Evening star., 1922-06-25
R|TCH|E STARTS
DEMOCRATIC ROW
Maryland Governors Order
That Wade Be, Tried
Forecasts Fight.
speciak Dispatch to The Star,

BALTIMORE, June 24.-Rumors OF
| an impending row in the democratic
party in Maryland few thick in po-
litical circles this week as result
of Gov. Ritchie's decision to place
Dr. ]. Hubert Wade. chairman Of
the democratic state central commit
tee and treasurer of the state board
OF prison control. on public trial on
a charge of official misconduct In the
latter office.
! That the governor by his action
has made a large number Of active
enemies within his own party IS the
| belief. Listed as particularly Offend
ed are former Senator John Walter
Smith. Samuel K Dennis, John NJ
Dennis and others of DR.. Wade's clos
est friends. including probably Hugh
II. McMullen, all OF whom have been
| more or less closely identified with
the "old guard"
On the other hand, a number of
influential democrats. including Frank
A. Furst and the Mahon-Kelly fac
tfon Of the city democracy. claim
that the governor could not do other
wise than order the trial and are be-
hind the governor in a fight to a fin
ish with the "old guard
In this group are number of
county leaders, including Z. Brooke
Lee. Emory L. Coblentz, w. Mason
Shehan. Walter ]. Mitchell and Omar
Crothers. This element has long
| been dissatisfied with DIR. Wade's
and has Vailed to the governors sup
port in the belief that the present
situation offers an excellent opPor-
tunity to bring about a change in the
craftsmanship.
Expect Wade's Removal.
Irrespective of the outcome of the
trial, it is predicted that DR.. Wade
! will be displaced. even should he not
resign, as is now rumored.
Demand is growing that Ritchte
become candidate for the United
States Senate and forego his ambi-
tion for second term as governor.
Not that the democratic party would
not be just as willing to support
John Walter Smith, Hugh A. McMul-
len or Charles p Coady. but it wishes
to get Richie out OF the way and
| leave the gubernatorial field clear for
John NJ. Dennis.
That this cannot be brought about
and that Richie intends to stay in
the fight for denomination was made
perfectly clear this week. In reply
to a direct question the other day,
| Ritchie said that If any candidate
| enters against him the only thing for
him to do would be to fight 1t out be-
fore the people. He has no inten-
titon. he made 1t plain. of retiring
| from the gubernatorial field
Following the positive statement of
! the governor that under no circum-
stances would he become a candidate
for the Senate. democratic leaders
are said to have practically decided
! to unite on McMullen as the standard
bearer Of the party in the fall cleo
tions. Close friends of McMulIen say
! that he is only waiting until his
| friend, former Representative David ].
Lewis, has had the opportunity to
nouncement of his candidacy for the
nomination for the United States
Senate. That Lewis will withdraw
when advised of the decision reached
by the leaders is the consensus in
That former Senator John Walter
Smith is out OF the senatorial race
was made positive yesterday. Speak
ing at the Wade. trial, just after the
Coz had s1ass sS Ssa It's bitter ns1n5
counsel for the defense and chief
lieutenant and bosom friend Of Sena-
tor Smith. said: Senator Smith has
| no aspiration for public office"
| Notwithstanding the formal entry
Of William Tyler Page of Montgomery
| county. and the anti-France meeting
| to be held at Braddock Heights on
| Wednesday, those in touch with the
| fight of the conservative elements in
| the republican party to bring out as
| a candidate against Senator Joseph
| Irwin France for denomination John
| W. Garrett, or some other man of his
type. believe that the anti-France
\ fight is weaker today than in months.
While the movement against Sena-
| tor France has not been abandoned. it
| is losing force. While William P
Jackson, national committeeman for
Maryland and the acknowledged
G. o. P. leader Of the eastern shore.
| has not as yet openly indorsed the
| candidacy Of France. he has as much
as stated that he considers him the
logical candidate. Senator France
| filed his papers for denomination this