Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-10-07
DEMOCRATS CLAIM
GAINS IN MARYLAND
Reports From G. o. P. Sec
ton OF State Hearten
Smith Followers.
special pispstch to rl,e star. ,

Special Dispatch to The Star.
BALTIMORE, Nd, October e.--Mary-
land Democrats have been greatly en-
couraged by reports reaching the sd-
visory campaign committees head
quarters during the past week. Reports
from western Maryland, the only rock
ribbed Republican section of the State,
we're said to be particularly pleasing
County leaders have informed head
quarters that after making careful
checks on the voters of their election
districts they have found that the sit
uation is not as bad as it was believed
to be- These checks have disclosed, for
instance, that religious prejudice will
not drive many Democrats away from
Gov Smith.
Still, this issue is reported to be the
dominant one. There will be a defec-
ton among Democrats on account of
the religious affiliatlon of Gov Alfred
E. Smith and nothing will be able to
prevent it. That is accepted as certain.
Reaction Now is Seen.
But this detection will not be as large
as it originally was believed 1t would
be. A reaction is said to have already
begun in Maryland. Here and there
a prominent Protestant has become ac-
tive in advocacy of the Smith candi-
'dacy primarily because the religious
issue has been injected into the
campaign.
Another evidence of this reaction was
a denunciation of ciergymen who use
their pulpits for political purposes by
DIR. Howard A. Kelly, one of the fore
most surgeons of America and one OF
the original faculty at the Johns Hop
kins Medical School,
DR.. Kelly for many years has been
regarded In Maryland as "reformer.
He has not hcsitated la the past to In
sist that'it was the duty of the churches
to fight for prohibition and cleanup
of vice.
In addition to this angle Of the cam
paign. the Democratic organizations IN
western Maryland have gone into ac-
ton. The leaders in that section. all
close friends of Gov. Ritchle, have inau-
gurated one of the most intensive CAM
paigr1s ever made there.
These leaders feel that Gov. Ritchle
prestige would be hurt should the Demo
Gratis lose Maryland this year so Ell
fective has been their work IN this Re
publican stronghold that the Republic
ans have become anxious, indicated by
the announcement that Senator Charles
Curtis will speak at Cumberland on
october l6. ~ Il
G.. %. r. Concern Is Cited.
Never before has candidate on the
national ticket ever spoken in Mary
land outside of Baltimore NO other
conclusion is being drawn other than
that the Republicans are worried when
they bring the vice presidential cam
didate into this rock-ribbed Republican
section.
Consequently, whereas It was freely
nredicted here a month ego that
Herbert Hoover would carry the west
ern MARYLAND district by a margin OF
10000 votes. the estimate now being
made is several thousand lower. FRESH
dent Coolidge's majority in the district
was 1000 votes.
The Baltimore city situation also is
clearing up for the Democrats Inc
CITY campaign committee, named to
supersede Charles e. Bicfy, city chair
man, who had been quarrelif1g with the
Ritchie leaders of the campaign, issued
a statement denying that any faction
of the party would be falthlesS TO the
Democratic ticket and branding sucn
stories as Republican propaganda de-
signed to promote discord.
Phillips Lee Goldsborough, Republican
senatorial nominee, also opened his ac-
tive campaign this week with an appeal
for Mr.. Hoover's election because OF the
latter's stand on the question OF tariff
and as an assurance of continued pros
perity.
Mr.. Goldsborough he's been criticized
to some extent by members of his own
party for failing to make en- active
campaign earlier In the FAN These
critics. while friendly to Mr. Colds
borougl1's candidacy, took the view that
he was ieopardizing hts prospects Of
election by remaining silent and In
FEANFsLYN WALTAfArt. ~