Evening star., 1920-10-31
BOTH PARTIES ON THEIR TOES
+ IN EFFORT TO WIN MARYLAND
State Claimed for Harding and Cox by
Rival State Politicians Sit
uation in the Senatorial Contest.
special Dispatcb TO Tho Star

| Special Dispatch to The Star.
| BALTIMORE, Md, October 30.-The
closing week of the presidential and
congressional campaign in Maryland
| found the democrats exerting feverish
efforts to take advantage of the be-
! lated drift which they claimed for
| their candidates. and by continuation
of the steady plugging by the repub-
i licans which early in the fight put the
rival party on the defensive and has
kept it there ever since.
The state democrats last big gun in
the oratorical line was fired in west
ern Maryland and Baltimore Wednes-
day in the form of addresses by
Franklin ID. Roosevelt. The repub-
licans' big speaker of the last week
was Senator Rorah. who addressed u
meeting Friday night at Cumberland
ir the republican stronghold of west
ern Maryland. In addition, both par
ties have held political meetings all
week, with the democrats placing
most dependence upon such efforts.
Tons of campaign literature have
been sent out this week in the final
battle for ballots, a large part of it
being addressed to the new woman
voters. The closing week also has
been marked by an intensive drive TO
prevent damaging of ballots. great
care being urged in the marking OF
the sheets by the voters.
Trying to Figure 1t Out.
With their last efforts exhausted, the
rival leaders and candidates are sit
ting back and, despite an outward
snow of confidence, trying to figure
out just what will happen Tuesday.
1t is conceded that the republicans
have less cause to worry during the
yyI-n RI
time, especially SO far as Senator
Harding is concerned. They are in
cllned to discount the talk of a late
drift to Gov. Cox as a result of Sena-
tor Hardlng's So-called wobbling on
the league of nations issue. They are
counting heavily upon the demand for
a change in national administration.
which has not been decreased by the
business depression now becoming ev-
ldent. AS TO the league issue, they see
reason for optimism in the manner in
which Senator Harding has held the
divergent republican groups in line
for the common cause.
Nothing has occurred during the
past week to change the republican
hope, expressed in these columns last
week, that Senator Harding will car
ry the state. They are figuring upon
western Maryland to overcome easily
the normal democratic majority on
the eastern shore, and have been wag-
ing thoroughly organized campaign
in the city of Baltimore. to which they
are looking to give them the decisive
vote.
The republicans have been operating
through what is perhaps the best or
ganizatlon they have had in BaIti-
MORE in many years. The voters of
the city have been analyZed and seq
regated, the sympathies of the indi-
v1dual groups have been determined
and directly, and through ward and
precinct workers, each group has been
fought for separately. This is espe-
cially true of the foreign born ele-
ment and their kin. who form no
small part of Baltimore's voting pop
ulatlon. The resentment which Mr.
WILSON'S activities in Europe caused
these groups has been capitalized by
the republicans to such an extent that
The democrats admit Harding will get
the bulk of this vote. Harding can
vote.
Whatever chance Gov. Cox might
have had to capture the labor vote
because of his record as compared to
that OF his opponent will be offset to
some extent by his dry stand There
will vote for Debs before they will
cast ballot for dry candidate.
These factors, with the republicans
showing big gains over democrats in
the animated registered vote, and with
a large independent vote from which
furnish the basis for the republican
claims. $500.
Democratic Expectations.
The democrats are counting unon
the eastern shore to give Cox a ma
1ority. asserting that the women of
that section are declaring strongly
LOT LOT the league of nations. They fig
ure that Senator Harding's majority
IN western Maryland, the republican
stronghold, will not be as large as
that of Representative Zihlmans and
therefore, like the republicans. look
TO the city as the chief battle-ground
fhey admit that they got a poor
s.art IN baltimore. because of the
weakening OF their organization here
oy factlonal strife. but have been
counting more heavily than usuaI
upon mass meetings. Their leaders
say they really believe that their pub
nc meetings. this year have been more
rrGl.,ui i IN votes than in any cam
palgn In years. How these hopes will
match up with the confidence of re-
puDilcahs, based upon a closer contact
with the people. remains to be seen.
senatorship Contest.
The senatorial contest in Maryland
presents the most complex situation
OF the state campaign. There are so
many cross-currents involved that it
IS dlfncult to ascertain the direction
OF the tide. With Senator John Walter
smith in hot water" through per
sonal opposition within his party in
many parts OF the state, things looked
rosy for 0. E. Weller, the republican
state chieftain and candidate, when
the campaign opened. Then some one
induced W. Ashby Hawkins, a colored
attorney and republican of Balti-
more CITY, to enter the race as an
lnoependent. State republican leaders
tried hard to get this monkey wrench
out OF the Weller machine and there
were many persons, who up to the
iast two weeks expected Hawkins to-
4rOp out. but he has hi g