Evening star., 1938-10-31
BY J. A. O'LEARY.

CQndtQQLeS.
BY J. A. O'LEARY.
The story of Herbert r. O'Conor
In Maryland politics is one OF
steady, rapid progress up the lad
der of success-from an assistant
prosecutor OF Baltimore city in
1921 to Democratic standard bearer
for Governor in 1898.
If he wins the present race against
the experienced Republican CAM
paigner, Gov. Nice, the November
election will be just another
though a most important-chapter
in the story of his climb. And even
If he loses it probably would prove
only temporary setback in his po-
litical career, for he is still under
42 after 18 years in politics.
Medium in height and build, the
young Democratic nominee is al
ways immaculate in appearance.
Even in the midst of heated CAM
paign, when the caravan of candi-
dates travel many miles a day,
greeting scores of voters along the
road, he looks as fresh and neat at
tfAe finish as when the day began.
Main Interest Is Family.
Mr.. O'Conor is not the slap
ping type of campaigner, but greets
with an affable smile and hand
shake the crowds that gather at
the crossroads, calling many of them
by name. His friends say that out
side of his job his main interest is
his family. Aside from an occa-
sional game of golf he spends his
hours of relaxation with his young
sters. The OConors have four sons
and one daughter, Herbert, jr.: Eu-
gepe, Patricia, James and Robert.
In being elected to the other Of
fees he has held Mr.. O'Conor has
been an exceptional vote getter.
In 1884 he led the Democratic ticket,
with majority of 100000, for his
present post of attorney general,
while the late Gov. Ritchie was be-
ing defeated by Gov. Nice. In the
present campaign his ability as a
vote magnet is facing more Sc
we're test, partly because the battle
between the two parties is centering
around the governorship and partly
because of the intensity of the pri-
mary fight, in which Mr.. O'Conor
nosed out Mayor Howard Jackson
of Baltimore, who was one of the
four aspirants for the Democratic
nomination.
On the stump he is not a forensic
orator. He resorts only occasionally
to funny story. In the main, his
speeches are a serious discussion of
what he regards as the issues. He
chooses his words carefully, pre-
pairing an outline of the subjects he
intends to discuss, even though he
may digreSS from his manuscript
AS evidence that he is no novice>at
campaigning, in his present tour
of the State he has Weaved into his
daily speeches a word of praise for
one or more of the outstanding
Democrats of the county in which
he is speaking.
Speeches Bristle With Figures.
His four years as attorney gen.
efal, rendering legal opinions on
State problems, has kept him in
close touch with developments dur
ing the Nice administration. and,
being stickler for detail, his
speeches are replete with figures and
quotations to support what he re-
CARDS as changes needed in the
existing State administration.
When he entered the primary race
for the nomination last summer
young O'Conor gave prompt evi-
dence of his political acumen by
placing on his slate of candidates
Mrs. Elizabeth r. Menefee for the
Office of clerk of the Court of Ap-
peals. This was the first time
woman had been honored with
place on Statewide ticket, and,
although James A. Young, the in
cumbent, won denomination for that
office. Mrs. Menefee's name on the
primary ballot undoubtedly helped
the O'Conor ticket among women
voters.
Mr.. OConor was born in Balti-
more, and during his parochial
school days went in for baseball as
catcher of the school team. Later,
at Loyola College, Baltimore. he
was known as a conscientious
student. 1t was there that he
learned to stand up and talk, in
school debates, experience which
helped him later when he decided
to enter the political arena. His
mild outward manner shields a de-
termination to succeed that has
taken him, step by step, to the top
Of his party ticket.
After leaving college he started
life as a newspaperman, but it was
not long before he had put his foot
on the first rung of the political
ladder by accepting appointment
AS an assistant States attorney for
Baltimore city in 1921. He had
graduated in law from the Uni
versity of Maryland.
First Contest in 1923.
!, He had not been in the city
prosecuting Office long when the late
Gov. Ritchie called on him to be-
come peoples counsel before the
Public Service Commission. In the
fall of 1928 Mr.. O'Conor won his
first victory at the polls. He had
entered the Democratic primary for
States attorney of Baltimore, to
head the office he had entered as
an assistant two years earlier. He
received the nomination and was
elected in November. From that
year on his popularity, as meas
ured by. his majorities,- continued
to'grow until today it faces the
supreme test in his fight to be
Governor.
Mr.. OConor remained States
attorney of Baltimore for II years
and the claim is made by his friends
that the Monumental City was COM
paratively free from organized crime