The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1945-09-20
DUR
i Official
By BALLOT BOX

The long, drawnout endurance
contest between Governor O'Conor
and the chairman of the Washington
County Democratic Central Commit
tee, over the disappointment of
chairman Robert McCauley, of the
Washington County Liquor Board,
has resulted in an outright victory
for the Governor, who named Mr..
McCauley, on Saturday, to serve for
another six-year term. Re-appointed
with Mr. McCauley, as the second
Democrat member of the Board, was
Frederick W. Sweeney. The Gov
ernor, however, acceded to the Cen
trail Committees recommendation
that Bruce c. Lightner succeed Rob-
ert G. Foltz as Republican member.
The appointments made my face
rather red, as 1 predicted in this col
umn, just last week, that the Gov
ernor would not make any appoint
ments at present.
In connection with the appoint
ments, it is interesting to note that,
contrary to the general belief, the
Governor does not have to ask either
the Washington County Democrat,
or Republican Central Committees
for lists of names, before making ap-
pointments to the Washington Coun-
ty Liquor Boards, nor is he bound in
any way to accept any recommended
tons that such committees might
care to make. The law states that
the Governor, with the advice of the
Senate (if the Senate happens to be
in session when the appointments
are made), shall appoint three mem
bers, two of whom shall be of the
Majority Party and one of the Min
GRITTY Party.
The refusal of the Governor to
accede to the recommendation of
the chairman of the County Demo-
crat Central Committee, that Mr.. Nc
Cauley be replaced by Harry f.
Newcomer, lends color to the report
that all is not exactly milk and
honey between these two gentlemen
and it also fits in rather well with a
story I heard last week, about a
meeting that repeatedly was held
not so long ago, between Governor
O'Conor, the chairman of the Wash
ington County Democrat Central
General Walsh.
According to my information, the
two former Attorney Generals very
strongly urged the Governor not to
run for third term, but to concen-
trate his efforts on winning the Dem
ocrat nomination for United States
Senator.
They are also reported to have told
the Governor, that, while they did
not feel he could carry either Wash
ington or Allegany County as a can
didate for Governor, they felt sure
he would win both counties as a
Senatorial candidate
Governor O'Conor, according to
my informant, was said to have
politely, but firmly, told the gentle
men that they must have been talk
ing to the wrong people, since his
friends had advised him that he
stood very good chance in both
Washington and Allegany County as
a Gubernatorial candidate.
Don't be surprised if States At
torney General Curran resigns about
the first of the year, in favor of a
prominent attorney, now in the
Armed Forces, and don't be sur
prised, either, if this same attorney
becomes the Democrat nominee for
the Office in next years elections.
Keep your eye on Lacey Shaw,
prominent Montgomery County pol
itician, who stands good chance of
becoming the Democrats nominee for
Congressman from the Sixth Con-
gressional District.
Mr.. Lacey, former president of the
Montgomery County Board of Coun-
ty Commissioners, and former chair
man of the Parks and Planning
Board, is now a member of the
Washington Suburban Sanitary Com
mission, having been appointed to
that Office by Governor O'Conor. He
has the reputation of never having
lost an election in which he ran and
is recognized as the best vote getter
in the County. He has come out
of every contest with a majority of
at least 5000 votes. Another re-
markable fact is that Montgomery
County voters, both Democrats and
Republicans, give Lacey Shaw the
most credit for the great develop
men of Montgomery County during
the past Is years.
Due to lack of space, my story