Evening star., 1950-10-09
.DemocratsSeek
To Heal Split
In Maryland
Lone-Muhoney Peace
Muy Have Been Too
Late for Party Unity
BY The Assoeiosed Press

BALTIMORE, Oct. 9.-Mary-
land Democrats apparently have
patched up a bitter intra party
feud that threatened their chances
in the November general election.
There remains the question of
they did it in time, and
the united front they now
present does not cover wounds too
deep to heal easily.
The Democratic rift developed
during the primary campaign,
when George P. Mahoney, a Balti-
more businessman, challenged
Gov. Lane, who sought renomina-
ton.
Mr.. Mahoney led Gov. Lane by
more than 1900 votes in the pri-
mary voting, but the Governor won
the nomination under Maryland's
unit vote system, similar to the
Federal Electoral College.
United Front Urged.
Mr.. Mahoney demanded re-
counts of the votes in eight coun.
ties. One of his supporters insti-
tuted law suit attacking the unit
vote system. There was word that
Mr.. Mahoney would try to block
Gov. Lanes nomination in the
State convention until the re-
counts could be completed.
Then. in a dramatic about face.
Mr.. Mahoney strode into the State
Convention last Monday night and
announced that he was Withdraw
ing from the contest. Gov. Lane
was nominated by acclamation
and for the rest of the session
speaker after speaker called for
a united front In the general elec-
ton.
Senator Tydings, seeking re.
election to his fifth term, was not
involved in the primary fight. He
had the support of-or at least no
opposition from-both factions in
the gubernatorial contest. And he
won denomination easily against
two opponents.
Tydings Faces Trouble.
Senator Tydings faces trouble Of
another sort. Republicans can be
expected to try to make the most
out of charges that Senate sub
committee headed by Senator
Tydings did q "whitewash" job
in its investigation of communism
in the State Department.
The veteran Senator faced the
same sort of charges in the
primary, and came through
handiiy. He called them ridiculous,
mud Singing and political prop
agapda." However, his primary
opponents were relatively obscure
and he can expect q hotter fight
now.
Senator Tydings viii be opposed
in the general election November
7 by John Marshall Butler, a
Baltimore attorney, who also won
nomination on the basis of con-
vention votes while losing the
popular vote to D. John Markey.
On the Republican side, however.
there has been no outward split.
The Lane-Mahoney primary
contest, on the surface, was not
one to excite unusual anger or
bitterness. The issues were IA
miliar: Taxes, especially the Lane
sales tax, efficiency in govern
ment, machine" politics.
G. O. p. Pleased by Fight.
But the two men are old po-
litical enemies, personalities were
involved, and the campaign be-
came a fight with no holds barred.
The resultant bitterness and deep
animosity carried down into the
ranks.
Republicans were understand
ably pleased. Theodore Roosevelt
McKeldin, the Republican candi-
date for Governor, said:
THE Democrats are split wider
than they've ever been in my time.
1t looks as though it's going to be
our year."
Mr.. McKeldin, one-time Mayor
of Baltimore. was unopposed in
the primary and has yet to commit
himself on any controversial
issues. He started a hand -shak-
ing campaign the morning after
the primary. Today, he and his
Republican slate were touring st.
Marys County.
Executive Director Albert B.
Hermann of the Republican Ma
tional Committee predicted a Ty-
dings defeat. He said in Balti-
more that Maryland is now one
OF the "key offensive States" in
campaign plans, and
that it has changed from pre-
election Republican long shot to
a Republican probability"
In the six Maryland congress
slonal districts, Democrat William
2. Bolton in the heavily populated
district, is the incumbent
politicians say is most in danger
OF losing his seat. He will be
opposed by James P. S. Devereau.
retired Marine brigadier general
who led the defense of Wake Is
land early in World War II.