Evening star., 1941-04-17
9Th Maryland
6. 0. P. Unites
For Stewart
Difference Of Opinion
Among Democrats
Cheers Republicans
By BEN III. PEARSE.

were laying plans to give full support
tn their candidate, A. Charles Stew
art of Frostburg.
A breach in the alignment OF Re-
publican forces in the five Western
MARYLAND counties resulting from
the defeat of County Commissioner
Walter johnson. former Washington
pitching star. in the general election
last fall, appeared to have been
closed at the meeting of Republican
central committees Tuesday in
Hagerstown, where Mr.. Stewart was
chosen unanimously.
Walter w. Dawson, chairman OF
the Montgomery County Republican
Central Committee and manager OF
the johnson campaign last year. who
returned from the HagerstoWn meet
ing yesterday, said;
"Since Mr.. johnson is not going
TO run, We are 100 per cent for Mr.,
Stewart and are going to give him
our full support in the special cleo
ton next month.
81 believe he has an excellent
chance of being elected, especially IN
view of the situation on the Demo-
cratic side"
Lane Refusing to Run.
Meanwhile, Democratic leaders
here interpreted the movement an
nounced in HageTstown last night to
"draft" w. Preston Lane, jr., Demo-
cratic national committeeman and
former attorney general, as a "po-
lite" way of indicating lack OF sup
port for Mrs. Katherine Byron, who
has been campaigning for the NOM
inatior to succeed her husband,
killed in an airplane crash near
Atlanta last month.
After a visit from Mrs. Byron last
week, the Democratic leaders in
Allegany and Garrett Counties an
nounced their tentative support If
she could obtain the Endorsement OF
her home organization in Washing
ton County.
D. Lee Staley, one of four men,
bers of the six-man Central Com
mittee, who launched the draft"
movement, said his group believed
Mr.. Lane was the only man" who
could carry Washington County for
the Democrats. However, Mr.. Lane,
a law partner of David Byron, broth
er of the late Representative, is re-
lated to Mrs. Byron by marriage and
Is reported unwilling to be held re-
sponsible for standing in the way Of
Mrs. ByronS ambition to succeed
her husband.
Mr.. Lane has steadfastly refused
to accept the nomination and it is
believed will continue to do so un-
less Mrs. Byron voluntarily with
draws from the race.
Foreign Issues to Fore.
Democratic leaders in Frederick
and Montgomery County are un-
favorable to Mrs. Byron'S candidacy
because they do not believe she can
win against strong candidate like
Mr.. Stewart in a campaign CEN
tered around international issues,
as the coming campaign doubtless
will be. In this state of affairs, the
vote of the Washington County dele
cation will be the deciding factor.
This complicated situation must
be solved within the next few days,
since Gov. O'Conor already has pre-
pared the official declaration of the
vacancy in Maryland's representa-
ton in Congress and is ready to
Lot r. tha cnanio1 nlnPtin0
as soon as the Democrats make up
their minds.
In Baltimore, Truman B. Cash,
State Democratic Committee chair
man, said he expected to call a COM
mittee meeting about May l" and
that the Frederick County Commit
tee would meet April 26.
w. David Tilghman, jr, chairman
of the Republican State Central
Committee, said his group would
meet In Baltimore 10 days after isSu-
ance of the proclamation and would
formally ratify the nomination of
Mr.. Stewart. The election will be
held not less than 20 days after the
pTOCldiIldUlOlI ID lSSuCu, dSCOA OAllS w
Maryland law.
Lewis and Cobey Mentioned.
Should Mr.. Lane persist in his
refusal to be a candidate, those most
likely to receive the call are David
j. Lewis, former Representative from
the sixth district and now member
of the National Railway Mediation
Board, or E. Earle Cobey, Frostburg
attorney, who has received the ten
tative Endorsement of the Allegany
County Central Committee. The
committee last week voted to sup
port Mr.. Cobey if Mrs. Byron is not
q candidate.
The fisSure in the Republican
ranks has existed since Mr.. john
sons defeat by Mr.. Byron last No
vember.
Montgomery County Republican
leaders accused their colleagues in
the western part of the district of
'letting johnson down" when Mr..
Byron carried Allegany County, nor
mally a Republican stronghold, by a
large majority. Allegany County
Republicans retorted that no Repub-
hcan could carry their county by
running down" the Guffey Coal
Act, referring to a radio speech Mr..
johnson made in the closing days of
the campaign last fall opposing the
act. The county has large number
of coal miners on the voting lists
and John T. Jones, president of the
United Mine Workers in the Cum
berland district, issued statement
opposing Mr.. johnson on the basis
of his stand.
Mr.. Dawson said that precinct
meetings would be held throughout
the county during the next few
weeks and every effort would be
made to get out the Republican vote,
which he admitted would be some
what of a task in a special election.
Masked Boil at Manassas
MANASSAS Va Anril II (Sne-