Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-12-14
maryland FRIENDS
OF WOOD At WORK |
Seek to Develop Sentiment
Favorable to Military Man
for President.

BALTIMORE, Md. December 10
(SpeciaD.-The nearest thing to a
presidential boom in Maryland has
been launched by friends of Maj. Gen.
Leonard Wood, who are quietly dis
cussing a proposal to enter his name
in the presidential primaries. How
much strength the movement will as
sumo is problematical, but it is in
teresting to note that it's hackers are
military or ex-military men, and in
clude democrats as well as repub-
licans.
Lieut.. Col. Stuart S. Janney and
Maj. Redmond c. Stuart are among
the men reported connected with the
movement, as also are Edwin G
Baetjer, who has been mentioned as
a possibility for the republican nomi
nation for the United States Senate
and John K. Shaw, another proni-
nent republican.
Leaders to Ride Band Wagon.
However. in spite of the signs that
the Wood boom, thoroughly organized
elsewhere. will show some strength
in Maryland. the indications are that
II the organization leaders here get
ieduy 10 line up Denlnd a man, Wheth-
err that man be Wood or some one
else, the sentiment of the party in
the state will be behind their selec-
ton. And persons versed in the ways
OF politics assert that the name of
the man. if any is selected before the
convention. will be picked by the
national leaders. Former Senator
William P. Jackson, republican ma
tional committeeman from Maryland,
and Galen L. TAFT, an executive of the
republican senatorial campaign COM
mittee and republican state chairman,
not to mention o. E. Weller, the state
entertain, are expected to fall in with
the plans of the national leaders, and,
by the time the day arrives for the
instruction Of Maryland's delegates to
the chicago convention, the state re-
pub1icans will be in line.
Under the presidential primary
law. however. names of candidates
may be entered on the ticket for the
states choice. The national leaders.
1t is believed, would prefer an unin-
structed delegation. and the state
leaders. therefore, are playing a eau
tfous game.
The same is believed to be true Of
the Democratic leaders, although
there are signs that sentiment for
Herbert Hoover. and especially for
former Secretary of the Treasury Nc
Adoo. may develop. The latter has
John Walter Smith and Gov. Elect
Albert G. Richie. Mr.. Richie is a
close friend of Bernard NJ Baruch
having suspended his activities as
attorney general of Maryland during
the war to fill a berth in Washington.
A canvass of the sentiment of the
people of Maryland, both democrats
and republicans, shows that their
minds are open on the question of
presidential timber. which gives the
politicians reason to hope they can
swing the rank and file into line.
Weller to BE Opposed.
Increasing signs of a factional
fight in the republican party over the
week, when opponents of the candi-
dacy of 0. E. Weller, who has assumed
the state leadership, arranged for
statewide conference on December
20, at which it is planned to select a
man to oppose Weller in the primary
Former Gov. Phillips Lee Goldsbor-
ough. the leader of the opposition,
still refuses to commit himself as a
candidate, despite the general impress
sion that he is the strongest man to
fight Weller With Edwin G. Baetjer
also inclined not to run. the names Of
and Thomas Parran have been ad-
vanced. There is still a possibility,
however. that Mr.. Goldsborough's re-
ported eagerness to have Weller beat
en- viii bring his hat into the ring.
Ana II he enters the race, there is
likely to be a merry battle.
There are evidences that the woman
Suffrage issue will play an important
part In the general election If Weller
IS nominated to run against Senator
Smith. since former Senator jackson.
the republican associate of Weller.
came out fatty for votes for women
at the national committee meeting in
Washington this week. Senator
Smiths strong opposition to woman
Suffrage Is well known. and in addi-
ton the democratic party of Marv
land had an anti-suffrage plank in its
platform in the recent gubernatorial
and legislative campaign. The repub-
licans avoided the issue in the state
fight. JOHN A ETGERT