Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-01

Mennonites in Washington county. who'
as a rule, do not participate actively in
campaigns and elections. This year these
good citizens are manifesting great inter-
est in the campaign on account OF the
constitutional amendment and the fight
for local option. They are registering ana
in other ways showing intention OF taking
hand in the game.
These voters are said to be almost to a
man against the DISTINGUISHING amend
ment, and they are expected to offset the
vote of democrats. who will follow the
regular organization this time. although
they may have voted against the Poe
amendment. However, ii is by no means
certain that the democrats will follow
their bellwether as a flock of sheep on
this question.
could not find traces of any democrats
who are talking openly against the
amendment. They are deferred from this
by desire to be regular, but there are
subsurface indications that when they get
into the privacy of the election booth
there will not be supne unanimity. 1t
must be borne in mind that Hagerstown
is a conservative community. People here
don't get excited easily: you have 90 show
them. They are intelligent. well read and
cautions. The example set by conserva-
tive democrats in Baltimore. who are OPP
posing the amendment because of its ap-
pretended effect upon the material affairs
and reputation of the state, will be felt
mere. it Is said.
This Doesn't Excite Them.
The democrats are not likely to get any
where at all with cry Of negro DONNA
ton here. The negro registration In
Washington county in 1905 was only 81
in a total registration of nearly 11,OOO.
The pernicious effect OF election frauds
is not felt In this community. The cleo
tons are fair and votes are counted so
there is no need for either chloroform
for the democratic conscience nor ex-
citant for the democratic will by a cry
of protection for the white mans bal
lot
The republican organization. with Aleck
Hagner as chairman, Is In good shape,
and will be carried out. There will be
numerous public meetings plenty of liter
allure distributed and all proper steps
taken to get the vote registered and out
on election day.
Opinions differ as to whether the county
will go wet or dry on the liquor Ques-
ton. The drys are said to be making
rapid Roadway in the past few weeks, al
though both sides are working night and
day. The aid of the Baltimore and Ohio
and of the Western Maryland railroads is
being sought by the drys. who claim that
the railroads would rather have dry
county, with the resultant good order and
better service from their employees, than
to profit by freights on liquors.
Just a Fight Among Friends.
The campaign in Washington county is
typical American political contest.
With a sturdy, healthy-minded, intelA-
gent, progressive people living in re-
gion second to none in beauty and agri-
cultural richness: with normal Anglo
Saxon methods Of dealing with every
day political and social problems. they
are going into the campaign as If it
were a life and death affair. each side
trying to win, and the day after cleo
ton will go back to their farms and
shops and stores and offices and forget
all about it till next time. with no bad
blood among friends. N. O. M.