Evening star., 1954-10-10
Nearby Contests Could Determine Control Of Congress
By Alex R. Preston

It "a possible that on November :.
voters In the three Republican-held
congressional districts surrounding
Washington might determine which
party win control the House Of Rep
resentatives in the 84th Congress.
At this point--just . little more
than three weeks before election
the usual predictions by professional
observers are conspicuously missing.
The races are that close.
National tabulations Of marginal"
districts-like that compiled every
election-time by Congress 10 n
Quarterly - list the 5th ana 9Th
Maryland and 10th Virginia con-
gressional districts high among the
crucial areas.
II these three G.O.P. districts
should go Democratic. the change
over would be o tremendous boost
10 the administrators opposition.
The Democrats need to increase
their strength by only six seats to
get absolute control Of the House.
In addition to the three nearby
districts, two constituencies In Vir-
ginia and two In Maryland are con-
sidered touch-and-go.
Representative Joel T. Broyhill's
geographically small 10th district
lies entirely within metropolitan
Northern Virginia. It includes Ar
lington and Fairfax Counties and
the cities of Alexandria and Falls
Church.
BY contrast, Representative De-
Witt s. Hyde's 9Th district extends
all the way from the Bethesda-Sil-
yer Spring suburbs in Montgomery
County to the coal mines Of West
ern Maryland.
In between, in area, Is the 9Th
district Of Representative Frank
Small, jr., which includes the area
generally bounded by neighboring
Prince Georges County, Solomons
Island in Southern Maryland and
o small part of Baltimore City.
Federal Pay Issue
Because there are . large number
of Government workers in the
heavier-voting areas close to WASH
ington, Democratic rivals are at
tempting to capitalize on President
Eisenhower's veto Of q per cent
Federal pay raise bill.
This has been made an issue to
varying extent by John c. Webb,
80. In his fight againstSthe s4-year-
old Mr.. Broyhill; by Edward J.
Ryan. 60. who is running against
Mr.. Hyde. As, and by Richard e.
Lankford. 40, opponent to Mr.. Small,
who Is 81.
But national issues, too, have been
injected. The incumbents seem
willing to stand on their records
while their opponents are just as
willing to tramp on those accom-
plishmentS.
In Virginia Mr.. Webb, member
of the House Of Delegates from
Fairfax County, has attempted to
link Mr.. Broyhill with Mccarthy
ISM" The Republican simply ignores
such efforts.
Economic conditions have figured
prominently as an issue raised by
Mr.. Ryan against Mr.. Hyde. Mr..
Ryan comes from the coal-mining
regions around Frostburg, where
there Is Q labor surplus.
And In the tobacco-growing South
ern Maryland region Mr.. Lankford
blames Mr.. Small for failing to
oppose President Eisenhower's pro-
posal to increase the tariff on Swiss
watches. Switzerland has been the
largest purchaser Of Maryland's top
grade tobacco. and q decrease in
watch imports, many persons fear,
would cause slump In tobacco
shipments.
Positive Is Accentuoted
The three Republicans refuse to
be put on the defensive. Mr.. Broy-
hill lists among his accomplish
ments congressional authorization
for two new bridges across the Po-
tomac River.
Mr.. Small cites the lead he took
In obtaining Federal funds to help
abate food conditions at Peace
Cross.
Mr.. Hyde claims to be one of the
Presidents strongest supporters and
has said. "if he CMr. Ryan, attacks
my voting record. he's attacking
the Eisenhower administration"
Each of the three Republicans
was elected for the first time in
1852. AS in many other places in
the Nation, the balloting next
month will determine how much
truth there is to the charge that
each rode into Office on Gen. Eisen-
hower's coattails.
OF the three Republican Repre-