Evening star., 1950-08-26
Mental Hospital
Building Delays
Laid 10 Lane
Governor PIuying
Politics With Lives.
Mohoney Charges
BY the Asseciofsd Press

~ me ASSociofeo FTeSS
Gov. Lane has been playing
politics with human lives and
human suffering" George P. Ma
honey declared today.
Mr.. Mahoney, main opponent
Of Gov. Lane for the Democratic
nomination as Governor, attacked
the Governor for waiting two
years in spending $40 million for
hospital additions in order that
ne might use the starting of them
as political ammunition in the
final weeks of the campaign"
Mr.. Mahoney said that the Leg
stature appropriated $40 million
nearly two years ago to build hos
pitals.
"This huge sum Of money lay
idle. unspent, unused, while the
sick continued to suffer in made
quate surroundings" said Mr..
Mahoney.
Three New Buildings.
"We see our Governor today,
being pictured turning a shovelful
of earth here and another shovel
ful there, breaking ground for
these public works that. in all
conscience, should have been
started in 1948."
(The Governor broke ground for
three new buildings at the Spring
Grove and Springfield mental
hospitals on August 14.)
State Delegate Burlington, DEM
ocrat, of Baltimore joined the
mental hospital exchange between
Mr.. Mahoney and Gov. Lane.
Mr.. Mahoney has been describ-
ing alleged deplorable conditions
at the Eastern Shore State Hos
pital and displaying pictures re-
portedly taken there.
Gov. Lane on Thursday said the
statements are pure fabrications"
and the pictures faxed"
Mr.. Burlington, in a letter to the
Governor, wrote he was present
when the pictures were taken and
that he resents being called q
liar"
Represent Conditions.
The Baltimore City Delegate
said he visited the Eastern Shore
Hospital on August IA with pho
tographer.
He said he il ready to make an
affidavit that the pictures truly
represent conditions as they exist
ed at that time" Mr.. Burlington
said he is ready also to swear the
conditions included ineffective
screening, leaking roof, inadequate
plumbing, no outside fire escapes
and one water cooler with a tin
cup for 139 male patients.
Meanwhile, repercuSsions were
still being heard from the dis
closure that $4,000 "Boost-Lane"
letters had been sent to University
of Maryland alumni through the
univerStiy's mailing facilities. Ex-
penses were paid by the Lane
campaign fund.
Available to Others.
DR.. H. c. Byrd, university presi-
dent, when asked about the pro-
cedure, said the university's mall
ing facilities would be available to
any candidate.
AS of yesterday, however, no one
had taken him up on the offer.
Some of Gov. Lanes opponents
had bitter comments.
Mr.. Mahoney's campaign mana
ger, Hugo r. Hoffman, said:
1--WE thank DR.. Byrd for his
offer, but the Mahoney-for Gov
ernor campaign is being run on q
private enterprise basis"
A sharper comment came from
Hyman A. Pressman. one Of Mr..
Mahoney's legal advisers. He
wired DR.. Byrd:
Either you do not appreciate
the evil of paying taxpayers
money for political purposes or
you have no respect for propriety
or public opinion. I demand that
you promise Immediately to dis
continue using university facilities
for election purposes. Otherwise,
I shall feel compelled to file suit
to enjoin you."
Attack by Larabee.
Herbert william Larabee Of
Glen Burnie, another candidate
for the Democratic gubernnatorial
nomination, attacked Mr.. Lane for
permitting the university ito be
used for political purposes"
Theodore R. McKeldin, the lone
Republican candidate for Cover
nor, had no comment, but one
Of his campaign leaders said he
is considering taking advantage
OF DR.. Byrd's offer "is the price
is right"
Gov. Lane has made no state
ment concerning the letters.
Gov. Lanes assistant, Lou
O'Donnell, said, however, that
since the alumni stencil plates
were available to any guberna-
torial candidate, there was MOTH
ing wrong with this action by
Gov Lanes headquarters.
County G q p Indorses