Evening star., 1946-06-02
Baltimore Split
Puts Democratic
Ticket in Doubt
Candidates Pose
Chance of Lack of
Majority in Race
By Alex R. Preston
Sfor Sfoff Correspondent

BALTIMORE, June This city'S
IL convention votes out of a State
total of l52 normally would be ex-
pected to play major role in de-
Gliding the makeup of the Demo-
cratic ticket for State Offices in the
June "a primary except that intra-
party splits this year make the out
come anybody's guess.
The Democrats have three major
candidates for the gubernatorial
nomination and two for the Senate.
To a lesser extent the Republicans
are in the same boat with two can
didates for Governor and three for
the Senate.
A factor in the contests this year
Is change in convention rules,
which eliminates second-choice
voting and permits a plurality to
decide the outcome. Before the
rule change majority was re-
quired. Some observers believe that
for the first time in Maryland pri-
mary election history, majority
vote will not be obtained by any
nominee for the gubernatorial post.
Leading Contenders.
The three leading contenders for
the Democratic nomination for Gov
ernor out of field of seven are Rep
resentative Baldwin, w. Preston
Lane, jr., Hagerstown publisher, and
Controller j. Millard Tawes. Each
has obtained potent political sup
port.
The Republican gubernatorial con-
test is between Mayor Theodore r.
McKeldin of Baltimore and Herman
L. Mills of Hagerstown.
The tickets arranged by the guber-
material contenders show an effort
to draw support from various Sec
-tions of the State.
= Mr.. Baldwin's slate includes House
Speaker John S. White, Hyattsville
for attorney general and State Sen
ator John B. Funk, Frederick Coun-
ty, for controller.
The Lane ticket comprises Deputy
Attorney General Hall Hammond,
Baltimore County, for attorney gen.
; eral and James J. Lacy, Baltimore
Efor controller.
Running with Mr.. Tawes are w
Earle Cobey, Cumberland, for at
torney general and c. H. Robson, jr.,
Baltimore, for controller.
Lee Wields Vote Power.
Montgomery County Park Com
missioner E. Brooke Lee, the power
behind the party's organization in
that county, is frequent caller who
spends considerable time at the
Lane headquarters here. With the
thickly populated Metropolitan Area
spf Washington having q heavy vote,
Mr. Lees efforts are being counted
@on to Offset the effect of a Bald
win Endorsement by the Prince
Georges County organization.
~ Except for the senatorial race,
Republicans are afforded an oppor-
tunity to line up solidly behind a
strong and smaller slate. With
their two candidates for Governor
compared to the Democrats seven,
the other State Office contenders are
George c. Doub, Baltimore County,
for attorney general, compared with
the three remaining active Demo-
Gratis, and Alexander T. Grier, Sails
bury, sole COP candidate for con-
troller. while the Democrats will Sc
lect from six names.
Both parties will nominate q
candidate for the Senate from a
list of three, however, here again
the process appears to be more SIM
pie for the Republicans as one on
the list, State Senator Joseph Will
mer of Charles County is popular
with many members of both par
ties. Two of the three Democrats,
on the other hand, are running
neck-and-neck in the most publi-
cized campaign of all.
The two most active Democrats
IN the race are Gov. O'Conor and
the incumbent, Senator Radcliffe.
The third entry in the field is
,adphn E. La Week, Catonsville.
Besides State Senator Wilmer, the
i epublicans also will select from
epscoe F. Walter, Derwood, and D.
ohn Markey, Walkersville. Mayor
kcKeldin was quick to give his
upport to Senator Wilmer.