means its certain passage through the
House The Republicans have 55
votes in that branch, which is three
more than a majority In addition,
here are eight Democrats from Bal
tinore City. who must support real
annexation If they want to go back
home And there are a number Of
county Democrats who are believed 20
favor real annexation.
Stands On 1917 Platform.
The resolution adopted by the Re
publicans follows:
Resolved by the Republican men,
bers of the House of Delegates of the
General Assembly of Maryland of 1918,
assembled in caucus this first day Of
January, 1918, That we hereby indorse
the Republican State platform of 1917
and pledge our best efforts to carry
the provisions Of the same into effect
through legislative action; we further
Resolve, That we particularly in
dorse the bill prepared by the Non
Partisan Greater Baltimore Extension
League providing for the extension of
the limits of Baltimore City and the
bill prepared by the Bar Association
for the consolidation of the city
courts; we
Resolve further, That an executive
committee of six, one from each Con-
gressional district. shall be appointed
by the Speaker, which committee shall
receive the bills prepared for the
carrying out of the Republican plat
form pledges, and shall act for the
Republican party interests in guiding
the course of the bills in question to
passage through the House
None To Bolt Caucus.
Several Republicans spoke against
the resolution in the caucus, among
them being Delegates Fisher and
Davis, OF Prince Georges, and Della
PLANE and Rice, of Frederick But
none of these would say after the eau
Gus that. he was opposed to annexa-
tion.
With the fight for annexation open
ing so aucpiciously in the Republican
controlled House, the Baltimore City
friends were greatly cheered because
the Democratic Senate also looks
good. 1t seems now that there is a
clear majority in the Senate, compos-
ed OF Republicans and Democrats
which is on the city's side.
Senate Majority In Sight.
Fourteen votes will be needed to
pass these bills in that branch OF
the 13 Republicans all but three are
counted as on the city's side The
three are Allen, OF Baltimore County;
| Joy, of Calvert, and kaufman, of
Frederick. Joy is considered doubt
Iful. because Thomas Parran, the Cal
vert leader, is said to be on the fence.
Kaufman has said that Baltimore must
go dry before it can expand Whether
| he hold that view now is not certain
The other 10 Republican Senators are
| believed to be pretty solid. That
I leaves four to get to reach IA, the ma
4
cratic Senators Campbell, Norris and
Frick-almost cover the gap. And
Senator Crothers. of Cecil; Harrison
of Worcester, and Legg, of Queen
| Annes, are talking annexation and
are believed to be definitely on the
| city's side. Moreover. Senator Nit
chell. of Charles. and Senator Bennett
of Wicomico, are thought to tend ths
i same way.