Evening star., 1948-10-25
Charles County
Expected TOGO
To Republicans
But Average Citizen
Is Found Apothetie;
Rally Set Sunday
This is one of a series on the
political situation in nearby
Mdrulund.)
By John v. Horner
Stov Staff ravrssnendsr4

Stor Stoff Correspondent
LA PLATA, Md, Oct. 25.-There's
about as much excitement in Charles
County over the general election
next week as over what the average
American family will eat for
Thanksgiving dinner.
The county's only political rally
In the campaign now drawing to a
close has not yet been held. It will
be, though-next Sunday, two days
before the voting.
1t will be held by the Republicans,
who expect to carry Charles County,
as usual But it is doubtful that this
gathering of the party faithful on
a Southern Maryland Sabbath will
stir up a furore comparable to that
aroused by political rallies of former
years.
Apathy Is Apparent.
What do you hear about the elec-
tion?" you ask the man on the street
corner.
Not a thing" he replies in mat
ter-of f-fact tone.
ANY interest in the campaign"
you inquire of the store clerk.
mo, sir, very little" comes the
answer. Haven't heard a thing for
weeks, Let's see, guess they'll be
voting pretty soon, won't they?"
by the way" the clerk adds on
second thought. What you hear?"
The apathy reflected by these
statements is confirmed by the peo-
pie in the know, the Republican and
Democratic leaders. 1t is evidenced,
too, by the lack of campaign head
quarters and public meetings. The
rally at Marshalls Corner next Sum-
day is the only One being held in
the county before the election.
Margin Put at $50.
I'VE haven't done much yet" said
Thomas B. r. Mudd, the Repub-
lican Committee chairman. I'VE
have normal majority of from
$50 to 300 over the Democrats. I
think we'll get a good majority for
Dewey this time. We carried
Charles for him by nearly 900 votes
last time. We ought to do as we'll
again, but I'd say we can safely
count on a margin of $50.
The trouble is, the general idea
that the election is in the bag. So
we've got to work on getting out
the voters"
Chairman Mudd was confident
this can be done. He said the Re-
publicans keep a permanent or
ganization by districts and precincts
and that few days before the
election, the leaders are called to-
gether and given instructions. Then
they produce.
Democratic Chairman Thomas P.
McDonagh, like Mr.. Mudd a La
Plata automobile dealer, parried
question about the size of Charles
County's vote for President Truman.
Sasscer Contest Draws Interest.
Our committee Endorsed Truman,
Barkley and Congressman Sasscer,"
he said. Wen have an organiza-
ton working at the polls election
day."
In view Of the normal Republican
majority in Charles, the political
trends and an obvious disinterest in
the principal presidential candi-
dates, attention is centered on Rep
resentative Sasscer's contest with
the Anne Arundel Republican, C.
Maurice Weidemeyer.
Both party chairmen predicted
local victory for their respective
candidates. Each figures his man
should win here by $50 to 300 votes.
1t Is the concensus that Mr..
Weidemeyer stands to gain from the
Republican trend and also because
many Democrats expect to refrain
from voting.
Representative sasscer, on the
other hand, has the advantage of
incumbeacy and always gets some
votes Of Republicans who otherwise
support COP nominees. In any
event, the Charles County vote for
House is not likely to be decisive.
Mr.. Sasscer lost the county for the
first time by about $50 votes in 1916,
still won by virtue of big margins in
the pepulous Democratic strong
holds elsewhere in the 5th district.
Thurmond Is Factor.
An interesting sidelight on this
election is the reaction to the States
Rights candidacy of Gov. Thurmond
of South Carolina.
Mr.. Thurmond made a lasting
impression with his recent speech
at the La Plata fair.
Privately, the leaders of both
Democrats and Republicans con-
cede that Gov. Thurmond may get
several hundred ballots of persons
who write in his name and that of
Gov. Wright of Mississippi, States
Rights candidate for Vice President.
While there is no organized effort
for the Progressive Party, politi-
clans said they frequently hear re-
ports that a few colored citizens
will vote for Henry A. Wallace and
Senator Taylor.
A majority Of the $3.50 persons
qualified as Republican voters are
colored. The Democrats, number
ing about 5000, have majority of
whites. The 194S vote is expected