The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1930-10-23
(From The Observer, Baltimore)

tration completed this week in the
city. This registration, considering
the circumstances, is heavy.
For weeks we have been hearing the
political sharps say that light regis
tration would be favorable to the
Richie machine and that a heavy
registration would, of course, mean
that Richie might be upset in the
city.
The registration was heavy in 1925
when Hoover carried Maryland by
$4,000.
The affiliation means that the
Democrats are heavily preponderant
when there is no party dissatisfaction
But there is now plenty of party dis
satisfaction. Apparently it is not
lessening in the city no matter what
the politicians say.
The force with which women went
to the registration Offices on the last
two registration days does not seem
good for the Richie machine, as the
prediction has been made that many
women heretofore supporting the Gov
ernor would turn against him for
reasons Of their own.
Women are very reticent about
stating their reasons for turning
against the Governor after support
ing him twice. But we have been
hearing the murmur for weeks.
The Richie campaign managers are
talking of raising a campaign fund of
$4,000. This is very liberal sum
for so small a state as Maryland. The
demand for such a large amount in
dicates that the talk of a walkover by
the Richie people is all tommyrot.
The situation was never more full
of uncertainties.
The Richie people make as big a
display as they can Of buttons and
pastors. 1t was the same thing in the
Smith campaign of 1928. Smith had
the buttons and the noise.
In some of the counties it is pre-
dicted that the vote will be cast close
ly along the lines of the Presidential
contest. Arguments against Smith
are now applied to the Richie fourth
term proposition. This is true to a
larger extent in the counties than in
the city.
Mayor Broening continues his soft
pedal tactics. His advisers do not
like it. They think he should speak
right out-use vigorous language such
as was common in the old days prior
to automobiles and radio. But the
Mayor continues to think that he can
get them readily by kindness.
In Montgomery county the other
day State Chairman Galen L. TAFT
made a speech that had some edge to
it. Perhaps it would be a good idea
to put him on the stump in Baltimore
City and let him cut loose.
Anyway, in 1915 Ovington E. We'll
Ter, G. o. P. candidate for Governor,
made only one speech. That was in
Charles county and related to the
tariff on oats. He thought he could
make a better campaign without
speech making. And he came very
near winning over noisy Democrats.
That is worth remembering before
betting on the election this year.
Brooke Lee Looming
As Richie Successor.
The naming of William P. Lane, Jr.,
as successor to the late Thomas H.
Robinson as Attorney General on the
Richie ticket has emphasized the
growing dominance of Brooke Lee as
a figure in what was not so long ago
the Democratic party in Maryland.
Lane, although not pushing himself
for the place on the ticket, was pushed
by Lee. Richie had the last say as
the present party dictator and he ac-
cepted the Lee candidate.
Looking favorably on the honor
were, among others, Clarence W.
Miles, recently adopted by Baltimore
from the Eastern Shore, and Robert
r. Carman, of Baltimore, a former
resident of Hartford county, the home
of the late Mr.. Robinson. Mr.. Miles
has been considered a member of the
Lee camp while Mr.. Carman, when
named as United States Attorney
several years past as the successor to
Samuel X. Dennis, had the backing of
the John Walter Smith element of the
party.
Mr.. Lane, however, is supposed to
be able to make a larger contribution
to the party chest than might either
of the others mentioned, as in West
ern Maryland he is accounted a bank
er as well as a lawyer. And in these
times the collectors for the campaign
chest are in need of as many and as
large contributors as can be found.
But back of the latest development
in the camp of the Richie people who
now have the Maryland Democracy by
the throat, is the fact that Lee has