Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-10-24
parties STRUGGLE
TO WIN MARYLAND
Prohibition and Religion Main
Issues in Fight-Bolting
Is Rare.
BY BYRON PRICE,
Associated Press stan Writer.

BALTIMORE, Md, October "a
Marked on the war maps Of Republic
cans and Democrats alike as difficult
salient in the presidential campaign,
| Maryland Is passing through political
| struggle of greater severity than out
ward appearances have disclosed.
| The contest here has not been ad-
vertised by the eccentricities so man.
fise this year in other parts OF the
country. The lines are more clearly
drawn, with prohibition and religion
carrying almost the whole burden OF
public debate. Bolting has been at a
minimum among party leaders, and al
though plenty Of moving about has
whole the struggle Is between two pow
erful party organizations. Nor Is either
destitute OF the financial sinews Of war
These latter days Of october are
giving a demonstration of all that could
| reasonably be expected of the wind-up
| of sizzling campaign in a closely con-
tested State. Both sides speak con-
| fidently of the outlook, but neglect no
honest opportunity to turn a vote. Both
are checking and re-checking reports
| from county and precinct captains, and
both frankly concede that 1t 1t difficult
this year to get at the precise outlines
of the situation.
Heretofore Uncertain.
Such a picture of contradictions and
uncertainties is thoroughly consistent
with Maryland's past performances in
presidential years.
Twice within the last quarter of a
| century-in 1904 and 1908-the result
| In the State has been so close that
| the electoral vote was split. Just be-
| fore that Maryland voted twice for
| Mckinley, and just afterward 1t voted
| twice for Wilson. It went Republican
by $4,000 in the Harding landslide and
Republican again by $4,000 in the Cool
| idge landslide.
| In the face of these recent Repub-
| lican pluralities the Democrats have
| cherished hope that combination OF
| elements will work for victory for Gov
Smith. Like New York, Maryland has
| not seen fit to maintain prohibition
enforcement act on its statute books
| 1t lies within that block of States de-
Scribed by the Anti-Saloon League as
| making up the Eastern wet sector.
It's Democratic governor, Albert G.
Ritchie, has militantly favored modi.
fication of the dry laws, and he is serv.
| ing his third term despite Maryland
| precedent that no governor shoulc
succeed himself. The State also hal
two wet Democratic Senators. 1t has
| considerable Catholic population, anc
1t has the great city of Baltimore, with
its foreign colonies and its metropolitan
notions.
Eastern Shore" Fights Smith.
But certain other considerations hav,
taken their places in the picture. Man!
Of the counties outside Baltimore arr
dry, and are appealed to now for thu
first time in a presidential campaign
on the prohibition issue. It happen
that some of the dryest are the nor
mally Democratic and strongly Meth
odiSt counties on Marylands EASTER
Shore" In that section Bishop Can
non has spoken against Smith, ant
many Methodist ministers are activ
on behalf of Hoover. The widest dis
cuSsion of Gov. Smiths religion like
wise is apparent, although the Repub
licans disclaim any connection will
that issue. In addition, the State
Democratic leaders are passing through
factional fight, the possible effect o
which on November is disputed.
Partially to offset their admitted
losses in the Eastern Shore countie
and other Democratic communities, tn
Democrats expect to win the votes o
many Catholic Republicans in tn
southern end Of the State. They ais
count on many Republican vets anc
they expect very large detection
among the normally Republican negr
voters of the State, numbering som
$4,000.
/ Geographically, the great Democrat,
hope Is Baltimore, with It's strong anti
prohibition sentiment and its foreign
| ~ to-
that even II Hoover comes to the cit
limits with the $4,000 or more majority
| which the Republicans are claimine
outstate, that margin will be over
turned by the vote in the city. They