Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-08
DEMOCRATS TRAIN
GUNS IN MARYLAND
First Rally Held in Baltimore,
Richie Urges Har.
f110ny.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

! Special Dispatch to The Star
| BALTIMORE. Md. July Political
observers in Washington have selected
| Maryland as one of the battlegrounds
IN the 1928 fight for the presidency and
| Democratic leaders of this State lost no
| time during the past week in accepting
the challenge and firing the first gun
| of the campaign.
| To date the Republican leaders have
rested on their oars after the arduous
convention week at Kansas City. but
with the return TO the city of Galen
L. TAFT. chairman of the Republican
State central committee, July IS, this
side OF the fight is expected To be
started
The first Smith rally was held Mon
day night in East Baltimore section
OF the city closely similar TO that part
OF New York where Gov Smith was
born Fireworks and a band blaring
the Sidewalks of New York" were
brought out for the occasion which at
tracted $500 persons.
Draws Big Attendance.
The sponsors Of the meeting intend
ed 1t only for Democratic party work.
ers of the first legislative district and
hall that holds only $50 persons was
selected. The 1850 overflow into the
street however, remained during the
whole OF the meeting listening to the
speeches that flowed through the vim
dows.
Political observers here feel this meet
ing attracted an unprecedented audi
ence, even for East Baltimore, which
still takes It's politics seriously and
usually has factional ght In swing
The following night the tenth ward
Democratic club held Smith Robin
SON. Bruce rally. which was as enthusi-
astic. although not attracting as many
persons.
1t Is entirely too early to permit of
predictions as TO the course the presi-
Dental campaign will take In this State
or the exact outcome. In general Gov
Smith seems to have the odds in his
favor, because Of Maryland's Catholic
population and It's wet majority In
Baltimore.
Democratic leaders are highly salts
fie at what took place at Houston and
1t is certain that there will be no major
party reflections because of the New
Workers. expression toward prohibition.
There would have been disappointment
here II he had done otherwise.
Richie Urges Harmony.
Gov Albert c. Richie, the titular
head Of the party in this State, has Is
sued an appeal for united Democracy
for the Fall election. urging factional
leaders 10 forget their differences until
after November The governor plans
10 lead the Smith campaign In Mary
land and Is ready 10 take the stump for
the New Yorker In other parts of the
country
Y is generally believed here that Gov
Richie by his actions Immediately be-
fore and during the Houston convention
has elevated himself SO high In the
| ranks Of the Democratic party that he
has become one Of the national leaders
This thought also Is held by Democrats
outside Of Maryland
His statement OF Withdrawal and
his advocacy OF the nomination Of Gov
Smith gave him unique position IN the
convention which he used TO the full
| advantage OF the New Yorker and TO
| ferences IF the Smith managers at
| Houston. the Maryland executive par
ticipated and 1t was he who carried on
| for them the prohibition fight.
| ADO i'm by the resolutions commit
tee Of the enforcement plank proposed
| by Senator Carter Glass of Virginia dis
pleased the Smith adherents. although
| they voted for IL. In addition both
Senator Glass and Gov. Dan Moody OF
Texas appear before the convention
10 approve the plank
This gave TO the plank what is be-
| lieVed 10 have been strict tinge OF
dryneas which would have made II diff
ficult for Gov. Smith to break the next
das with his statement favotinn a
chanss in the existing law. 1T was Gov