New-York tribune., 1920-10-10
No Doubt Exists That He
Woul.l Carry 1t as Con-
ditto :, Stand Now, but
Shift is Still Possible
Leag' : and Negro
Voc Big Factors
State iormally Demo-
craft, md Senator Smith
Seen 10 Hold Weller
y Carter Field

BALTIA RE, Oct. 9.-lf the cleo
tiyn were cid tomorrow, Maryland
ws,,ld go Harding and Coolidge by
no. less n $4,000. The Senatorial
Yece, on basis of the election be-
itI held '-morrow, would be ex-
tremely se' With the prooaolllty
that Sen John Walter Smith,
Democrati Incumbent, would be re-
elected oy y. e. Weller, his Repub-
lican oppe nj
There several elements which
NAV worl 10 change this situation,
most impof ant o which is the fact
that la majority of the people
of Maryls al are Democrats bred in
the bone, d that if enthusiasm can
be worked p before Election Day so
thet party cling Is strong and party
lines beco tightly drawn. the state
may do normal thing-and go
Democrat
No aal,y Democratic
A factor mich may easily contrib
ute to thi ,s the very heavy regis
tration of gro women. Maryland is
Democratic ormGlly for the same rea-
sons that orgia and the Carolinas
are Demorr~tic. 1t is a survival of
Civil War cling, plus the idea that
The Democratic party in Maryland is
the white mans party All the logic
and argument in the world generally
fail to disturb voters casting their
ballots under these influences, if the
influences can be brought to bear.
Hence the fact that negro women
swarmed to the polls on the first two
registration days to such an extent that
for the first time in the memory of
politicians the Republicans had clear
majority over the Democrats on af-
fliated vote on the first two regstra-
ton days. is the kind of thing which
may easily rouse the ole partisan
prejudices.
Another element which may ork in
favor of q reversion to Democracy
from the present unmistakabie trend
toward Harding is the League of Ma
SONS issue. Critics OF the league
never have been able to get their
views before the Maryland people as
they have in many other states The
Baltimore, The American in the morn
ing and The Star in the afternoon, both
owned by General Felix Agnus, while
staunch in their Republican faith. have
been in favor Of the league since it
was first proposed. The Evening
News, owned by Frank A. Munsey, has
been nothing like as strong against
the league as Mr.. Munsey's New York
papers. That leaves The Sun and Eve
nlng Sun, which have preached Will
sonlsm and the league to the people
consistently.
The league sentiment also has been
strongly encouraged by the professors
OF Johns Hopkins University, who have
IpN tho
poused the league, hook, line and
sinker. The very small vote for Hiram
Johnson IN the Republican primaries
last spring, as impaired With his vote
IN other states, IS an indication of how
much more popular the league and
peace treaty are in Maryland than in
most of the states.
Republican Tide Strong
These two factors-the hidebound
character Of Democratic partisanship
and the popularity of the league-must
De taken into consideration in any cal
culatlon On Mary!and's electoral vote
Desplte both Of them. however, the fact
remains that so strong is the Republi-
can tide Ill the state at the present
moment, un ess there is a develop
ment which is admitted not to be even
on the horizon now, Harding will carry
the state
1t is simply amazing the number of
men n and women who have always been
pemocrats who are going to vote for
aardlng. Some of them are going to
make their protest against the pres
;ent government at Washington by vot-
ing the straight Republican ticket A
tood many enthusiastic Republicans
.old me they would not be surprised
70 see a Republican Senator and six
republican members of the House-a
solid delegation.
Inc best Judgment is that the Repub-
Continued on page tour)