Evening star., 1946-10-26
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Sheriff Race Holds
Political Spotlight
In Charles County
BY ALEX r. PRESTON.
Stur Stoff Cerrsspondent

L
sior Stuff Correspondent
LA PLATA, Md, Oct. 26.-At-
tempts by Charles County Demo
Gratis to elect the party's second
sheriff since the Civil War appeared
to be the focal point OF interest
today in the political picture here
Second most talked of contest Is
between two women-both popular
for register Of wills. They are the
first and second women ever to be
elected to Office In Charles County
In this county where Republicans
traditionally occupy majority OF
the local elective offices, Mayor
Theodore r. McKeldin of Baltimore
probably will garner his strongest
Southern Maryland support Novem-
ber S, when he opposes William
Preston Lane, jr., Democrat, for
Governor.
Close Vote Foreseen.
The Democrats are by no means
powerleSs, however, and a close race
is seen for the State and national
campaigns but the Republicans ap-
parently hold the edge.
Before the June primary, leaders
In the county Democratic organiza-
ton backed the wrong horse" when
they indorsed the State ticket head
ed by Representative Baldwin for
Governor. Today, however, they
show every indication of unified
loyalty to Mr.. Lanes ticket and
Gov. O'Conor for the Senate.
The Democrats have only two
local officials now in off1ce-both
up for reelection. States Attorney
Edwin L. Edelin,, La Plata, who has
held Office since 1928, is the only
candidate against whom the COP
has not entered opposition. Mrs.
Ruth Carpenter, Indian Head, the
first woman ever elected to county
Office, is seeking reelection for a
fourth term as register of wills.
She is Democrat. Opposing her
is Mrs. Evelyn Posey, Republican
incumbent treasurer.
Five Democratic Candidates.
In all, the Democrats have candi-
dates for only five Offices. A recent
Circuit Court writ of mandamus
struck off the ballot the names of
two Democrats and one Independent.
Rudolph A. Carrico, La Plata at
torney, who filed for the State
Senate, and Miss Mathilde Owen
for treasurer, were denied the right
to have their names on the ballot
because they failed to file Is days
in advance of the June primary
They, along with the disqualified
independent, w. w. Milstead for
county commissioner, filed Septem-
ber 6. The petition for a writ OF
mandamus was filed by the County
Republican State Central Commit
tee.
In the race for sheriff, Deputy
Sheriff Elmer M. Quade, with the
Endorsement of the Republican
State Central Committee, defeated
Charles H. Posey, Chicamuxen, in
the primary. Mr.. Quade, who lives
at Hughesville, will oppose j. Cecil
Gardiner, Waldorf salesman.
Stage Active Campaigns.
These two have been most ac-
lively engaged out of all candi-
dates for local offices. Mr.. Gardi-
ner has appeared at several Demo-
cratic rallies and is scheduled to
appear at others next week. Both
are running for the office now held
by Sheriff Bruce Shymansky, who
is ineligible to succeed himself
Workers for both candidates have
mustered considerable enthusiasm
for their men.
The contest between the two
women has been more subdued but
is a frequent topic of conversa-
ton. Mrs. Carpenter, the mother
of eight children, defeated George
A. Wade, a Republican, in 1888.
Mr.. Wade is the COPS unopposed
candidate for treasurer. The Re-
publican treasurer, Mrs. Posey, is
running against Mrs. Carpenter.
There is large colored Republi-
can vote here, and Mrs. Carpenter
has been the beneficiary of that
segment in previous elections. Her
husband, an employe of the Naval
Powder Factory at Indian Head, was
shot to death by two colored youths
in 1927. The colored voters who re-
member the incident have given her
most of their votes.
Surveyor Runs for House.
The only other Offices being sought
by Democratic Committee-indorSed
candidates are one of the two House
of Delegates seats by Louis H. Stef-
fens, now a county surveyor and
one of three seats on the Board of
County Commissioners, by P. Henry
Bealle, who is filling the unexpired
term of the late Commissioner F.
B. Bolton.
Other Republican candidates are
James B. Monroe, Waldorf auto
dealer, for the State Senate seat of
Joseph A. Wilmer, who was defeated
in the primary for the United States
Senate nomination; r. Vernon
Cooksey, Mount Victoria merchant
and brother of Mrs. Carpenter, and
j. Franklin Winkler, La Plata hard
ware merchant, for the House of
Delegates; Bernard L. Perry, Tomp-
kinsville farmer and now president
of the Board of County Commis-
sioners; William NICK. Boone, Bry-
antown farmer, incumbent, and Av-
cry Monroe, a war veteran and Don
caster merchant, for county COM
missioners; Patrick c. Mudd, La
Plata war veteran, unopposed to
succeed Thomas B. r. Mudd, chair
man of the Republican State Gen.
tral Committee for clerk of the