The Washington times., 1920-10-15
c. 0. P. BATTLING TO.
BREAK SOLID SOUTH.
Believe They Have Good Chance
in Maryland, Kentucky,
and Missouri.
CONTINUED from First Page. }

CONTINUED from First Page.)
symptomatic OF anti admi Illustration
sentiment In the South and raises a
question as 10 how far that senti-
ment may be made TO materialixe In
republican votes.
The republicans have felt war
rsnted. under all the circumstances.
In making hard drive TO win the
border states. Ii they succeed, the
outcome will be generally interpreted
as meaning the ginning OF the end
OF the solid South. IL IL falls. II will
raise doubts in the minds OF many
political observers whether the
solidity of the South can really be
broken In upon for a good while to
come.
The thing which has given most en-
couragement to Republican leaders
with respect to the possibilities of
breaking into the South has been the
election year ago OF Morrow as
governor OF Kentucky. The election
OF King Swope as member of the
House In the Eighth Kentucky district
and the election OF John w. Harreid
To the House in the Fifth Oklahoma
district have also given the Republi-
cans encouragement.
THINK CONDITIONS PROPITIOUs.
Moreover. there have been such
evidences of Republican strength even
In Texas as to lead the Republican
speakers bureau to send speakers
into certain Congressional districts
there. A number OF other circum-
stances OF Developments might be
mentioned which have caused the Re-
publicans to attempt this year a
general aggressive forward movement
all along the border and even in some
parts OF the interior of the solid
South.
The Maryland struggle is attract
Ing national notice this year. Con-
sidered on the basissof the 1916 vote,
Maryland is entitled to Iank as q
close and doubtful State. In that year
President Wilson carried the State by
21,OOO votes. This is not an excessive
margin for the Harding managers to
overcome. and they are leaving no
stone unturned to accomplish il.
SEE CHANCE FOR SENATOR.
Moreover. the State of Maryland
is looked on by the Republicans as
one of the States where they stand
chance to annex an additional Sem
ator. Senator John Walter Smith,
prominent on the Democratic side Of
the Senate, and one of the most astut e
politicians, is seeking reelection and
is opposed by o. f. Weller. long prom
inent in Maryland Republican poll
tics. II need not be said that if
Senator Smith should be upset and
Mr.. Weller elected to the Senate it
would represent a decided overturn in
Maryland political Affairs and would
mean the State would have two Re-
publicans in the Senate.
On the basis of the latest reports
! from Maryland. the State is close
Both sides are claiming it SO far as
the electoral vote goes. AS to the
senatorship, close analysts Of the situ-
alton predict that there will not be
more than 1000 majority either way.
G. o. p. REGISTRATION HEAVY.
The Republicans have been much
heartened by the fact their registra-
tions in Maryland have been unusual
ly heavy. and have been running
about even with those of the Demo-
Gratis. Id Montgomery county, for in
stance, where the Democrats usually
expect to win with ease. the Repub
licans haYe developed very heavy
registration. The women, both Demo-
Gratis and Republicans. are evincing
keen interest in the campaign and
have registered in large numbers.
1t Is noteworthy that many women
who before suffrage was adopted said
they wouldn't vote IL they had the
franchise, are now showing eagerness
to participate in the campaign.
In Kentucky, apart from the hotly
contested fight over the Presidential
electors, the feature of the struggle is
the Senatorial contest between Sena-
tor Beckham, Democratic incumbent,
and Richard =. Ernst, of Covington.
BOTH SIDES ACTIVE.
Needless to say. there are sharply
conflicting claims by both the Hard
ing and Cox forces, and the same is
true as to Beckham and Ernst They
play politics hard in Kentucky and
there has been some highly active or
sanitation work on both sides. The
fact which shows the Republicans are
strong in the State and the Democrats
no longer have their old hold upon it
is the registration returns. Returns
from nearly sixty cities in Kentucky
show the two parties about evenly di-
vided.
The Republicans insist that this
means they will sweep the State be-
cause of the heavy vote they will ge!
in the rural districts.
In Louisville the registration re-
suits have been striking. The Repub-
! leans after two days of registration
in THAT city, were over 1900 ahead of
the Democrats, thus breaking all
records. In 1916 in the Hughes and
Wilson race. the Democrats had n
majority in the Louisville registra-
tion of 10000. Obviously, say the
Kentucky Republican chieftains, there
has been a tremendous change in SEN
timent.
CHANGE UNLIKELY IN TENNESSEE,
Tennessee has no senatorial fight
1t would be a surprising thing IL SEN
ator Harding should carry the State.
Such an outcome would. indeed. be
recognized as meaning tho solid
South was getting near the breaking
up point. Wilson carried Tennessee