Evening star., 1938-10-22
BY WILL p. KENNEDY,
Star StafY Corresnondent

ROCKVILLE, Md, Oct. 22.-Mont-
gomery County will cast the deciding
votes on November 8 to determine
whether William B. Byron. Democrat,
OF Williamsport or A. Charles Stewart,
Republican, of Frostburg will succeed
Representative David J. Lewis in the
incoming Congress in January, as a
result of Mr.. Lewis unsuccessful at
tempt in the Democratic primary to
unseat Senator Millard E. Tydings.
The present one is the most closely
fought congressional contest on rec
ord in the 9Th district, or anywhere
else near the National Capital, in
many years. The decision probably
will be in favor of Mr. Byron, former
State Senator. Based on registration
figures this district, formerly his
torically Republican, is Democratic
by substantial majority, but there
are other important elements enter
ing into the present congressional
contest.
1t is not a clean-cut fight between
Democrats, seeking to hold the dis
trict, and Republicans, hoping to re-
gain it, because:
/. Many Democrats in both Garrett
and Allegany Counties will vote for
Mr.. Stewart because of local loyalty;
many Republicans in Washington
County, on the contrary, will vote for
Mr.. Byron for the same reason, and
all through the five counties of the
9Th district there are Republicans
who changed their party affiliation to
vote for Senator Tydings in the presi-
Dental purge"
2. contest is developing between
the down-district counties-Washing-
ton, Frederick and Montgomery
against Allegany County, which has
monopolized the Office of Representa-
tive. And, as you get closer to WASH
ington, the local interest in the race
grows stronger, because-and here is
what the Republicans are depending
Upon-it is claimed there are many
persons on the Federal pay roll in
Montgomery County who are registered
as Democrats for job-holding purposes,
while at heart they are Republicans
and will vote the Republican ticket.
Fusion Success Cited.
Republican leaders in the county
are emphatic in claiming that Mr.
Stewart will be elected They state
that an estimated Democratic ma
jority of $4,000 is no barrier because
Of the false" registration of thousands
of Republicans who wish to hold their
Federal jobs or who were told when
they came to live in the county that
they must register as Democrats if
they want to get anywhere" They
also claim that long -smoldering re-
sentiment against the Democratic Or
ganization is about to bring results.
They point to the success of the So
called Fusion" ticket and insist the
resentment" will work as great
silent vote" against the Democratic
ticket, especially the congressional
candidate. They predict that the vote
for Mr.. Stewart will be larger than
for any one else on the ticket.
Meanwhile, the Democratic caval-
cade. which has been sweeping this
week through the district, is building
up an increasing majority. and is very
considerably helping Mr.. Byron. Mon
day and Tuesday the State, county
and local candidates transformed
Garrett and Allegany Counties; We'd
knesday, Thursday and Friday they
went through Washington and Fred
erick Counties, and today they are
in Montgomery County with rallies in
Rockville this afternoon and in Be-
thesda and Silver Spring tonight. At
each of these stops Mr.. Byron is a
featured attraction. Last week, Mr..
Stewart similarly toured the county,
and it is believed he won many sup
porters.
Joseph A. Cantrill of Chevy Chase.
who was rival in the three-c -cornered
race in the Democratic primary, is
decidedly helpful to Mr.. Byron in the
Montgomery County area
Another important consideration is
that the Democrats have a far better
set-up in Montgomery County than
they have had for years. The big
central Democratic organization is
working hare to get out the vote. This
year they have put some of the strong
est "anti-organization" workers on the
organization ticket. 1t was the anti