Evening star., 1950-10-21
Maryland Democrats
Encounter Trouble
with Secret Weapon
By Alex R. Preston

l
SALISBURY, Md, Oct. 21.-
The Democrats "secret weapon"
of the Maryland gubernatorial
campaign may backflre.
The weapon-a recording of a
speech last year by Theodore R.
McKeldin, Republican, who is op-
posing Gov. Lane-proved so dis
tasteful to some Worcester County
Democrats that it was not played
at the climax of an all-day county
tour which ended at Snow Hill
last night.
Mr.. McKeldin, on a commercial
ly-sponsored broadcast in March
1949, had praised the Lane ad-
ministration for many of its ac-
complishments during that years
session of the General Assembly
Record Played All Day.
Yesterday, the Democrats played
this record all day long at every
cross roads stop. The sound
truck that preceded the Demo.
cratic motor caravan blasted the
McKeldin comments to the coun-
try side.
&c. The success of the Cover
nor with the General Assembly
again is evident" the loud speak
ers repeated the McKeldin voice.
With this success" the voice
continued, Gov. Lane has had. to
date. an administration that has
initiated some excellent and
much-needed reforms. This is
admitted now even by his political
enemies"
Mr.. McKeldin went on for five
minutes with his praises-praises
which now put him way out on a
limb.
BY nightfall, when the Demo-
Gratis 30-car caravan had reached
Pocomoke City, doubts were be-
ginning to arise. When they got
to Snow Hill, the feeling was at
such q high state that those who
opposed the playing of The record
prevailed. This is what hap
pened:
At Snow Hill, the Governor had
made a brief talk at an oyster
roast before making a quick trip
to Baltimore. He left instructions,
meanwhile, for the record to be
played after an appropriate in
PRODUCTION by Attorney General
Hall Hammond.
But the wife of one of the candi-
dates on the local ticket, who had
been travelling with the caravan,
let it be known that she thought
the playing of the McKeldin rec
ord by the Democrats was hitting
below the belt"
Men Favored Use of Record.
A radio announcer at Pocomoke
City expressed the view privately
that the recording was the be-
ginning of a smear campaign,
and when they do that, I turn
my back"
At several of the stops where
crowds assembled, this reporter
attempted to obtain the consensus.
For the most part, men seemed to
favor the use of the record and
described it as "one of the smart
lest political tricks we have
heard Of"
But after the Governor had left
Snow Hill last night, Mr.. Ham,
mond consulted Senator Tydings
and Controller j. Millard Tawes.
They said they felt it was better
not to play the record any more.
And even though members of the
Worcester County Democratic
State Central Committee favored
the record it was not played.
Yesterdays tour of Worcester
County was believed by observers
to be the biggest show of the cur
rent campaign by either party.
Band Preceded Candidates.
Starting here, the candidates
spoke after a concert by the Ocean
City Municipal Band directed by
Frank Sacca. The technique there
after was for the 15-piece brass
band to precede the candidates to
the next stopping-off place and
play until the candidates caught
up.
| At sunset, when the party had
made its way to Pocomoke City
the Governor received word OF
party dissent at Baltimore. He
and his advisors revised their
plans accordingly.
The Democratic State Central
Committee at Baltimore had