Evening star., 1938-10-29
0'CON0RHAMMERS
At NICE ON TAXES
Quotes Governors MESSAGE
in Disputing Accuracy of
Talk on Report.
BY ]. A. O'LEARY,
Star Staff Correspondent,

Star stafI Correspondent.
CRISFIELD. Md, Oct. 29.-As the
Democratic caravan entered the final
lap of an intensive six-day drive on
the Eastern Shore. Herbert r. O'Conor.
candidate for Governor, hammered
away at the charge that Gov. Harry
W. Nice had recommended a sales tax
to the Legislature.
Addressing large gathering at
Crisf1eld busy seafood center last
night, Mr.. OConor said his opponent
declared at Cambridge Thursday night
/ that he was not satisfied with the
report OF the commission that had
recommended the sales tax to him
in 1886. Challenging the accuracy of
Gov Nices statement. Mr.. O'Conor
quoted from a message the Governor
addressed to special session of the
Legislature two years ago to bear out
the Democratic contention that the
Governor did recommend adoption Of
the tax report
After travelling hundreds of miles
through the nine shore counties since
they left Elkton Monday, the Demo-
cratic candidates are closing their
vote drive in this part OF the State
today with meetings here and at
Salisbury
Sees New Leadership Demand.
Maryland is demanding new and
enlightening leadership, Mr.. O'Conor
declared at Crisfield, in stressing the
need for developing a wider market
for oysters and seafood from the
Free State.
Earlier in the day, at Princess Ann.
the Democratic nominee promised. If
elected Governor, to consult practical
wstermen in dealing with the prob
lens of the Eastern Shore. Despite q
driving rain that greeted him when
he arose at Snow Hall yesterday
morning Mr.. O'Conor toured Somer-
set County all morning, greeting
crowds gathered in cross-road stores.
In taking issue with Gov. Nices
Thursday night speech on taxes. Mr..
OConor read an excerpt from the
Governors message, which described
the work Of the Tax Committee headed
by William j. Casey with the state
ment, land submit 1t as a deco
ment worthy Of your most serious
and careful consideration Mr..
O'Conor read the following further
quotation from the Governors mes
sage:
Il have asked the attorney general
to prepare and cause to be introduced
bills embodying the recommendations
contained in the report in order that
you may have the entire plan in con-
crete legislative form, and 1 recon-
mend their passage. have expressed
my personal and official thanks to
the committee for their services to
the State of Maryland"
"Forgets Facts"
Adding his own comment, Mr..
O'Conor said:
Now, If Gov, Nice was not salts
fled with the report Of the commit
tee which he appointed, why did he
not tell the Legislature OF his dissat-
isfaction? II he opposed the sales
tax which was recommended by the
report, why did he not say SO then?
More important still, why does the
Governor conveniently forget the facts
by saying he rejected the report COM
pletely when the undHputable fact is
he recommended that the report be
enacted into law?
Can it be that Gov Nice has finally
realized that he cannot be reelected
as Governor Of Maryland upon his
record, and that he must resort to
such tactics in an effort to fool the
voters as he did four years ago when
he promised 81 auto tags and a lot
of other things he has failed to de-
liver?"
In appealing for the votes of the
lower shore counties, the Democratic
candidate described how other States
have outdistanced Maryland in the
oyster business by pushing their prod
uct. He proposed an advertising CAM
paign. through the State Conserva-
tion Department, to boost the popu-
larity Of the Maryland oyster.
Cites Louisiana's Example,
Outside Of its own Etate, the Loui-
lana oyster was unknown 10 years
ago." the candidate continued. Due
largely to a progressive, wide awake
conservation department Of Louisiana,
that State today is producing as fine
an oyster as can be had anywhere
and selling it all through the Mid
die West. Thus, our real problem is
to sell the Maryland oyster, after it
has been produced"
Mr.. O'Conor gave figures to show
that the value Of Maryland's oyster
crop last winter amounted to lese
than $S5 per man, not counting the
cost Of operating the boats and other
overhead. He stressed the need for
building up both the output and the
income Of the oystermen.
The annual output of MARYLAND
oysters has decleased tremendously in
the past so years. due to the short
sightedness Of our predecessors in the
field of conservation" Mr.. O'Conor
added. However, definite steps were
taken by Gov Richie more than 10
years ago to replenish the natural
oyster bars, and this forward looking
program is now beginning to produce
results"
Referring to . decline in the price
Of oysters to the producers In resent
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