Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1919-01-31
LETTER 70 EDITOR

70 the Editor of the Eueatgp Capital:
the campaign for the nomination oS
q candidate for mayor 0g Baltimore Oh
the democratic ticket II now fairly
started, and although the primaries
will not take place until April. the
politicians and woFkera on both sides
are exerting themselves with az
much energy as II the voting was only
1 few days on and the matter would
be settled without further delay. Az q
result 81 this early start the contest
viii be dragged out for more than
three months, for, after the nomina-
lions are made by both parties another
month Of very strenuous lighting will
have 10 be. gone through with before
the people finally decide whom they
want FOR mayor for the ensuing four
years Both sides express the utmost
confidence IN the outcome The anti
Preston forces. under the leadership
of Governor Harrington and Frank
Kelly. are working day and night 20.
line ND defnOcrttc voters on their
side FOR Mr.. Williams, while the old
organization, which has been Ii con-
troll here ever since the reconstruc-
ton period ut the close of the Civil
war. lis fighting with ali its force and
skill to retain It's supremacy, and the
result wtsl not bio certain until after
the votes are cast early in April
The old democratic city organixa
ton, which has been supreme In pol
itics Id Baltimore ever since the adop-
ton on the state constitution OF 1867,
has long been one OF the most power
full local political organizations In the
country. and iii All its checkered his
tory Of flfty years has had but two
leaders, Mr. L Freeman Raisin, from
It's Foundation up to the time Of his
death twelve years ago, and since that
time the present able leader. MI John
j. Mahon. Many times It has had To-
flght for its existence as the controller
81 the party affairs III Baltimore bat
1T haa never been really defeated AT.
times Ii has compromised with Its OPP
pOnents. but II has never really sur
rendered 0ficlaIs who have owed ell
their politicsl succeas ID it's support
and countenance. have gone back on
Ii when III power. Il has. on few oc-
casions seen its candidates so down
to defeat at the polls, but 4 has AL
ways gathered It's scattered forces to-
gether and come to the front again to-
win other fights At times # has been
without Oflicial countenanee or patron
age, but. while II has been weakened II
has never been really overthrow, and
has always been ready for new con-
tests and battles with its foes both
within and without the party Cover
nors and state administrations have
turned to It the cold shoulder and
Nave at times secretly, and again
openly Joined its forces to destroy II.
ssnt today, after all the yiclsitudes Of
hair century, Ii h apparently as
strong as ever. and Is entering on the
present tight with all it's Did time vigor
and enthusiasm. Men. ward leaders.
and leaders of less degree and f1flue
ence, who asserted openly month
ago that they would not back Mayor
Preston. are nov working for him
with their coats on. Why Because
the leader of tbs organisation is the
voice of the organization. and the or
ganisation whose dictum has been
law ii party matters ever aimee they
cast their first vote. has given out the
word, and like the regular party sol
dlers that they are. they are lined
up for the fight against their old time
foes. no matter who may be 81 the
head Of those foes. They realize that
sc long ~ they eight with the orgayi-
zatIon, they are 4 part Of that body,
and partake or its strength. Outside
OF II. they are politicians Of little In
nuence. and after i time 81 no inEiu-
ence whatever, and are really outside
TIE party pale. they prefer to be 10. :
and therefore. unpleasant as IL may be,
they lire np, not for the candidate, he
Ii only d representative og the organf-
sataon, but for the organization itself
no matter who the sandfslat may be.
As regulars, as party workers, as
parta. however small og the machine,
the candidate Is to them only pO.
istical abstraction. 'E'hey are for what
he represents. not Ear him except as
the figure representing the organixa-
.aon. and as inch they are ready to
support him with all their old time
vigor.
The organization IS 90 strong IS
ever. and the forces against II are
strong How strong. II IS Impossible
TO tell this early lib the aght III win
hare to be vary, very strong indeed
10 aefaat aar. aEalaon and hia well or
galaaxad party machtne.
u q mr. a3sraxss szsr.sranrsns ~