The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1930-06-12
(From The Observer, Baltimore)

By coming out into the open and
proclaiming himself a candidate for
Governor, Mayor Broening has con-
founded his enemies and forced the
hand of the leaders who have been es-
saying to select slate.
Apparently the Mayor reached the
conclusion that those who are charged
with the slate making would not favor
his cause. In fact we hear that be-
fore he made his announcement he
sounded out United States Senator
Goldsborough without acquiring any
satisfactory information.
Then the Mayor assembled a small
group in the office Of one of his sup
porters and read his declaration of
political independence, the substance
of which was that he had sufficient
promises of support to insure him the
nomination. At the same time, we
hear, he received word that he would
get no aid from the Anti-Saloon
League, the head of that organization
being quoted as violently opposed to
the candidacy of His Honor.
The Mayor, it appears, did not think
he needed the support of the Anti-Sa-
loon League nor of the principal State
leaders of his party. Like the Kaiser
of old he proposed to go his way unde-
tered by the criticisms Of those who
may favor other candidates or who
may not think him the party's strong
est available man.
It is a fact that the Mayor has been
pushed and pushed by the City Hall
crowd. The members of this group
seem to have had nervous fear that
he would not go in at all. They urged
that he had waited long enough for
the leaders to pick a candidate and
that further delay would lose him
ground.
So the effect of the Broening pro-
nouncement will be to hasten matters.
Messrs. Goldsborough, Jackson, We'll
Ter, TAFT, Parran and others must get
a candidate to pit against the Mayor.
In this group the belief is said to pre-
vail that a suitable candidate other
than the Mayor will soon be found.
There is no substantial hint of a
name. There is some backing for H.
Webster Smith, a rather dark horse,
but the Broening people are giving
it out that Smith will not run against
the Mayor. Smith is advised to wait.
The Anti-Saloon League leaders favor
David A. Robb, but it appears that the
latter has been doing so little for him
self that it is difficult for others to
do things for him.
One by one so-called availables have
been swept off the board. Federal
Offices have taken some of them and
Federal offices are had without ex-
pensive campaigns.
The declaration of some heretofore
Weller lieutenants in Western Mary
land in favor of Broening served to
give the impression that Mr.. Weller
has swung around to the Mayor, the
favorite of W. Bladen Lowndes, the
most bitter of all anti Weller men in
Maryland. But this doesn't prove any
thing. Mr.. Weller's last public dec
laration was that he favored the NOM
ination of a Sixth Congressional Dis
trict man since Albert G. Towers, his
first choice, did not choose to run.
The Eastern Shore, usually the
home of candidates without number,
has no candidate. Some of its availa-
bles have moved to Baltimore where
the clover grows taller. Judge Rob-
ert F. Duer of Somerset, has been
mentioned, but is said not to be avail
able. Albanus Phillips is not after any
Office and is booked for Europe.
In Western Maryland, Judge Sloan
sidesteps. So does Judge Urner. AL
exander Armstrong, former Attorney
General and very popular man, has
substantial hackers and has a county
behind him but to date not one of the
big State leaders has undertaken to
blow horn for him. Had he kept
out of the Richie legislative Roads
Commission whitewash he would have
been right in line for the nomination.
He is criticized for walking into trap
designed by the cunning Governor.
Maryland Democracy
Still in a Stew
What the opponents of Governor
Richie within the Democratic party
are going to do is still an open ques-
ton. Some are arguing that the Gov
ernor should be permitted to get the
nomination by default and that all
energies be conferred on the effort to
prevent his election in November. This
is referred to as the easy way, many
thinking that his defeat is almost a
sure thing.