Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-04
R|TCH|E ENHANCES
CHANCES FOR 1929
Third Term Candidacy for
Governor Has Wide
Significance.
BY G.. GOULD LINCOLN.

GOV. Albert 4. R1tchleS IoFIndi All
nouncement that he will be candi-
date this year to succeed himself q"
chief executive of Maryland has not
little political significance. both Ma
tional and State.
In the first place, Gov. Richie Will
continue more than ever in the lime
light as a presidential possibility tor
1928. This of course, If he Is re-
elected, as his friends confidently pre-
dict
In the second place, the field now
becomes to IL certain degree open FOR
the selection of a Democratic nominee
for the Senate for the seat now hel,
by Senator Weller. Republican. Had
Gov. Ritchie determined that he
would be a candidate for the Senate
ra.ner Than for governor, IL is we'll
understood he would have had the
nomination without opposition.
State Position Strategic.
In discussing Gov. Richie as pos
Sibe Standard bearer OF The Demo
cratic party in 1928 his friends, while
admitting that he in looming up more
and more IN that capacity, INSIST that
he governor Is at present candidate
.or just one office-Governor of Mary
10 his knitting until he is reelected
and thereafter. Time enough in 1879,
they say, 10 begin talking about the
presidential nomination.
There Is no gainSlying the fact,
however, that Gov. Richie, should he
be reelected. will occupy Il very Stra-
teSic. position with regard TO the pres
dentlal nomination in 1928.
He will have demonstrated his great
popularity in Maryland at a psyche
logical moment. He will have been
elected to serve IL years as governor
of his State. a longer period than any
other man has served as governor OF
one of the United States. He will
have many of the elements of political
strength which attach to Gov AL
Smith of New York. and he will not
have a disability $50 considered by
many Democrats, though by no means
by alb due 10 his church affiliations.
Gov. Richie is an Episcopalian, while
Gov. Smith is d Catholic.
Wet Views Advantage.
He is considered liberal" if not a
positive wet" so far as the Volstead
act Is concerned. and would have
much strength in States where Gov.
Smith is strong also for that reason.
Gov. Richie is becoming more and
more recognized as a leading exponent
OF what approXimates the old doctrine
of State rights as ContraSted to fur
Their centralized government in Wash
ington, which has gained popularity
In recent years. partly due TO the OPP
position to the Volstead act.
L he Maryland governor made many
friends at the last Democratic nation
al convention in New York. where he
was the candidate of his own State
delegation and several other delega-
tons before the balloting was over.
He has spoken in the Middle
West and been we'll received. He
will speak before long in Richmond.
Va. He Is widely sought after as a
speaker in many par.s of the country,
and will become better and better
known in the next two years.
Among those who have been most
prominently mentioned as possible
Democratic nominees for the Senate
in Maryland are Frank Richardson
Kent of the Baltimore Sun: Alfred p.
Dennis, United States tariff commits
sioner: Omer d. Hershey and Villain
Curran, attorneys of Baltimore: r.
Brooke Lee, son of former Senator
Blair Lee, and Howard Bruce. a promi-
nent business man and nephew of
Senator " illi I'm Cabell Bruce.
Senaturship Uncertain.
There has been no disqualification
Of sentin. in regard to the SEN
atoria. nominee so far. II was said
today in well informed quarters. The
desire has been to give Gov. Rltchle
full opportunity to decide whether he
would prefer TO be a candidate for
governor or for the Senate. 1t is
expected. however, that the senate
rial nominee vii be chosen largely by
the Richie organization. and that
whoever he be will be carried along
with the governor to success at the
polls next November.
The Democrats in Maryland are
counting confidently upon carrying
both the election tor governor and for
the Senate. Gov. Richie Is even more
popular in the State today thai In
the past, il is said. He won the CIV
ernorship in 1924 by about 43.UO0
votes over his Republican oponen.,
Armstrong, while President Coolidge
was carrying the State by IA, 900 over
John w. Davis
The Republicans are engaged in
contest in Maryland over the nornina-
ton for Senator. with Senator Weller
seeking denomination and Representa-
! tive John Philip Hill opposing him.
The differences among the RepubIl'
! cans are pretty bitter. Furthermore,
MARYLAND Is regarded as usually Dem
! ocratic, though a times electlng
Republican governor and Senator and
casting its electoral for a Republican
candidate for President.
Possibilities Of 1928.
When the time comes to nominate
! a Democrat for the presidency in 1878
| The Democrats are likely either to &c
| to the list of Democratic governors or
to Congress. Today the governors OF
New York, Maryland and Ohio are the
outstanding figures among the Demo
! cratic State executives.
! Gov. A. V. Donahey of Ohio has his
presidential aspirations as well as the
| other two. and he may make a bid fol-
| the nomination. But more often has
| name is mentioned as possibility fol
the vice presidential nomination. II
/ the Democrats should turn to Con
gress they will find several available
| candidates, among them Senator Joe
Robinson of Arkansas. the Democratic
| leader; Senator Walsh of Montana
and Senator Harrison Of Mississippi
| Under the leadership of Senator Rob
| inson the Democrats in the Senate
are working with a very considerable
degree of harmony.
TO MAKE I RID RACE.