Evening star., 1933-09-12
REPEAL BA[LOT|NG
lNMARY[ANDL|GHT
Showers and Holiday Com
bine to Keep Many Voters
From Polls.

1h,e only State in the Union which
never passed State enforcement law
during the era of national prohibition
8 voting today on repeal of the eight
zenith amendment.
Since 6 o'clock this morning voters
of Maryland have been trooping to the
polls registering their sentiments on
repeal Shortly after o'clock tonight,
when the polls close, the tally sheets
are expected to show a substantial ma
jority in favor of the, twenty-first
amendment which repeals the eigh-
teenth.
Nature furnished setting regarded
as prophetic. Overcast skies and oc-
casional showers combined with gen.
eral apathetic attitude on the part OF
the public to produce light vote.
leaders of the wet factions were
somewhat cautious about predicting
large majorities, fearing such state
ments might cause their followers to
think it unnecessary for them to bother
about voting.
Voting Light in Counties.
The metropolitan area Of Montgom-
cry and Prince Georges County Is ex-
pected to give the vets sufficient votes
to land the two counties in the repeal
column even if some Of the rural Sec
tions within their borders vote dry.
Political leaders of the two counties
predicted light vote and mere hand
full of voters on hand when the polls
opened bore out the prediction. Alb
sence of partisan rivalry in the election
also contributed to reduce the vote.
Leaders of both major parties in the
State have issued statements favoring
repeal
Still another factor which is making
It difficult to get out the vote" is the
fact that today is Defenders day."
legal holiday in Maryland commemo-
rating the successful resistance Of Brit
ish invasion of Baltimore in 1914 which
inspired the writing of THE Star
Spangled Banner" Hundreds of voters
are expected to take holiday trips,
ignoring the voting booths.
Ballot Complicated.
With a somewhat complicated ballot
being used. election officials were kept
busy explaining the candidates views
on repeal.
Voters are electing 81 delegates to
a constitutional convention to be held
in Annapolis October 18, three from
each Of the six congressional districts
and six at large.
Two Prince Georges County residents
have their name on the ballot as fifth
district candidates and are expected to
poll especially large votes in their own
precincts.
James B. Berry of Seat Pleasant is
one of the candidates pledged for re-
peal while former County Commissioner
William A, Duvall of Branchville. now
head of the County Prohibition Emer-
ittep ic q candidate nIedQe0
against repeal.
Other fifth district candidates are.
for repeal: Charles H. Heintzeman,
Hannah P Lowndes; against repeal:
George T. Feldmeyer, John S. Jones;
unpledged: David S. jenkins, Robert
H. Mercer and J. Charles Norton.
Sixth District Candidates.
Candidates from the sixth district,
which includes Montgomery County.
are: F1r repeal. Victor D. Miller, James
against repeal, Herbert v. Leighton.
David P. Miller and Helena N. Stauf1er;
unpledged, William E. Deener, D. Web
stor Groh and Isaac Hirsch.
The boards of election supervisors OF
the two counties will meet at the Court
Houses Thursday to canvass the ballots
officially.
Rival leaders expressed their views
today as follows:
Gov. Ritchie: The vote should bring
out great and real majority for repeal,
both from the city and counties. Lead
ers from the Eastern Shore and West
ern Maryland inform me those sections
will 60 wet. The trouble is that every
body thinks there is no difficulty in
rolling up majority for repeal. Every
body must vote"
Postmaster General Farley: "If there
Is one State to which we who advocate
repeal feel we can look with entire
confidence, 1t is Maryland"
Drys VIII Garry On.
George w. Crabbe, State superin-
tendent of the Anti-Saloon League:
Il have always said that a man Is
foolish to make election predictions.
Lots of the drys are going to vote. If
we get out all the dry vote We will lick
them. We will not surrender, however.
If the eighteenth amendment Is re-
pealed we will start the next day a
movement for Federal control over the
liquor traffic at the earliest possible
moment"
Repeal Of the eighteenth amendment
would leave Montgomery and Prince
Georges counties dependent on their
own local prohibition laws.
Before repeal of the amendment Is
actually effected, however. Gov. Ritchie
is expected to call special session Of
the Legislature at which the county
laws will undoubtedly be revised to
provide for the regulation of liquor.