The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-04-15

Baltimore, Md, April 15.-The ad-
iOurnment of the General Assembly,
transferred the centre OF pontlcai IN
terest in Maryland to the Hotei
Rennert, Baltimore, where ourlns
every week, the men who, TO great
extent, control. or at least under
stand, the political affairs OF the
commonwealth, gather from Tune 70
time, not only from the city, out az
so the leading public men from the
several counties. Indeed, scarcely d
day passes. but what one or ore Oh
the leading men of Maryland may be
found here, and often the number IN
cludes dozens of citizens, ohclalS,
and others whose views have great
weight in the concentration OF pc
litical sentiment and the selection OF
candidates for public office, from
that of Governor down to the mem
bers of the House OF Delegates. IN
til the next meeting OF the General
Assembly, Rennert's will be the po-
litical headquarters place where
plans are formulated, deals made,a ana
candidates put up and knocked
down, in the style of political games
in all parts of thte country.
And the talk here since the clos
ing of the legislature OF 1919, now
more than a week ago, (and TINS
among members of both parties, Tor
Rennert's is the gathering place OF
both crowds), has been largely con-
fined to the effects of the recent seS
sion on the fortunes of the Demo-
cratic and Republican parties
which party gained and which lost as
a result of the ninety days work at
Annapolis. The strangest fact OF all
is the fact that neither Democrats
nor Republicans seem disposed to
claim any credit whatever for wha.
was done; and there is almost unani-
nifty of opinion that very little was
done which was especially creditable
to anyone, or Dlamable on anyone. In
other words, no one seems inclined
to claim credit for the work of the
session, or to admit that there was
ANYTHING especially blamable for
which responsibility should be placed
on either party. There is no shout
ing from the housetops by anyone
claiming credit or honor for any act
passed at the recent session, no mat
ter how important that act may be
considered by the public at large. Ii
was a nondescript session, composed
largely of second rate, nondescrlpt
men, and as it was divided in its po-
litical control, most of the work was
of a nondescript character, for which
neither party is willing to admit,
much less claim, credit or response
bility. The chances are, therefore,
that it's acts, OF omission and COM
mission, will play very little part in
the future party affairs of the State.
No one deserves any special credit,
and no one deserves any special
blame, and all should, therefore, rest
content at the outcome and be thank
full that it is all past and gone.
Indications are becoming more
abundant every day that the gaps be
tween the factions in the Democratic
party are fast closing up, and thai
before the next State election the
party will be united once more and
ready to elect all State officers and q
General Assembly in January there,
with in 1919. The settlement of the
city extension problem has taken
out of politics the most troublesome
question, and Democrats, both city
and county, are beginning to talk OF
harmony and party unity as they
have not talked for years. There is
no reason for Democrats to engage il
factional Quarrels and thus give
their opponents the only chance they
may have to win. With at least forty
thousand majority of the registered
voters of the State, there is no pos
sible excuse for party defeat, ano
only the grossest mismanagement OF
the part of the leaders can bring
about defeat. There are men able
and willing to serve the party, ano
there is no reason under the sun fol
the election of Republican legisla
lures, and Republican State officials
except through stupidity or treach
cry on the part of those at the heae
of the Democratic voters-who al
ways prefer to vote for their OWL
candidates, unless the leaders act il
such a way as to prevent their doing
so by the forced nomination of mel
utterly unfit for the places to which
they aspire Ii the present leader:
cannot manage the party affairs 81
as to satisfy the rank and file, the.
should be displaced by others wht
have the tact, skill and honesty Il
keep the party forces together, ant
present a solid front to the opposi