Evening star., 1940-05-08
Walter Johnson
/ 'l|nConeressiona|
Election Lineup
Big Troin's' Victory
Has Democratic
Leaders Worried
BY JACK ALLEN.

@ le00efS worried
4a BY JACK ALLEN.
n Walter johnson, the big Train
Of baseball. swept around another
curve today in his new career
politics.
Mr.. johnson, who ID months age
i spent only so cents to win his first
public Office, a Montgomery County
conlmissionership, is definitely in
4 stalled as a candidate in Maryland's s
congressional line of next fall.
Bearing the Republican banner
the idol of countless diamond fans
will oppose Representative Byron,
Democrat, in the race for the sixth
district seat in the House.
His triumph in the G. o. p. pri-
maries came after a race with A.
Charles Stewart, Fostburg merchant,
which hung in the balance for nearly
"A hours and finally left him the
winner by more than 1000 votes.
Coupled with the denomination of
Representative Ward, who defeated
State Senator Dudley G. Roe of
Queen Anne County by 729 votes
In the Democratic primary on the
Eastern Shore, Mr.. Johnson's victory
sets up the following congressional
contests for the general election:
a.. Senate.
Senator Radcliffe, Democrat, and
former Gov. Nice. Republican.
House of Representatives.
First district - Representative
Ward, Salisbury, Democrat, and for
mer Judge Robert F. Duer, Princess
Anne, Republican.
Second district - Representative
Cole, Towson, Democrat, and Theo-
dore F. Brown, Westminster, Re-
publican.
Third district - Representative
D'Alesandro, Baltimore City, Dem
ocrat, and former Magistrate John
A. Janetske, jr., Baltimore City, Re-
publican.
Fourth district-Former Traffic
Court Magistrate John A. Meyer,
Baltimore City, Democrat, and Bal
timore City Councilman Daniel Ell
nson, Republican.
Fifth district - Representative
Sasscer, Upper Marlboro, Demo-
crat, and Mayor John N. Torvestad.
Colmar Manor, Republican.
Sixth district-Representative By
ron, Williamsport, Democrat, and
Mr.. johnson, Germantown, Repub-
ucan.
Puzzles Politicians.
Mr.. johnson, now So, who re-
kired to a farm near Germantown
ut the close of his career in the
major leagues, has confounded
Western Maryland political leaders
since he made his debut as a pol
itician 18 months ago.
The 50 cents he spent in his first
campaign was to pay a printing
bill. He was elected county COM
missioner by q large majority de-
spite the fact that the Democrats
won every other place on the Mont
gomery ticket.
In his campaign for the House
nomination he exerted little effort.
He appeared at few rallies and en-
gagged In but little campaign ac-
tivity. His rivals, on the other
hand, put up vigorous fight.
Mr.. johnson received the news Of
his triumph with characteristic cool
ness and modesty at his home yes
terday.
Gee, whiz," he said, "the folks Ger
tainly have been nice about this
whole thing"
IT just tell them that I'll try to do
my best and hope they'll believe me" !"
he added in an interview.
Mr.. Johnson's victory left Demo-
cratic chieftains in Western Mary
land no little worried over the out
come of the Johnson-Byron race in
November.
When Mr.. Byron defeated Mr..
Stewart by 1,466 votes in the 1898
general election he won out because
he gained a 5,555-vote edge in
Montgomery, where Mr.. johnson is
certain to receive strong support in
the forthcoming contest.
Radcliffe Leads by $4,000.
With less than a score of the
States 1909 polling places unre-
ported, Senator Radchffe's margin
In the Democratic primary topped
$4,000 popular votes and he ap-
peared certain Of 80 of the 149 con-
vention votes.
In 1892 polling places Senator
Radcliffe received 173,685 votes,
while Howard Bruce, Democratic
national committeeman, polled 95,-
G028. Vincent Gierttowski, Baltimore
steel worker, the third candidate on
the ticket, was given 2,4O8.
Former Gov. Nice demonstrated
that he had not lost his grip with
the Republicans by his showing in
the Republican senatorial contest
with former Mayor William F.
Broening of Baltimore. With $50
polling places unreported he held a
popular vote total of 40,084 to Mr..
Broening's 1890. He appeared Ger
tain to receive 90 convention votes,
Mr.. Broening has 80 and "a votes
are still in doubt.
Kennedy Loses by 9S Votes.
Representative Kennedy, ranking