Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1914-01-27
TWO RICHnONDS
NOW IN THE FIELD
For Congressional Primaries TO be
Held Early This Fall.
OTHERS NAY ENTER.
Congressman Smith Has as Opponent
"Bobby"Wells MaekliD in Back
grouud

kIotau
Although the Congressional pri-
maries will not be held until the early
fall OF this year. some quiet talking
is going on among politicians about
the various nominations to be made
and the possibilities Of fights in one
or two instances.
The most. noticeable situation is
that in tneFifth Congressional dis
trict. which comprises the Southern
Maryland counties, Howard county
and the four South Baltimore wards.
Both the Democrats and the Republi-
cans may develop interesting cOndi-
ti0ns there.
Already there are two avowed can
did ates in the fell for the Demo
cratic nomination. Congress sman
Frank o. Smith, Of Calvert couaty,
and Robert w. Wells, of Primes
Georges county. he latter's broth
sr, Archie Wells, was candidate
against Mr.. Smith in 1911, but was
defeated.
Whether there will be more candi-
dates cannot now be stated That
question may turn, when the time
comes, upon whether there is q good
chance TO carry the district over the
Republicans. 1t has been solidlg Re
publican for years until the last Con-
gressional election, when Mr.. Smith
beat Thomas Parran and surprised
everyone in the State.
At that time the Democrats had the
advantage of the Roosevelt move
ment, which hurt Parran, although
the Bull Moosers bad no candidate Ia
the field, aud there also was a good
deal Of feeling against Parran among
fhe Republicans, resulting from his
primary fight with young Sydney Z.
Mudd and certain patronage troubles.
Similar discussions in the Re publican
ranks may obtain this fall or may not.
At this time il looks as If Repub-
licaus will have few squalls.
So far as the Demo Gratis are con-
cerned, their AFFAIRS are unsettled
Just now. Unc er ordinary condi-
tions, Congressman Smith probably
would not nave much trouble He
has done about all he could for the
various organizations leaders in his
district in distributing postoffices
notably in Anne Arundel county,
where he stood steadfastly with DR..
George Wells from first to last in
that fiery veterans pitched battles
with Postmaster-General Burlesou
over the appointment to the Annapo-
lis postoffice.
And, while going along" with the
organization on patronage. he has
maintained cordial relations with
United States Senstor-elect Blair
Lee. 1t would seem usually, that a
course of that sort ought to eliminate
danger of serious opposition. But
there is wiggly fly in the ointment.
Congressman Smith made a severe
attack on General Murray vandiver
last summer, when the night was on
for control of the StaCe Central Com
mittee, and some of Yandiver's or
ganization friends resented it deeply.
If that re sentment continues it may
result in a lineup Of all or consid-
cradle part Of the organization
against Smith.
No one knows now whether they
would get behind Wells The organi-
cation people are not overly fond OF
the Wells faction in Prince Georges
county and some of them do not care
much for "Bob" Wells personally.
This attitude may prevent fight on
Smith despite the feeling of General
vandiver's iriends-if Wells is the
only opponent to Smith--or it may
be submerged by the desire of the or
ganization people to discipline Smith
for his break. .
OF course, ano ther candidate may
be brought out. However, it is net
likely that any strong man viii want
to go into a three-cornered primary
fight in Southern MsrJ land and then
face a hard fight in the election even
if the republicans 30 have troubles.
Southern Maryland Democrats take
their politics seriously and a primary
fight is a Eight which is a fight. "
The outcome of the situation depends
considerably upon John S. Crank
Kelly. He controls the four South
Baltimore wards and, inasmuch as
Congressional nominations are made
by mass voting, those wards will ex-
ert a large infiusn in a fight, for
Kelly probably can swing large ma
jorities there. Kelly has been close
to Smith, but he was angry at the
attack on Vandiver. No one seems
to know where he will be this year.
In the Republican ranks there is
report that Judge Ashley NJ. Gould,
of Washington, may be the candi-
date. He is said to have recently &C
uuired residence in upper Calvert
county or lower Anne Arundel, and
to have cast bis eye over the Fifth
district situation. According TO
rumor, he had a mind then to leave
the bench and try to 90 to Congress,
with the idea of becoming the Repub-
lican leader in Southern Maryland.
Judge Gould used to live In Montgom-
cry county. He was q member Of
the House of Delesa during the
Lowndes administration and was re-
gafded as a snrewd politician.
Sydney E. Mudd, Jr., also is under
stood TO want the nomination. He
contested with Parran in 1911, as
stated, and il is said that be has
since been laving mans for this wear