The Washington times., 1938-10-25
WHISPERS AIMED
|AT O'CONOR AND
TYDINGS IN MD.
State in Throes of an
UnderCover Onslaught
BY THEODORE HUNTLEY

BY THEODORE HUNTLEY
Two weeks before the election,
Maryland is in the midst Of what
its experienced politicians call the
most vicious undercover campaign
in its history.
Springing from hidden sources,
it is directed for the most part
against Attorney General Herbert
R. O'Conor, Democratic nominee
for governor. But it doesn't stop
there. 1t is being whispered that
the New Deal crowd in Maryland
will cut Senator Tydings and vote
for Judge Lesser, his Republican
opponent.
To the whispers have been added
circulars, verse and inflammatory
printed matter, all Of it anony-
nous in origin. The mails are
full of it.
On top of this Mayor jackson,
back in Baltimore after rest in
Atlantic City-for which he de
parted on the eve of the big Balti-
more rally which marked the start
of the city campaign earlier In
the month-has refrained thus far
from any activity in behalf Of the
man who defeated him in the pri-
mary for the gubernatorial nomi-
nation.
SENATORIAL FIGHT
In the senatorial fight Senator
Tydings is conducting his cam
paign for reelection in the knowl-
edge that Little Davey Lewis and
numerous New Dealers are against
him. The inside story Of Lewis
stand pictures him as twice refus-
ing a place on the Democratic
campaign committee. The appoint
ment was rendered by Howard
Bruce, Baltimore banker whose
shrewd judgment brought O'Conor
to the fore in the primary.
Mr.. Lewis first was asked to
serve on a special three-man cam
paign committee. He declined.
Then Mr.. Bruce asked him to serve
as vice chairman Of the general
committee. Again he refused.
From his hideout in Washing
ton he has let it be known through
spokesmen that as to Tydings he
does not intend to "let down the
$4,000 Marylanders who voted
for him in the primary. He as
sured Mr.. Bruce, however, that he
would ask his friends to support
O'Conor for Governor.
NOT ELECTIONS
On the strength of what they
know and think, the Lewis strate-
gists are willing to bet money that
O'Conor will run ahead Of Tydings
two weeks hence.
Maryland gamblers appear to be
laying off the governorship fight.
They'll bet on football, basket
ball or the horses" q small-time
runner said in Baltimore yester-
day, "but there's no money up on
the governorship."
Half a dozen counties and the
size Of O'Conor'S prospective plu-
rality in Baltimore are in dispute
between the two camps as the
campaign enters its final fort
night. Both candidates are on the
Eastern Shore this week, with
O'Conor trailing Nice by a day or
two in each of the nine counties,
as he did through Southern and
Western Maryland. From the
Shore they come back to Balti'
more next week for the windup.
CLAIM COUNTY
Counties claimed by both sides
include Montgomery, Hartford,
Carroll, Howard, Cecil, Kent and
Queen Anne's. The Nice strate-
gists claim the governor will carry
all Of them. The O'Conor mana
gers count on Montgomery, Car
roll, Howard, Kent and think
O'Conor may win Cecil and Queen
Annes.
It's the counties against the
city now, as it has been for the
last two weekS-and will be at
the windup. Governor Nice is ex-
pected to come to the city line
with a plurality of from 10000 to
Is 5,000-some Of his more enthu-
siaStic aides say more. O'Conor
spokesmen count on $4,000 plu-
rality for him in the city, but the
opposition say it won't reach half
that figure and may be wiped out
entirely by November 8. Both
sides admit thew are guessing