The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1919-01-23
WINCHESTER SWEARS
BY PRESTON AND MAHON
Appears to Think That State Lead
ers Should Not Stand by Their
Friends.

Baltimore, Md, Jan. 23.-The
lineup in the coming primary con-
test for the Democratic nomination
for Mayor of Baltimore, is rapidly
taking place, and the whole town is
being searched by the workers of
both factions in their efforts to Sc
cure help and encouragement. The
greatest sort of activity is manifest
on all sides, and politicians and Of
flee holders of high and low degree
are just from morning until late at
night working with all possible ener-
.gy to further the progress Of the
cause.
1t is fast becoming apparent that
the contest is really a fight between
the old city crowd, led by Mr.. John
J. Mahon, and Mayor Preston, on
the one side, and the State crowd
led by Governor Harrington and
Frank Kelly on the other side. On
the one side are arrayed the city Of
ficials and the old organization city
politicians; and on the other side
the State officials and the State poll
ticians, with certain large business
interests employed in old-time rival
~, divided in their factional politi-
cal alliances, just as they are in
business affairs--for business rival
ries very often extend to political
rivalries and usually add greatly to
the bitterness of all political strug-
giles and contests for supremacy,
whether between parties, or factions
within parties. All the outward and
inward indications now, are, there
fore, that the Democratic party in
the city is about to engage in an ex-
test, which will be continued on
ward into the State contest later on,
no matter which side may win out
in the present purely local AFFAIR."
The injection of purely State mat
tiers into what ought to be simply
and purely city matter, may lead
to consequences of great moment to
the immediate future of the whole
party, and the interference of county
office holders of influence in the
city fight, may have a far-reaching
effect. No State executive has ever
made any success in interfering with
city party affairs. A generation ago
the late Governors Hamilton and
McLane tried it without success.
Governor Warfield made an unsuc-
cessful attempt to manage the party
in Baltimore; the late Governor
Lowndes made a disastrous foray in
to the affairs of the Republican par
ty when he was State executive; the
late Governor Crothers, probably the
most astute politician who ever oc-
cupied the Governors chair, burnt
his hands when he took hold of city
politics; and the defeat of the po-
litical ambitions of Governor Colds
borough may justly be attributed to
his attempt to regul late the affairs OF
the Republican party in this town
only a few short years ago. The
politicians of Baltimore city, no mat
ter whether they are Republicans or
Democrats, resent all attempts at
outside interference. no matter how
high or powerful the person who
attempts to interfere may be placed,
and the late Senator German, in the
plentitude of his great power and
influence, never attempted to inter-
fere, personally, in city affairs, ex-
cept through the medium of the
regular party organization. When
he had at his disposal during the
first Cleveland administration, the
vast patronage of the Federal Gov
eminent, he never brought about the
appointment of city man to office
without first securing the approval
of the recognized leaders of the city
organization.
Mingled with all the rapid fire dis
cussions about city affairs and the
city fight, there is more or less talk
concerning the rapidly approaching
time when candidates for the State
offices must be chosen, and of course
most of the talk centers around the
nomination for Governor. During
the past few days there has been
evident a strong disposition to favor
the nomination of a Western Mary
land man for the place. The Repub-
licans are beginning to look with ia
vor on the proposition to nominate
w. Bladen Lowndes, who,
while now a resident of Baltimore,is
looked upon as an Allegany coun-
tian. AS stated from time to time in
these letters, many Democrats of in
f1uence are favorable to the nomina-
ton of Mr.. Emery L. Coblentz, of
Mr.. Coblentz combines
many qualities which would fit him
for the place, not only as a candi-
date, but also as an executive, should
be enter the contest and win. He is
a lawyer of excellent standing at |
the bar, and as a constructive bust
ness man ranks as high as any man |
in the State. Through his efforts |
Western Maryland has been grid
roned with electric railways, and in |
other constructive enterprises he