Evening Capital

GOVERNOR IN THE CONTEST
Will Run For United States Senator
—Exchange of Letters With Chairman Vandiver

Despite the noncompliance with the conditions accompanying the announcement of his candidacy for the long term for the United States Senate on Monday, Governor Warfield has entered the contest. The candidate who receives the highest number of votes in the primary, said the Governor, will be the next long-term Senator from Maryland if the legislature is Democratic.

The Governor's remark shows that he is still wedded to his plurality plan. His prediction indicates his belief that the result of the fight will hinge on the plurality vote, and not on the plurality of Democratic members of the legislature.

Midnight last night marked the expiration of the time limit set by the Democratic State Central Committee for filing with that committee declarations of intentions to be candidates in the primary on November 5 for long and short terms in the United States Senate. Chairman Vandiver was on hand at headquarters, at the Eutaw House, Baltimore, to receive all declarations. When the list closed it contained the names of the following candidates for the long term:
Governor Edwin Warfield.
Former Governor John Walter Smith.
Congressman J. Fred C. Talbott.
Former Congressman Joshua W. Miles.
Former Attorney General John P. Poe.
Gen. Joseph B. Seth, of Talbot county, president of the State Senate.
For the short term, ending March 4, 1908, William Pinkney Whyte.

Chairman Vandiver, of the State Central Committee, replied to Governor Warfield's letter of Monday, imposing conditions of his Candidacy. In his communication Mr. Vandiver said he had not the power to grant the conditions as requested.

In a letter to Chairman Vandiver in reply to Governor Warfield differs with him, and points out the spirit of the State convention providing for a popular primary.

Senator Whyte made public his position in reference to the tentative agreement of the candidates formulated last week which was to be binding upon all or upon none. He also explained the State convention resolution providing for the primary.

Chairman Vandiver yesterday replied to the Governor's communication, as follows:

Baltimore, October 9, 1907.
His Excellency Edwin Warfield,
Governor of Maryland:

My Dear Sir—Your letter of the 7th in regard to your notification that you will be a candidate for the long-term United States senatorship at the primary to be held on the 5th day of November next, has been received, but that notification is coupled with conditions to which I have no power to agree.

In arranging for the primaries I am confined absolutely to the requirements set forth by the state convention resolutions, and the resolutions adopted by the state central committee in pursuance thereof. The state central committee, after considering most, if not all, of the conditions you lay down, unanimously adopted this resolution:

"Under the resolutions passed by the state convention, it is the sense of this committee that its only authority and duty in the premises are to make provisions for the holding of the primary election ordered by the convention, and that it has no rightful power to alter, annul or disregard said resolutions, so far as they declare how Democrats elected to the next legislature shall cast their votes for United States senators."

It is very clear to me that the committee having entertained this view, it would be presumption on my part to assume the right or power to disregard its action.

The lists of judges and clerks are to be furnished me by October 20, and I shall take pleasure in forwarding you a copy as soon as they are received.

There is not a question but that any candidate for senatorial honors will have a fair chance to secure a free expression from Democratic voters as to their choice for senator.

Having fulfilled the duties laid upon me, in providing the machinery by which the vote is to be taken, I am of the opinion that my duty in this respect is concluded, and my time and attention until the close of the polls on November 5 should be given to the election of the Democratic state and county tickets.

Be kind enough to add to your amended declaration of candidacy your place of residence, as you did not give it in your former communication.

Very respectfully yours,
MURRAY VANDIVER,
Chairman.

To Chairman Vandiver's letter Governor Warfield replied as follows:

Fidelity Building,
Baltimore, Md., Oct. 9, 1907.

Honorable Murray Vandiver, Chairman Democratic State Central Committee, Eutaw House, Baltimore, Md.:

Dear Sir—I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of this date in reply to mine of the 7th inst. relative to the senatorial primaries.

I cannot agree to your view that your duty in the premises will have been fulfilled when you shall have provided the machinery for taking the vote. On the contrary, it seems to me that upon you and your executive committee must rest the responsibility and duty of seeing to their fair conduct in every respect until the polls shall be closed and the vote counted and tabulated, and to take care that proper interpretation be given to the resolutions of the state central committee, particularly to that clause referring to the qualification of the voter.

You will recall that at the meeting of the state central committee I suggested that questions might arise in regard to the interpretation of instructions by the committee, and recommended a resolution authorizing the executive committee, of which you are chairman, to interpret any provision about which question might arise. Whereupon you and Mr. Poe stated that such a resolution was unnecessary, as the chairman and the executive committee already had such powers, which assurance I accepted.

As I previously notified you, I shall be a candidate for the long-term senatorship at the primaries on the 5th day of November next, and, in view thereof, I must again ask that you give full attention to the conduct of these primaries, and particularly that you specify the qualifications essential for voting thereat, that a fair and full vote may be cast and counted.

It is the plain spirit of the resolution of the convention that the Democrats of this state should select their senators by expressing their preference at the polls, and for that purpose these primaries were provided. Under these circumstances every safeguard should be thrown around them and every opportunity afforded Democrats to vote.

I conclude that after, in compliance with the letter of the resolution, the members of the legislature shall each have recorded his vote in accordance with the vote of his county or district, then, in compliance with its spirit, all may unite in voting for the candidate who shall have received a plurality of the whole vote cast throughout the state. Any other course would be a stultification of the action of the convention and a repudiation of the will of the people. I am willing to trust the people and the legislators they may select.

In reply to your inquiry, I beg to advise you that my address is Annapolis, Anne Arundel county.

Very respectfully yours,
EDWIN WARFIELD.