Evening star., 1938-09-06
DENTON|ND|CATES
PURGE IS FUTILE
Curbstone Interviews of
Natives Reveal Lewis
Aided Slightly, However.
BY JAMES f. CHINN,
Star staff Correspondent.


Star staff Correspondent.
DENTON, Md, Sept 6.-PreSident
Roosevelt's two-day purge" expedition
in Maryland has definitely aided the
candidacy of Representative David j.
Lewis on the conservative Eastern
Shore. but not sufficiently to shake
off the apparent stranglehold of his
opponent. Senator Millard E. Tydings.
That, at least, is the consensus of
group of representative voters from
all sections of the shore country who
massed in Denton Yesterday to see
the President and to listen to his plea
for the nomination of Little Davey''
Lewis in the Democratic senatorial
primary.
Fifty or more Eastern Shore voters
were interviewed Immediately after
Mr.. Roosevelt departed from Denton,
to get their reaction to his visit and
his Endorsement of Mr.. Lewis. And
majority of them expressed the opin-
ion the President had taken some po-
tential votes away from Senator Tyd-
ings.
In other words, as one Denton ma
tive put it: The voters who were on
the fence will now support Mr.
| Lewis"
ton of MARYLAND. however, do not be-
lieve there were enough Eastern Shore
men 'on the fence" before the COM
ing of Mr.. Roosevelt to make any ma
terial difference in the outcome OF
the senatorial race
True, as has been Indicated some
of the residents of the shore country
were indignant over the action of the
President in attempting to dictate"
to them as how to vote. But they
were in the minority among the crowd
that came to Denton.
And there were a few, too-a very
few though-who believed the presi-
Dental tour would be more serious
politically to Representative Colds
borough than to Senator Tydings. Mr..
Goldsborough lives in Denton. and it
was on his invitation the President
came here to deliver his purge"
speech.
One of the best barometers of the
effect of Mr.. Roosevelt's appeal for
votes for his chosen candidate, of
course. is the applause and the cheers
that followed the mention of Mr..
Lewis name These demonstrations
were mild, considering the size of the
crowd, and yet they were regarded as
significant in Denton in view of the
strong pro-Tydings sentiment on the
Eastern Shore
What They Say.
Now, let's see what these Eastern
Shore people really thought about
the presidential invasion-those people
who would not shield their views in
anonymity, Here's what they said, in
the order they were interviewed on the
sidewalks of Denton:
Il think the people of the Eastern
Shore, at least those in Queen Annes
County, resented very much the mis-
sion of the President" said Joseph w.
A. Evans, member of the Maryland
State Legislature from Queen Annes
County. L represent in the State
Legislature the banner Democratic
county on the Eastern Shore-a county
that has never been Republican. Our
people would have welcomed the
President if he had come as the Chief
Executive of the United States But
owing to the fact he came here to
purge one of our great Senators, we
believe he made grave mistake.
The President also has hurt Rep
resentative Goldsborough. He's been
a wonderful Representative for the
Eastern Shore. and I've helped him.
The other day told him he had made
mistake in inviting the President to
Denton. And he replied: Joe, I'm as
sorry as you are, but what would you
have done under the circumstances
I said would have done the same
thing. But at the same time Mr..
Goldsborough has been put in the
middle"
The only comment of Melvin e.
Jones. Mayor of Denton, who well
coined the President to the little town,
was: 1T was fine speech and I
think it will help Mr.. Lewis a lot"
Earl Morris, postmaster at Prince
Anne. declared: 1T was a great
speech from the greatest man in the
world. I'm sure it will help Repre-
sentative Lewis"
Representative Allen, Democrat, only
House member from Delaware, another
spectator on the sidelines, said:i "A
fine speech, right from the heart. But
l don't care to comment on the effect
it may have on the Maryland sena-
torial race. After all, I live in Della
ware and don't want to become in
volved in Maryland politics"
Something must be radically
wrong with Senator Tydings," said
A. S. Bryan, proprietor of a general
store in Grasonville, when the Presi-
dent Of the United States comes out
and said what he did about Repre-
sentative Lewis"
I'm glad the President didn't men
ton the name Of enator Tydinss in