Evening star., 1924-10-19
BATTLE OPENED
FOR MUDD'S SEAT
Maryland Fifth Congressional
District Result May De-
eide Presidency.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Syuney r. Muuu anu tne pOSSlpiIity
OF the presidential election being
thrown into the House Of Represent
atives. the election of his successor
in the Fifth Maryland district. which
includes Prince Georges. Calvert,
Charles, st. Marys, Howard and Ann
Arundel Counties and several wards
in Baltimore City, has assumed ma
tional prominence.
Previous to the death OF Mr.. Mudd
Maryland would have had no vote in
the election If 1t were thrown into
the House of Representatives, as the
States vote as units and Marylands
delegation was evenly divided. three
Democrats and three Republicans
The death OF Mr.. Mudd has given the
Democrats the opportunity of break
ing this tie in the interest Of their
party. while the best the Republi-
cans can do will be to maintain the
deadlock. If the election should be
thrown into the House, and if John
w. Davis were to be within one vote
of a majority. Maryland's vote. pro-
vided a Democrat were elected to
succeed Mr.. Mudd. might turn the
trick. Therefore. the result Of the
special election in the fifth congress
sional district of Maryland may be
the deciding factor in the election Of
President of the United States.
carry the State for the national
ticket if possible. but by all means
elect our candidate in the fifth" is
the word that has been sent down the
line by leaders of the Democratic and
Republican parties.
Election in November.
Under proclamation of Gov.
Ritchie successor. to Mr. Mudd will
be elected at special election to be
held at the same time as the general
election to fill the unexpired term,
and both parties have nominated one
man for both the short and long term.
The Republicans named Thomas B.
r. Mudd of La Plata, Charles County.
a brother of the dead congressman,
while the Democrats selected Stephen
w. Gambrill of Savage. Howard
County, former State senator and
member of the House of Delegates.
the latter having been made possible
Chance of Anne Arundel, who had
filed as the Democratic candidate in
the fifth.
Both parties have announced that
determined effort to carry the dis
trict will be made. and speakers of
national prominence on both sides
will be brought into the district.
j. Enos Ray of Prince Georges
County, chairman of the Democratic
State central committee, who was
urged to accept the nomination him
self. but declined in favor of Mr.. Gam
brill, announced that, starting with a
meeting at Upper Marlboro Tuesday
night, series of 10 mass meetings
had been arranged. at which national
speakers, including Senator Thomas
J. Hef1in of Alabama. Senator Pat
Harrison of Mississippi. former Gov.
Andrew Jackson Montague of Vir-
ginia and Representative Luther
Johnson of Texas would speak. Gov.
Ritchie and former United States Sen
ator Blair Lee will also take the
stump for Mr.. Gambrill.
Many Speeches Scheduled.
The schedule and speakers are as
follows:
October 81. pm, Upper Marlboro
Senator Heflin, Gov. Ritchie and
Senator Gambrill.
October p, pm, Hyattsville-
Same speakers.
October "a, s pm. Brentwood-Sen-
ator Pat Harrison and Senator
Gambrill.
October 25, pm. Annapolis-Gov.
Ritchie. Senator Gambrill, Repre-
sentative Montague and Blair Lee.
October 2S, 1 pm, Leonardtown-
Senator Gambrill. Representative
Montague and E. Brooke Lee.
October 90. 1 pm. La Plata-Sen-
ator Gambrill. Representative Monta-
que and Blair Lee.
October 80, I pm, Prince Fred
erick-Senator Gambrill. Representa-
tive Montague and Blair Lee.
November 1, 1 pm. Ellicott City
hri 20
Luther Johnson.
November 1. 8 pm, Riverdale-
Senator Gambrill and Representative
Johnson.
While Galen l. TAFT, chairman of
the Republican state central COM
mittee, has not as yet completed ar
rangements for the campaign to elect
Mr.. Mudd, he said number Of speak
ers of national prominence would be
brought into the district and a de-
termined ed effort to keep the district in
the Republican column would be
made.
Republican leaders are more con-
fident than the Democrats, and pre-
dict Coolidge will carry the State.
There is the general apathy which
seems to envelop everybody. as
shown by the fact that only a little
over so per cent of the electorate in
Baltimore City took the trouble to
register so as to vote next month,
and secondly. there is a lack Of funds.
In Toilette Causes Worry.
1t is the La Toilette question which
Is causing most worry. Local Demo-
cratic politicians admit La Toilette
will get a large slice Of the German
VOTE but say this vote is largely
Republican. The Republicans main
tain the labor vote which La Toilette
will get in Baltimore will come prin-
cipally from the Democrats.
Conservative leaders Of the Pro-
gressive party here predict that La
Toilette will poll a vote of $4,000 in
the State, while some more enthusi-
astic followers claim he will carry
the State. ]. G. DEPONAI.
WOMEN AGAINST CHOICE.