Evening star., 1928-10-23


House of Delegates and State Senator
from Prince Georges County, and he
has served as State controller. Both
are lawyers Mr.. Metzerott maintains
one Of his law Offices in Washington.
This is the first time he has run for
Congress.
Long c. O.. P. District.
The fifth, or Southern Maryland,
congressional district was Republican
for many years before Gambrill was
elected. The late Sydney E. Mudd, jr.,
AMI his father before him, represented
the district for so long that it had come
to be believed by many persons that 1t
was impregnably Republican. 1t was
In 1891 that the elder Mtidd first went
to Congress. He was warm friend
and admirer Of Speaker Thomas Brack-
EFT Reed Of Maine, for whom he named
his son, Tom, now the Republican
leader Of Charles County.
In 1911 the elder Mudd died, and one
term each was served by Thomas Par
ran and Frank @. Smith, after which
| the seat came back into the Mudd
family when THE younger Sydney was
elected in 1915. He held his place con-
| tiIluously until his death in 1924. The
Eepuhiicans at once nominated his
brother, Thomas Bracket Reed Mudd,
to succeed him. Many persons believed
that Mudd was a name to conjure with
In this dictrict, and that Thomas Mudd
would surely be elected The Demo-
Gratis put up Gambrill, whose record in
the State Legislature had won him
many friends.
The contest that year was sharp.
A successor to fill the unexpired term
of Mr.. Mudd and member for the next
tWo-year term, beginning March 4, 1925,
were to be elected. Mr.. Gambrill was
q candidate for both places. Money
was sent into the district by both ma
tioriaL committees.
Mr. Gambrill was elected for the
short term by only 270 majority. Curl
ously, he won the tWo-year term by the
larger majority of 1859 When Thomas
B. r. Mfdd ran against him two years
ago Gamhrill was reelected by ma
jority of 1894. Mr.. Mudd Is now COM
missioner Of immigration at Baltimore,
but Is still recognized as the Republi-
can leader Of Charles County.
Say "SpelP' Is Broken.
This Is the first year since 1915 when
Mudd has not been the Republican
candidate in the district. The Demo-
Gratis believe this fact will help them,
because they say many of the voters VI
the district, even those who voted for
Democratic presidential candidates, had
formed the habit of casting their bal
lots for a member of the Mudd family
for Congress. They say the spell" is
broken. On the other hand, it is ad-
mitted that the Republicans have put
their best foot forward in Metzerott.
| S1 01a aA% Es4n IL
of Mr. MetzeFott that there will be a
difference this time, because 1t is q
presidential year, while in 1925 Mr..
Gambrill was running on the ticket
with Gov. Ritcbie, then at the top of
his popularity. 1t Is such considera-
tionS as these which lead many Re-
| publicans to believe that If Hoover
wins Maryland by a substantial lead
Metzerott will be swept into Congress.
The complicated political situation
due to the raising of the religious and
liquor issues is having its effect here
as elsewhere In the country. Although
both Gambrill and Metzerott are known
as vets in this campaign, many dryS
and, many Protestants will vote the
straight Republican ticket, and Mr.
Metzerott'S friends hope there will be a
goodly number of Democrats among
them.
Aside from the presidential race
GambrilI appears to have started with
the advantage. Since he has been In
the House he has won many friends In
the district by his activity in behalf OF
his constituents. The fact that his
friends are mentioning him as posi-
BILE gubernatorial candidate may help
him. His adherents are making more
aggressive campaign than usual, espe-
cially in Anne Arundel and Howard
counties and in Baltimore.
Favors Local Option.
Gambrill would solve the liquor ques-
tion by adopting the local optior
he was in the State Legislature. Wher
Metzerott was in the Legislature HI
voted as a dry, acting as the repre-.
sentative of his constituents In Prince
Georges County. Now, as the Republi-
can candidate of the entire election
district, which is generally considered
to have wet or local option leaningS
he has changed his position. He woulc
not have the eighteenth amendment
repealed, but advocates modification o.
the Volstead law so that wines anc
beers containing as much as 312 pei
cent alcohol might be legally manu-
factured and sold.
In former elections Gambrill has los
st. Marys County because Of the popu.
larity Of the Mudd family. Many Dem
ocratS there voted for the Mudds regu'
larly, while at the same time votini
Democratic for governor, President ant
for county officers But The Star cor
respondent found Ganbrill rather mor'
! popular this year than heretofore II
st. Marys County among the Demo-
!, Gratis. Reports are that. he Is alst
: stronger than in 1924 and 1926 In Annl
; Arundel County and Baltimore.
/ But present indications are tina
, Metzerott will carry Prince George:
49, an Ia.