Evening star., 1948-06-02
Party
uts1ydingson
Truman. Slate
20 State Delegates
Are Pledged as Bloc;
Decision Unanimous
BY John V. Homer
Sfoy Stoff Corrssoopdent

BALTIMORE, June 2-Maryland
Democrats, by unanimous decision,
are committed to a T-formation-
Truman and Tydings-to carry the
ball in the 1948 political campaign.
With Gov. Lane calling the signals
Yesterday. their State convention
handed President Truman all 20
votes for denomination
and urged the selection of their
senior Senator, Millard E. Tydinss,
as his vice presidential running
mate.
Maryland's gesture to the Presi-
dent, who in recent months has
had some bad moments with Dixie
Democrats. took on additional sig
nificance because 1t was sponsored
by Gov. Lane, who is chairman Of
the Southern Governors Conference.
Meeting With Truman Recalled.
The politically wise were quick to
note that the Governor had con-
ferred only last weekend with the
President. Mr.. Lane was Official
host when the Chief Executive went
to Annapolis Saturday to participate
In the Naval Academy's June Week
program. Close associates admitted
party politics had been a subject of
discussion.
senator Iydings. whose frequent
dlf1erences with the Democratic ad.
mlnistration once led to an at.
tempted purge by President Roose-
welt, assured his constituents that
ne was interested in the vice pres
loential nomination. He explained
that while he did not actively seek
any other Office he would abide by
decisions the party makes with re-
spect to the national ticket.
The Truman Endorsement was not
expected until a few days ago,
placed members of the partv
said the sudden shift in strategy
since the Annapolis conference
was practically politics. The Lane
organization reasoned that Mr.. Tru.
mans denomination is virtually Ger.
tain and that by backing him now
Maryland has everything to gain
and nothing to lose. Furthermore
the leaders said, Senator Tydfnes'
chances for second place are en-
hanced because the presidential
nominee will influence the choice Of
his running mate.
The convention went off without
a hitch. All plans had been COM
pleted the night before at a meet
ing OF party chiefs.
1t formally ratified a slate of "a
delegates and % alternates to the
Philadelphia national convention
July u and bound the group by the
unit rule. M.
From the 5th District, the con.
yention chose as delegates T. How
ard Duckett Of Prince Georges.
Philip c. Dorsey of st. Marys, and.
State Senator Wilbur Dulin, Anne
Arundel. Alternates from the 5th,
are Mrs. Daisy La Coppidan, Priprs
Georges; Senator Louis l.. Goldstein. {
Calvert; Senator Paul G. Stromberg,
Howard, and Mitchell Diggs, Charles
County.
Sixth District Delegates.
Delegates from the 9Th District
are: Blair Lee III, Montgomery:
James H. Grove, Frederick; John
McMullen. Allegany, and c. William
Hetzer, Washington County. Alter
mates are Mrs. Charles E. Roach,
Montgomery; Asa T. Matthews.
Garrett; w. Oliver McLane, Alle-
gany, and Mrs. Hazel w. Lewis,
Mrs. Mary White of Prince Georges
County was one of two secretaries
elected for the convention, and Mrs.
Roach was named assistant secre-
tary.
Despite State Controller James j.
Lacy's unexplained break with the
over Maryland's stand
on the vice presidential nomination,
all was smooth on the surface yes
terday. Mr.. Lacy tried unsuccess-
fully Monday night to win an in
dorsement of former Postmaster
General James A. Farley and left a
caucus when he was rebuffed. Party
members still we're discussing the
effects of his position when the con-
vention named him one of the
States delegates-at-large to Phila-
delphia.
Among those hailing the party
record we're former Senator George
l.. Radcliffe, convention chairman:
Senator O'Conor, Mayor D'Alesandro
Of Baltimore and F. Byrne Austin.
Democratic nominee to the House
from the 9Th district.