Evening star., 1946-10-29
Parties Dispute
Poll Results
In Baltimore
Republicans Admit
Completed Survey
Shows Lone Ahead
By Alex Z. Preston
Siar Stoff Correspondent

BY Alex K. Preston
Star steff Correspondent
BALTIMORE, Oct. 29.-A public
opinion poll intended to forecast
results of next Tuesdays elections
here was the object today of wide
spread speculation as Democratic
and Republican headquarters placed
opposite interpretations on it.
Both parties agreed, however, the
contests for Governor and Senator
would be close in Baltimore.
The interparty controversy de-
veloped over the past week end
when the Democrats announced
they had learned the COP had !,
conducted a sampling of voting SEN !.
timent which indicated a victory
for William Preston Lane by about
25, 900 votes over his Republican
opponent, Mayor Theodore r. Nc /,
Keldin of Baltimore. /
Call Poll Independent. /
The Republicans yesterday de. !
MED that State campaign head +,
quarters or city campaign officials :
had authorized such poll. Today
they said an independent poll had !
been made by David J. Laupheimer,
former director of the School for
Pages at the United States Capitol,
and that while they had no connec-
ton with it the results indica ted
a definite Republican trend.
The COP headquarters further '
charged there had been leak"
and that some one from the oppo-
site corner of the political ring had
seen the result Of the poll for white
voters only but that Negro senti-
ment changed the complexion of the
overall picture entirely.
The Republicans feel greatly
encouraged by the results of this
study in the an-important Balti-
more area where the Democratic
registration Is about three and a
half times as great as the Repub.
lican.
Admit Lane Is Ahead.
They concede that the completed
study indicates 51.57 per cent of the
voters behind Mr.. Lane, while 48.43
per cent were for Mayor McKeldin.
In the senatorial race the study
showed the Republican candidate.
Brig. Gen. D. John Markey was
about 5000 votes behind his Demo-
cratic opponent, Gov. O'Conor.
The Democrats previously had an
nounced they learned" the poll.
conducted by the Republican city
organization, showed 56 per cent for
Mr.. Lane and A per cent for Mayor
McKeldin.
The Republican trend" was indi-
Gated from earlier samplings of pub
lie opinion by Mr.. Laupheimer, Re-
publican headquarters said. Fur
thermore, they added, those who will
vote for Democratic candidates were
confirmed party supporters who were
indifferent" to public issues, while
those who indicated preference for
the COP reflected strong interest
in political problems, particularly on
national issues.
Replies to Markey.
COP strategists are heartened by
the poll because they say Mr.. Laup-
heimer has made close predictions
in prior elections, and because they
did not arrange in advance for him
to make the public opinion sample.
Meanwhile, Gov. O'Conor today
had made a direct reply to Gen.
IMarkey's challenging question on
how the Democratic candidate re-
CARDS socialized medicine.
Gov. O'Conor said he was "un-
alterably opposed to socialized medi-
cine" adding that his stand had
been expressed publicly in speeches
and in his campaign platform.
TT is one thing to become active
on the eve of an election, and, with
breast-beating display. proclaim an
attitude to catch votes" the Gov
ernor asserted. 1T is another thing
to adhere consistently to traditional
Maryland principles over the years
and without regard to elections. I
have chosen the latter course"
Mr.. O'Conor's statement was made
in Annapolis.
Markey opposes Plan.
Gen. Markey. in a statement issued
Sunday, said he was 'unequivocally
against" socialized medicine and
asked Mr.. O'Conor to state his posi-
ton.
The COP candidate also has ex-
pressed concern over what he called
apparently steady advances being
made by subversive and Commun.
istic elements within our own Gov.
ernment.
His remarks were made in an ad.
dress broadcast from Baltimore last
night in which he called for COM
plete Washington housecleaning.
The Republican nominee said he
did not "feel it possible for the
present chaotic conditions to grow
merely out of incompetence Of our