The Sun and the New York herald., 1920-09-06
HARDING DRIFT IN
MARYLAND STRONG



Maryland would do well 20 entrust the
guidance Of her Industrial development
to the Republican party. There is dis
position to believe that the Republican
party Is really the more patriotic and
would enforce n strong. dignified foreign
policy. The argument as to the Republi-
can party being the party OF great
navy is a telling one because this State
happens TO be especially Interested I'M
the navy and naval affairs. Annapolis
and the Naval Academy are close to It's
heart and mean much TO the State.
There are also growing disgust and
dissatisfaction with the last seven and
half years Of Democratic rule. This
covers q broad field OF discussion--war
mismanagement and extravaganza, pu-
sillanlmity, Pansy Baker and Josephus
Daniels, not to speak OF Burleson and
wretched post office mismanagement
Mexico and many other lamentable H.
sscos, persons and operations. Oh Top
Of this recently IL manifested impatlence
with James NJ. Cox's straddllng and his
evasion of the important issues that
Marylanders are interested in.
In Maryland they are asking why Cox.
nominated as a wet Is now making up
to the drys. and why Cox, against the
advice OF his friends, obediently fol-
lowed Wilson in adYoca ting and demand
ing League OF Nations which must
not be modified from the Versailles
covenant. They have not liked CoX's
wild and windy talk about millions Of
dollars used to buy the Government.
For ever vote Cox may have made by
this h3ranguc he certainly has lost one
or two.
Tho trend is distinctly toward Re
publicanism. and 1t seems evident that
this IS so because the Independently
minded voters have either been i'm
pressed by Harding or distressed by
Cox. At the present time, also, Well
ler's candidacy for Senator against the
incumbent, John Walter Smith, IL in
high favor. 1t IL interesting TO exam
inc the special reasons for this.
Weller Has Splendid Record.
Weller's record as great road builder
has commended him TO the people, ir-
respective OF their political slant. He
was chairman of the State Road Com
mission for a four year term, and In
that period OF service he created for
network OF perfect highways that is
4 model for the whole United States.
He spent sl6,n0o,0O0 In building I, ,SDO miles
of fine highway and there was never
a hint or breath Of scandal.
The whole State recognized that under
Weller's watchful eye every dollar had
bought dollars worth OF material and
labor. In urban communities the es-
har
Job of this kind may not be fully under
stood, perhaps. In States such as Mary
land, 4 State of hamlets and small
towns. where prosperity and Comfort
depend so much upon 4 decent system
Of roads. II means O great denl.
Weller's successful road building is a
large factor in his present contest for
the SenatOrship. He ran for Governor
In 1915 and polled a very. large vote, be-
Ing defeated by a narrow margin. The
Democratic candidate for Governor was
elected last year by 1855 votes only.
Weller's liberal views as regards pro-
hibition and the VOlstead act especially
commend him to voters in Maryland,
Baltimore Is wet In its syInpathies, and
even to-day no man need be dry IN this
pleasant city. John Walter Smith mas
been dry Of the drys--one Of tho Sem
ate standbys OF prohibition. II is recos-
nlzed that he took prominent part In
putting that collar around the necA OF
an unsuHpectins people. Therefore
Smith has lost popularity.
Much OF Smiths support came In the
old days from saloon keepers, cafe men.
bartenders and the like. They wouldn't
vote for him now. on a bet. A great
deal OF this support Is going to Weller.
A great many Democrats OF position
and wealth who are disgusted with tho
attitude of Democratic President and
n formerly Democratic Congress on the
liquor question will not vote at all or
will cast their votes for Weller.
Suffrage a Violent Issue.
Another factor that IL working for
Weller and against Smith Is woman suf-
frage. The Democratic party In Mary
land has been bitterly opposed to votes
for women. \ Democratic Legislature
defeated ratlfica tion of the Nineteenth
Amendment Maryland's delegates Mt
til" San Francisco National Convention
voted against the suffrage plank. The
party in this State has made itself no.
toIious for savage hostility TO woman
suffrage. Senator Smith has been n
leader In all this and Is now suffering
from the odium resulting.
The Democratic party in Maryland for
years has made voting difficult for the
foreign born, the negro and the poorly
ali a al 1ArstG