Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1917-09-12

In what was perhaps one of the
most remarkable primary election
campaigns ever waged in Anne
Arundel county, which eliminated
yesterday with the voting at the polls
and marked by measure of apathy
that seemed to prevail almost gen.
! orally, the Organization forces of the
Democratic party, led by DR.. George
Wells, of this city, won what appears
to be complete victory.
They won virtually hands down
for the returns which, while slow
coming in, indicate that all of the can
didates of that wing of the party were
successful in their fight against the
men who were brought forward by
the faction known as the Progress
| sives.
| The primary was a remarkable one
because of the alliance of certain oi
the candidates on the opposing tick
| cts; it was remarkable because of the
evident lack of interest that was
shown among the voters and the
light vote that was polled; and it was
| still more remarkable because of the
otherwise big vote that was polled by
some of the Organization candidates
whereas, others were sliced, and
sliced heavily.
| The Organization people won, how
| ever. They were apparently better
organized and seemed to get down to
| harder work than their rivals, al
though in some respects it was the
closest shave the Organization has had
| in many other campaigns.
Some of the Progressive leaders
| held out hope to the last minute that
one and possibly two of their candi-
: dates had a slim chance of pulling
Through and thus upsetting the COM
pleteness of the apparent victory OF
1 the Organization, and they are await
/ ing the final count in order to satis-
fy their belief. Their claim is based
I lupon the fact that Mr. Douw for Gen.
trail Committeeman, and James O. At
we'll for the House of Delegates, ran
/ considerably ahead of their colleagues
| in every precinct, whereas opposing
/ candidates dropped behind their run
ming mates In other words, Mr..
Douw is closely pressing Mr.. Revell
Organization candidate for Commit
teeman, while Mr. Atwell is running
close to Mr. Charles L. Solley, who
appears to have polled the lowest
/ vote for the House of Delegates on
the Organization slate. The Or
ganization leaders, however, feel that
| the big majorities which the Fifth
District and the upper precinct of the
Third District, the latter of which is
| the home of former Sheriff Revell
| lare reported to have rolled up for
the ticket. will more than overcome
any gains which the two Progressive
candidates mentioned made else
l where.
AS a general rule, one can readily
outline just what districts one or the
other faction made complete clean
up.r but not so this time, owing to the
| split voting here and there. Annapo-
: lis. however, may be mentioned as
| the single exception in this regard, as
/ the vote of the four wards gives al
| of the Organization candidates sub
| stantial majorities. But speaking Ct
the cutting" some of the oldest
Democrats and astute politicians, say
they have never before known OF
primary or a general election to equa
the resultant situation. While the
more literate voters cast complete
ballots. vet many of the tickets came
out during the count marked in many
| cases for only one candidate, Others
for two. three, and so on But there
| was evidence of knitting in almos
every conceivable way.
The Judgeship contest probably ex
cited the greatest interest because o
the fact that Judge Moss, long ont
of the most active leaders among th'
Progressive forces, was given the in
dorsement for the nomination by DR.
Wells and his followers at thu
eleventh hour, and in the meantime
this Endorsement secured for hin
the appointment by Governor Har
rington as Judge for the interim
preceding the election in November
The Progressives also added thei
Endorsement to Mr.. Moss candidac.
after he had been nominated by tina
| faction as a candidate for the Hous'
| of Delegates. but withdrew under tn
circumstances. This, therefore, pre-
| sented rather peculiar situation
and although a number of person
had expressed resentment over sucl
| a move, it did not seem to have an,
decided effect in the voting. Oppos
ING Mr.. Moss was States Attorne,
| Nicholas H. Green. who made the rul
independently.
4 Unusual apathy prevailed in tn
| voting throughout the county and onl
about fifty per cent of the affiliate