New-York tribune., 1920-10-10
Maryland for
Harding by
2 Fully $4,000
Continued from page ons)

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licans can scarcely hope for gair
Of more than two members of the
House. They have now three Republi
cans, one from western Maryland, one
from southern Maryland and one from
the Eastern Shore. The two Baltimore
city districts, and what might be called
the northern district-the 2d-are rep.
resented by Democrats. The hope Is
to gain the 4th District in Baltimore
City, now represented by j. Charles
Linthicum, and the I'd District. Repre-
sentative Charles P. Coadys personal
popularity in the Sd District is expect.
ed to save him from the Democratic
wreckage, even if the anticipated Re-
publican landslide occurs.
The Republican trend became evident
after the first days registration and
increased on the second day. 1t should
be observed here that thousands of
independents and many Republicans
Gratis so they can vote in the Demo
cratic primaries. The Democrats nor
mally win the elections in Maryland,
so an independent or Republican likes
to have vote in the Democratic pri-
mary, even though he intends to use
his own judgment at election time.
Last year, for instance, the Balti-
more City registration was 8O,681 Dem
ocrats, 49,105 Republicans and 1878
independents. Governor Albert c.
Richie, in the election following that
registration, which gave the Democrats
registration majority in the city Of
31,576, carried Baltimore City by only
1,S06 and carried the entire state, in
Guiding Baltimore City, by only 165.
Republicans Lead in City
In 1916 the Democrats led in the reg
the city by only 5000. His majority
in the entire state was q little more
than 10000.
So the chagrin Of the Democrats may
be imagined when the total rcgistra-
tion of the first two days showed q
Republican ma jorty in Baltimore City,
with large independent registration
besides.
AS this is written, there have been
five registration days, with two more to
come. The Democrats, awakened not
only by fear but by sharp criticisms
that the organization was "laying
down" got busy, and the total for the
five days shows a net Democratic lead
of $3.50, with 1915 men and 9,786
women who declined to state their
party dlllidlloIS.
This is a terrible showing from the
Democratic point of view, because of
the desire of so many persons who in
tend to vote for the Republican ticket
to register as Democrats, not only be-
cause of their desire to vote in Demo-
cratic primaries, but as we'll because
due to the survival Of Civil War pref
udices it is not nearly so pleasant
in ones relations with ones neighbors
and business associates TO be classed
as a Republican.
Normally the Democratic registra-
tion majority over the combined Re
publican and independent elements is
far less than the Democratic majority
year the independents, if added to the
Republicans, would give Republican
majority in Baltimore City.
This situation may change slightly
with the addition of the figures for
the last two registration days, but indi-
cations are that it will not be radical
ly upset.
What really happened Of course, was
that the Republican organization got
the colored women registered very
heavily i'll the first two days. The
Democrats are now catching up. But
even in the white wards of the city
the Republican registration is practi-
cally as large as the combined Repub-
lican and Independent registration pre-
viously due allowance for the
women voters-while from the Demo
cratic ranks has been drawn q COM
pletc new crop of Independents, most
of whom probably will vote for Bar-
ding.
To renlize the Importance of the fact
that the Republican trend in Maryland
is now SO strong that it looks as
though Harding will carry the state it
is necessary to go back a little into
history. Maryland has only twice cast
its entire electoral vote for a Repub-