Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-17
A L1vAY cAMPAIex.
Montgomery County Republicans
Hopeful, Democrats Active.

montgomery County Republicans
Hopeful, Democrats Active.
Special Correspondents Of The Evening Star.
ROCKVILLE, Md, August 16, 1897.
There is everys prospect that the ap-
preaching political campaign in this coun-
ty will be the livefiest ever fought out over
the local offices. Heretofore the democrats
have given themselves no uneasiness as to
the result of sach a contest, but changed
conditions no longer permit them to rest
on "howery beds of ease" The time was.
and that not So long ago, when democratic
majorities of from 100 to 800 in the county
were alrost annual occurrences, but for
two or three years past the results have
been quite different.
The first considerable change in the vote
OF the county occurred four years ago,
when the repr blicans came within 300
votes of eiecting their legislative ticket.
candidate for Congress against George l..
Wellington, carried the county by about
500 majority. Lloyd Lowndes, for gov
ernor, was but eight votes tehfad Mr..
hurst, the democratic candidate. and last
fall Bryan's majority over Mckinley was
Zio, while the majority of Blair Lee over
Capt. Mcdonald for Congress was 3I5.
Something has put it into the heads of
the republicans that they have good
chance this year to carry the county. They
have nominated full county ticket and
express themselves as especially hopeful
of electing their legislative candidates
Following rs the ticket they have chosen:
For state senator, Charles F. Kirk: for
the house of dele gates, Ashley NJ Gould.
James e. Ayton, George Minor Anderson;
for CLERK c. the circuit court, Thomas Daw-
sen; for register of wills. Frank Page; for
sheriff, w. w. Harvey, for surveyor, Willis
BErdette; for county commissioners. w. B.
Weller, j. Henning Purdum, HeZekiah
Weeks.
Opposed tc this ticket the democrats
have presented the following: For the
state senate. VIM. Veirs Bouic, jr; for the
house of delegates, Thomas o. White, John
Walter Carroll Charles A. Eccleston; for
clerk OF the circuit court, John w. Collier;
for register Of wills, H. Clinton Allnutt;
for county commissioner John Wesley
Walker, Eugene A. iMcAtee, Richard I.
Ray; for sheriff, Horton G. Thompson; for
county surveyor, Charles j. Maddox, jr.
Since the nomination of the latter ticket
1t cannot he said that there has been much
complaint among the democratic voters.
Yet the republicans are counting upon a
deepSseated but silent dissatisfaction
among that element of the party which is
opposed to the continued domination of
Senator German in state politics DIR. Ed
ward Wootton and Philip d. Laird, the
anti-Gorman leaders of the county, are
thought to be opposed to the ticket, or at
least the legislative portion of it, which is
w doubtedlv friendly to Mr.. German.
An issue which may play an important
part In the result of the contest is the
question of local option. 1t is asserted that
under democratic management the local
prohibition law has not been properly en-
forced, and that the legal sale Of in
toxicants is extensively carried on
throughout the county. The Anti-Saloon
League and the friends Of temperance gen.
orally intend to Take hand in the present
campaign, and will use every means in
their power without regard to party, to
elect such county officials as will favor the
strict enforcement of the local option law.
1t has been charged that certain candl-
dates on the democratic ticket are not in
accord with the object of the law, and will
favor its repeal and the substitution Of a
high-liceI Sc measure. =
The Anti-Saloon League has addressed a
circular letter to each of the candidates
ON both of the tickets asking for state
ment of his position with respect to the
question, and will be governed in the cam
paign by the answers submitted. II is not
thought that either party will make a
straightout issue of the subject, as 1t is
a delicate thing to handle, and may cut
both ways. rE --- b., s.4