Evening star., 1948-10-29
COP. Ticket
Held Frederick
|County'sChoice
Campaign Apathy
Might Cut Vote
To so Per Cent.
This is one in q series on the
political situation in nearby
Maryland.)
By John v. Homer
Stor Staff CORRESPONDENT

o'of o'oTf correspondent
FREDERICK, Md, Oct. 29.-De-
spite Democratic inclinations, Fred.
erick County is expected on Tuesday
to vote the straight Republican
ticket.
Experienced workers in both the
major parties agree that the 9Th
districts Republican incumbent,
Representative Beall of Frostburg,
will lead all candidates on the ballot
and that Gov. Dewey should run
ahead of President Truman in the
presidential contest.
Mr.. Beau is being challenged for
the House seat by Democrat r.
Byrne Austin of Takoma Park.
The campaign in Frederick is de-
void of interest. There is practically
no discussion of the candidates or
the issues just four days before the
balloting. Even at the two party
headquarters, activity is negligible.
Only so Per Cent May Vote.
Most citizens regard the outcome
as a foregone conclusion and the
voting a mere formality. AS re-
suit, not more than so or so per
cent of those qualified are expected
to go to the polls.
Its the quietest election cam.
paign l ever saw" said Ellis G.
Wachter, county treasurer.
Similar statements came from Of
f1cials in the Office of the Board Of
Election Supervisors Office and from
some of the top party workers.
Few of the qualified observers in
tervieWed in comprehensive survey
held out hope for President Truman
to carry the county. One, leading
Democratic worker who refused to
be quoted by name, said the trend
toward the Republican ticket has
been reversed in the closing days
of the campaign and that many per-
sons, particularly farmers, now are
shifting to Mr.. Truman.
Changing Minds.
Something is working" said this
party leader. I'm not sure what
it is, but apparently the farmers
feel it isn't worth taking chance
of changing They are better of
under the Democratic administra-
ton than they have been for a long
time and lot of them who said
at first they would vote Republican
are changing their minds
State Senator Edward D. Storm, q
Democrat. suggested that the lack
of discussion may be misleading.
Although the average person Is
not talking" he said. 7 believe most
every one will vote. So the races
in Frederick County may be pretty
Close ~
Scattered interest is reported in
the States Rights Democrats. But
since the Thurmond- Wright ticket
is not on the Maryland ballot, the
vote will not be large.
One States Rights advocate is
James Cramer, a real estate and
insurance man, who expressed re-
gret that the party's electors had
not qualified in time to get on the
ballot. He thought the vote would
be cut materially because of con-
fusion over the write-in procedure.
Can Write in Candidates.
Marylanders will be permitted to
write in the names of Gov. Thur
mond and Gov. Wright of Missis-
sippi, his running mate, as electors
for themselves.
Mrs. Ransom Lewis of Frederick
also is espousing the States Rights
cause.
A boost for the Republicans has
been given by John R. Fitzpatrick,
former assistant United States
Attorney for the District of
Columbia, who conducts a weekly
radio broadcast called I'm My
Opinion" Mr.. Fitzpatrick's theme
is that the Democrats have not
been in too long, but long enough"
Figures compiled by the Board
Of Election Supervisors show that
16,410 Frederick County voters have
stated preference for the Demo-
cratic Party, against 13,O23 Republic
cans. There are approximately 800
others with different Affiliations.
Gov. Dewey carried the county
over President Roosevelt in 1914
with 1887 to 8,528. In his last con-
test, Representative Beall defeated
Radio Announcer Arch Macdonald.
Democrat, 9,702 to 7,143.
Despite its nominal Democratic
majority. the county has more Re-
publicans than Democrats in major
offices